Acts 19:20

_SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD AND PREVAILED._ No JFB commentary on this verse....

− 20._Grew mightily _[ _lions. _] The word κατα κρατος doth signify that the word increased not a little, (or that these proceedings were not common) as if he should say, that in those increasings appeared rare efficacy, and such as was greater than it used commonly to be. The word _grew _do I refer unto the number of men, as if he should have said, that the Church was increased, new disciples being gathered together dally, because doctrine is spread abroad. And I interpret that, that the word was confirmed in every one thus, to wit, that they did profit in the obedience of the gospel and in godliness more and more, and that their faith took deeper root. −...

13-20 It was common, especially among the Jews, for persons to profess or to try to cast out evil spirits. If we resist the devil by faith in Christ, he will flee from us; but if we think to resist him by the using of Christ's name, or his works, as a spell or charm, Satan will prevail against us. Where there is true sorrow for sin, there will be free confession of sin to God in every prayer and to man whom we have offended, when the case requires it. Surely if the word of God prevailed among us, many lewd, infidel, and wicked books would be burned by their possessors. Will not these Ephesian converts rise up in judgement against professors, who traffic in such works for the sake of gain, or allow themselves to possess them? If we desire to be in earnest in the great work of salvation, every pursuit and enjoyment must be given up which hinders the effect of the gospel upon the mind, or l...

Verse Acts 19:20. _SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD, AND PREVAILED._] The Codex Bezae reads this verse thus: "So mightily grew the word of the Lord, and prevailed; _and the faith of God increased and_ _multiplied_." It is probable that it was about this time that St. Paul had that conflict which he mentions, 1 Corinthians 15:32: _If I after the manner of men, have fought with wild beasts at_ _Ephesus_, c. See the note there. It means some severe trials not here mentioned, unless we may suppose him to refer to the ferocious insurrection headed by Demetrius, mentioned at the end of this chapter. See Clarke on Ac 19:38...

SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD - So powerfully. It had such efficacy and power in this wicked city. That power must have been mighty which would thus make them willing not only to cease to practice imposition, but to give up all hopes of future gains, and to destroy their property. On this instructive narrative we may remark: (1) That religion has power to break the hold of sinners on unjust and dishonest means of living. (2) That those who have been engaged in an unchristian and dishonorable practice will abandon it when they become Christians. (3) That their abhorrence of their former course will be, and ought to be, expressed as publicly as was the offence. (4) That the evil practice will be abandoned at any sacrifice, however great. The question will be, what is right; not what will it cost. Pro

EXPOSITION ACTS 19:1 _Country _for _coasts, _A.V.; _found _for _finding, _A.V. and T.R. THE UPPER COUNTRY (τὰ ἀνωτερικὰ μέρη); the inland districts of Galatia and Phrygia, through which St. Paul journeyed on his way to Ephesus, as distinguished from the seacoast on which Ephesus stood. DISCIPLES. They were like Apollos, believers in the Lord Jesus through the preaching of John the Baptist. It looks as if they were companions of Apollos, and had come with him from Alexandria, perhaps for some purpose of trade or Commerce. ACTS 19:2 _And he said _for _he said, _A.V. and T.R.; _did ye receive _for _have ye received, _A.V.; _when _for _since, _A.V.

SO MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD, AND PREVAILED. Over conjuring books, conjurers themselves, yea, even the devils; the power of God going along with it, many were converted; which is meant by the increase of it, and were delivered from the power of darkness, out of the hands of Satan, and translated into the kingdom of Christ. Beza's ancient copy reads, the "faith" of God; and the Syriac version, "faith in God"....

ACTS 19:20 tou/ kuri,ou o` lo,goj hu;xanen kai. i;scuen {B} A majority of the Committee preferred the Alexandrian reading (a* A B), on the consideration that it is more likely that the less usual order was altered into the characteristic order, than vice versa. The substitution of qeou/ for kuri,ou appears to be a secondary correction. Codex Bezae presents a conflate reading, ou[twj kata. kra,toj evni,scusen kai. h` pi,stij tou/ qeou/ hu;xane kai. evplh,qune (“So mightily it prevailed; and _the faith of God_ grew and _multiplied_”). Although it could be argued that evniscu,ein is a Lukan word (it appears twice in the New Testament,...

CHAPTER 19 _ 1. The second visit of Paul to Ephesus. The twelve disciples of John (Acts 19:1)._ 2. The Apostle's continued labors. The separation of the disciples. The Province Asia evangelized (Acts 19:8). 3. The Power of God and the Power of Satan (Acts 19:11). 4. Paul plans to go to Jerusalem and to visit Rome (Acts 19:21). 5. The opposition and riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:23). The disciples whom Paul found at Ephesus were disciples of John. The question the Apostle asked them has often been made the foundation of wrong teach

MIRACLES, EXORCISMS, BURNING OF BOOKS OF MAGIC. Peter's shadow cured the sick (Acts 5:15); Paul's minor articles of clothing do the same, according to the widespread belief of antiquity in the indirect communication of personal influence. The belief in possession is best known to us from the Gospels in Palestine; but Greek magical literature shows that it flourished vigorously in other countries also. A humorous story follows, about some wandering Jews who used the name of Jesus as an instrument of exorcism (_cf. Acts 8:19_). Acts 19:13. I adjure you: _i.e_. to come out of him. Sceva must be intended as a Jewish high priest, but there is none of such a name....