DAILY BIBLE READING June 9th, 2020 ACTS 19:1-20 (GNT)


God’s Life-Giving Word of Spiritual Renewal

INTRODUCTION

Acts 19:1-20: Paul travels to Ephesus and teaches about being baptized in the name of Jesus. He stays in Ephesus for two years, teaching in the synagogue and lecturing in the hall of Tyrannus. Miraculous healings accompany his preaching. The practice of magic is incompatible with belief in Jesus, and the reading concludes with an account of those who had practiced magic disclosing their practices and burning their books.

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: ACTS 19:8

Paul went into the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly with the people, holding discussions with them and trying to convince them about the Kingdom of God.

TODAY'S READING

Paul in Ephesus

1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the province and arrived in Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”

“We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit,” they answered.

3“Well, then, what kind of baptism did you receive?” Paul asked.

“The baptism of John,” they answered.

4 Paul said, “The baptism of John was for those who turned from their sins; and he told the people of Israel to believe in the one who was coming after him—that is, in Jesus.”

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6Paul placed his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them; they spoke in strange tongues and also proclaimed God's message. 7They were about twelve men in all.

8Paul went into the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly with the people, holding discussions with them and trying to convince them about the Kingdom of God. 9But some of them were stubborn and would not believe, and before the whole group they said evil things about the Way of the Lord. So Paul left them and took the believers with him, and every day he held discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years, so that all the people who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Gentiles, heard the word of the Lord.

The Sons of Sceva

11God was performing unusual miracles through Paul. 12Even handkerchiefs and aprons he had used were taken to the sick, and their diseases were driven away, and the evil spirits would go out of them. 13Some Jews who traveled around and drove out evil spirits also tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to do this. They said to the evil spirits, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” 14Seven brothers, who were the sons of a Jewish High Priest named Sceva, were doing this.

15But the evil spirit said to them, “I know Jesus, and I know about Paul; but you—who are you?”

16The man who had the evil spirit in him attacked them with such violence that he overpowered them all. They ran away from his house, wounded and with their clothes torn off. 17All the Jews and Gentiles who lived in Ephesus heard about this; they were all filled with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was given greater honor. 18Many of the believers came, publicly admitting and revealing what they had done. 19Many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in public. They added up the price of the books, and the total came to fifty thousand silver coins. 20In this powerful way the word of the Lord kept spreading and growing stronger.

REFLECT

What happened when Paul baptized the disciples he encountered in Ephesus? Tyrannus was a philosopher who probably lectured in the hall bearing his name. How do you envision the discussions Paul held with those who came to hear him speak? Where and with whom do you discuss matters of faith? What happened after those who practiced magic burned their books? How is the Word of the Lord being spread today?

PRAY

Almighty God, I trust in you and in your Word. Fill me with your Spirit so that I reflect your love and grace. May those who do not know you be drawn to you this day. Amen.

PRAYER CONCERN

Seminary professors

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