Sunday Morning Bible StudyActs 19 — The Gospel Confronts a City of Idols

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Paul preaching in Ephesus by Eustache Le Sueur

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”— Acts 19:20

Background

Acts 19 brings Paul to Ephesus, one of the most powerful, wealthy, and spiritually dark cities in the Roman world.A city full of temples, magic, sorcery, and the cult of Artemis/Diana, whose great temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Into that darkness the Gospel walks — and the collision is fierce.

1. Paul Meets the Twelve (Acts 19:1–7)

Paul arrives and finds a small group who had repented under John the Baptist, but who had never heard of the Holy Spirit.

Paul explains the full Gospel:

• John prepared the way

• Jesus is the Messiah

• The Spirit is given to all believers

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They are baptized in Jesus’ name, and the Holy Spirit comes upon them.

Lesson: Some people are sincere, moral, and religious — but not yet converted.The Gospel completes what repentance begins.

2. Three Years of Teaching (Acts 19:8–10)

Paul spends:

• 3 months in the synagogue, persuading

• 2 years in the school of Tyrannus, teaching daily

Luke writes that ALL Asia heard the Gospel.This was a spiritual awakening that shook an entire region.

Lesson: Revival begins with the faithful teaching of Scripture — day by day, week by week.

3. Extraordinary Miracles — and Counterfeits (Acts 19:11–17)

God works miracles through Paul — but the key is God, not Paul.

Then the sons of Sceva — traveling exorcists — try to imitate the apostle:

“In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches…”

The demon replies:

“Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”

The fake exorcists are humiliated, beaten, and exposed.

Lesson:The devil knows who belongs to Jesus — and who doesn’t.Authority without relationship is nothing.

4. The Burning of the Books (Acts 19:18–20)

This is one of the most dramatic moments in the book of Acts.

New believers publicly confess their sins and burn their books of magic.These were extraordinarily valuable — worth 50,000 pieces of silver — but they burned them anyway.

No reselling. No recycling. No compromise.

They destroyed what had enslaved them.

And then comes Luke’s explosive summary:

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

Lesson:Repentance is not thinking differently — it is living differently.Real revival touches the pocketbook, the habits, the addictions, the hidden sins.

5. The Riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:21–41)

The Gospel begins to damage the idol industry — literally. Silversmiths who crafted shrines of Artemis realize their profit is at risk.

They raise a city-wide uproar shouting:

“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

For two hours the crowd screams this pagan chant.

Paul wants to go into the theater to defend the Gospel, but believers — even pagan officials who respected him — beg him not to risk his life.

Finally, the town clerk quiets the crowd.

The city is angry — but the Gospel stands.

Lesson: When the Gospel confronts a culture’s idols — whether money, pleasure, or superstition — there will be resistance.

The Gospel doesn’t just comfort; it disrupts.

Key Themes for Today

1. The Gospel confronts every idol.

Ephesus had Diana.We have wealth, entertainment, self-worship, and a rejection of truth.

2. True conversion costs something.

The Ephesians burned what kept them bound.

3. Do not fear the rage of the crowd.

The Gospel is stronger than the noise of the world.

4. Revival is the triumph of Scripture.

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

Application for Us

• Where does the Gospel confront our idols?

• What must we “burn” to follow Jesus with a whole heart?

• Are we daily in the Word like Paul in the school of Tyrannus?

• Are we timid when the world rages, or bold in Christ?

• Do we trust that the Word of God still prevails today?

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Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think the Ephesians were willing to burn such valuable possessions?

2. What does the sons of Sceva incident teach us about spiritual authority?

3. How does this chapter challenge our view of sin and repentance?

4. What idols does our culture worship today — and how should we respond?

5. What would it look like for the Word of God to “grow mightily and prevail” in our own town?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, You who rule over every city and nation, give us the courage of Paul, the repentance of the Ephesians, and the faith to believe that Your word still prevails. Search our hearts and burn away anything that dishonors You. Fill us with Your Spirit, strengthen Your church, and let revival begin with us. In Your mighty name we pray, Amen.

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I SURRENDER ALL

All to Jesus, I surrender;

All to Him I freely give;

I will ever love and trust Him,

In His presence daily live.

Refrain

I surrender all, I surrender all,

All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;

Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit,

Truly know that Thou art mine.

Refrain

All to Jesus, I surrender;

Lord, I give myself to Thee;

Fill me with Thy love and power;

Let Thy blessing fall on me.

Refrain

All to Jesus I surrender;

Now I feel the sacred flame.

O the joy of full salvation!

Glory, glory, to His Name!

Refrain

Jud¬son W. Van De¬Vent¬er, 1896:

Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33