Fun Times In Ephesus

This is the study page for the Thursday Study Group meeting on February 21.  The passage being studied is Acts 19 where Paul spends two years in Ephesus.  A lot happens in that time.  We also have a picture of the sorts of things that happen around Paul when he's ministering.

Read the chapter through several times.  Note the different events, people, backgrounds, responses, and actions taken.  It gets somewhat muddled when we look at the sequence or timing, Luke doesn't seem to be that concerned about timing until he sets up the riot.  Jot down questions and details you note as you go through the chapter several times.  It may help to continue on into chapter 20 some way for context.

As you go through a last few times, consider the questions below.  Add to or modify any of them with your own observations/questions.

• How does Luke setup Paul's entrance into Ephesus?  Why mention Apollos?
• What does Paul find immediately as he gets to Ephesus?
• This is the second time running across the Baptism of John, where did this one come from?
• Are these Jews or Greeks?  What are the clues?
• After the synagogue refuses to listen, where does Paul go? (sound like a fun school?)
• After two years, how far has the good news of Jesus gone?
• How often do we hear of Paul healing?  So how common might this be?  What does this sound like/remind you of? (remember Acts 5?)
• Without Jesus, how do Jewish Exorcists function?  Why might this work for some?
• Why wouldn't it work for the "Seven Sons of Sceva"?
• Wat is the result of these miracles?
• There are several terms for "magic".  Look up this one at G4021.  It's a compound word, so look at both words  used to make it up.  What English word/phrase does it sound like?  What might characterize this sort of magic?
• How much was the cost of the "burned books"?  Why not sell them and give the money to the church?  What might that tell you about "fund raising"?
• What does Paul decide to do?  Why stay in Ephesus?
• What do these silversmiths do?  Why is business so bad?  What is their answer to the problem?  Where else was this solution attempted?
• Who is this "Artemis of the Ephesians"?  What about the temple is impressive?
• Who do the rioters grab?  Later on, who do the Jews put forward? What are the "Jews" doing there?
• Who calms the rioters down?  What is his reason for there being no reason for the riot?

That should be a good start to this chapter.  Be sure to bring your own observations and questions as well.