DISCIPLE-MAKING IN THE HALL OF TYRANNUS

Passage: Acts 19:1-10

Key verse: 9

NIV

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos(A) was at Corinth,(B) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.(C) There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit(D) when[a] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism(E) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”(F) 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(G) 6 When Paul placed his hands on them,(H) the Holy Spirit came on them,(I) and they spoke in tongues[b](J) and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Paul entered the synagogue(K) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.(L) 9 But some of them(M) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.(N) So Paul left them. He took the disciples(O) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years,(P) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia(Q) heard the word of the Lord.(R)

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 19:2 Or after
  2. Acts 19:6 Or other languages
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Paul in Ephesus

19 And it happened that while (A)Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed (B)through the inland[a] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, (C)“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, (D)we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, (E)“Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into (F)John's baptism.” 4 And Paul said, (G)“John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people (H)to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, (I)they were baptized in[b] the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And (J)when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and (K)they began speaking in tongues and (L)prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 And (M)he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them (N)about the kingdom of God. 9 (O)But when some became stubborn and (P)continued in unbelief, speaking evil of (Q)the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.[c] 10 This continued for (R)two years, so that (S)all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 19:1 Greek upper (that is, highland)
  2. Acts 19:5 Or into
  3. Acts 19:9 Some manuscripts add from the fifth hour to the tenth (that is, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. 12 disciples who needed the Holy Spirit (1-7)

When Paul arrived in Ephesus, he met some disciples who knew they were sinners and knew about repentance, but they did not have assurance of forgiveness. They had not tasted the new life that only comes with a personal relationship with Jesus. Paul told them to believe in Jesus; then, he placed his hands on them and prayed for them. The Holy Spirit began his transforming work and they were born again into God's family. Newborn Christians have to grow.

2. 12 disciples who needed training (8-10)

Paul continued teaching the Bible in the synagogue for awhile. He boldly taught about the kingdom of God. When unbelievers aroused opposition in the synagogue, he took the new disciples and moved to the hall of Tyrannus. He concentrated on teaching these few men, and on preaching the gospel to all who came. As a result, God's word spread throughout Asia. Paul learned a principle of missionary strategy.

Prayer: Lord, help me to teach your word boldly and to pray for a few faithful men and women. Help me to be a disciple-maker.

One Word: Disciples need training