Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Acts 19

Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?

Literally, received ye the Holy Spirit when ye believed?

Not as in A.V., "since ye believed," but as in R.V. and marg.: "Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed?" Paul was evidently impressed by the absence of spirituality and power in these so-called disciples. Their answer brought out the fact that they were Jewish proselytes, disciples of John the Baptist, looking backward to an accomplished redemption. See Rom 8:9; 1Co 6:19; Scofield Eph 1:13, marg.

Holy Ghost [See also Act 19:6.]

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Act 19:2, 6; 20:23, 28. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

repentance

Repentance. Act 20:21. (Mat 3:2; Act 17:30.)

Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus

Act 8:16.

Act 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

miracles by the hands of Paul

Miracles (N.T.). Act 28:3-6, 8-9. (Mat 8:2-3; Act 28:8-9.)

Act 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

Jesus I know

Mar 1:23-24; Act 16:16-18; Jas 2:19.

Act 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

overcame them

The sons of Sceva sought to imitate a power to which they were strangers, only to their own confusion. This striking witness from another side caused fear to fall on all.

prevailed against them

Luke 11:21-22; contra, 1 John 4:4.

Act 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

fear fell on them all

Luk 1:65; 7:16; Act 5:5, 11.

Act 19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

confessed

Mat 3:6; 1Co 14:24-25.

Act 19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

curious

magical.

Act 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

mightily grew

Act 6:7; 12:24; 1Co 16:8-9.

Act 19:21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

in the spirit

i.e. in his own mind. Cf. Scofield Acts 20:22, note.

I must also see Rome

Rom 1:13; 15:22-29.

Act 19:22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

Timotheus

1Ti 1:2.

Erastus

Rom 16:23; 2Ti 4:20.

Act 19:23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

about that way

concerning the Way, i.e. Christ. Jhn 14:6.

Act 19:25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

by this craft

Act 16:16, 19.

Act 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

no gods, which are made with hands

Act 17:29; Rev 13:14-15.

Act 19:27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

world

oikoumene = inhabited earth. (Luk 2:1).

Act 19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Diana of the Ephesians

Greek Artemis. Not anciently of the Greek pantheon, but an Eastern goddess. Cf. Scofield Judges 2:13, note. But "Diana of the Ephesians" was rather a particular image of Artemis, reputed to have fallen from heaven; Act 19:35.

Act 19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

Gaius

Act 20:4.

Aristarchus

Act 20:4; Act 27:2; Col 4:10.

Act 19:33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

Alexander

1Ti 1:20; 2Ti 4:14.

Act 19:35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

the city of the Ephesians

Act 17:21.

Act 19:37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess

Rom 2:22; cf. 1Th 1:9 with 1Co 1:23-24.

Act 19:40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

for this day's uproar

Act 21:31-32.