Day 1220: Don't be deceived - Acts 19 vs 8 - 20

8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9-10 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

13-16 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognise, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17-18 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19-20 And a number of those who had practised magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. Acts 19:8-20 English Standard Version

Ephesus was the capital city of a Roman province in Asia and a significant centre of trade with multitudes of people passing through it's streets. It was therefore a prime site for evangelising the whole province due to it's accessibility. We read that after Paul's lengthy stay there, “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” And, as was his custom, Paul began his ministry in the Jewish synagogue. While miracles followed later, what was his main method of evangelism? (vs 8)

He sought to reason with them boldly, and persuade them concerning the kingdom of God. Following their stubborn obstinacy Paul withdrew and spent the next two years ministering from a local hall. We're told that God did “extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.” Today there've been many who wish for such extraordinary signs to accompany their ministry. But they were unique “signs of an apostle” by which God authenticated them. In fact, the passage goes on to show how some Jewish exorcists attempted to imitate Paul and were overcome. “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognise, but who are you?” said the demon possessed man.

Some years later when Paul wrote to Timothy, whom he'd left in Ephesus to pastor them, he says nothing about miracles. Instead he urges Timothy to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness, and to fight the good fight of the faith.” He must “take hold of the eternal life to which he was called, concerning which he made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:11-12) This is just as true for us today.

But certainly the signs that Paul did, and the incident of the 'seven sons of the high priest Sceva' played a big part in what happened at Ephesus, especially amongst those involved in 'the magic arts.' These weren't people who practised what 'illusionists' do as entertainment, but they were those who were involved in the occult. And we see that at Ephesus it was a roaring trade. They were much like the magicians who copied the first few plagues that Moses had sent upon Egypt, and could do some real 'signs.’

As Christians we should be on guard against false miracles. Paul warned of a lawless one who “will come with the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and will use wicked deception for those who are perishing.” In fact, Paul says that “God sends this strong delusion, so that they will believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11. We must not be deceived.