Bethel AME Church

10/21/2026

Acts 19:21–27 begins the second situation. Like in Philippi (Acts 16:16–24), Paul faces Gentiles whose livelihoods are threatened by his message. In Ephesus, the silversmiths realize the more people turn away from their worship of Artemis to follow Jesus, the fewer idols they will be able to sell. Demetrius, one such silversmith, points this out to the other artisans in the city, adding—almost as an afterthought—that Ephesus' pre-eminence as the home of the worship of Artemis is at risk.

10/21/2026

Acts 19:11–20 records the first of these outcomes. Paul's strong witness that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures is validated by the work of the Holy Spirit in him, particularly in his ability to heal physical conditions and exorcise demons. Itinerant Jewish magicians, not unlike Elymas in Cyprus (Acts 13:4–12), notice how powerful Paul is when he invokes the name of Jesus. They attempt to emulate him when faced by a demon-possessed man. The demon is not cowed by the mere mention of Jesus' name without the authority of Jesus. It attacks the magicians, so they run naked and wounded from the house. When the people of Ephesus realize Paul has real power over demons, they burn their books of magic and follow Jesus.

10/20/2026

JOIN us and be Refreshed Renewed And Revived in the Holy spirit TGBTG 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

10/20/2026

Acts 19:8–10 is a very short synopsis of Paul's three years (Acts 20:31) in Ephesus. The fact that it can be summarized so quickly suggests Paul's time there is much like his stays in other cities. He first goes to the synagogue where he expounds on his initial message that Jesus is the Messiah. After a while, this time three months, many agree with him, but those who don't harass him and his followers so much they leave. He finds another place to teach the new believers and welcome new-comers, and usually stays until either the Jews drive him out of town, or the Gentiles realize his ministry is costing them money. After the summary, Luke elaborates on two specific consequences of Paul's ministry in Ephesus.

10/20/2026

In Acts 19:1–7, Paul meets twelve men in Ephesus who, like Apollos (Acts 18:24–28), are ardent followers of John the Baptist's teaching of repentance but don't know about the baptism of Jesus. Paul explains that John was the herald of the Messiah—Jesus of Nazareth—and if they are baptized in Jesus' name it means publicly declaring their allegiance to Jesus. Faith brings the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. They agree and become the first brought to Christ in Ephesus by Paul.

10/19/2026

Acts 19 is the story of Paul's three-year stay in Ephesus during his third missionary journey. Paul had visited Ephesus for a very short time at the end of his second missionary journey. He entered the synagogue, as usual, and explained how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Messiah as given in the Jewish Scriptures. The synagogue members wanted him to stay longer and explain more fully, but he wanted to get to Jerusalem, possibly for the Passover. He told them he would return if he could. He sailed from Ephesus to Caesarea Maritima on the coast of Judea, then visited the church in Jerusalem before heading north. After an extended stay in Syrian Antioch, Paul—and presumably unnamed companions—traveled northwest again, into the provinces of Galatia and Phrygia in central modern-day Turkey (Acts 18:19–23). While there, he strengthened the churches he and Barnabas had planted in his first missionary journey (Acts 13:3—14:28) and that he and Silas had visited on his second (Acts 16:1–5).

10/18/2026

10/18/2026

Please join us for Sunday Worship Service today at 10:30AM. In person worship or virtual service. We look forward to seeing you!
Zoom ID: 847 4042 1316 PWD: 261341
Dial-In By Phone 929-205-6099
Rev. Lisa M. Williams, Pastor

10/17/2026

In Acts 18:18–23, the team's time in Corinth comes to an end. Paul, Priscilla, and Aquila travel to Cenchreae, Corinth's port, then cross the southern Aegean to Ephesus for a very short time. The Jews in the Ephesian synagogue ask Paul to stay and tell them more, but he leaves Priscilla and Aquilla and sails home. Paul lands in Caesarea Maritima on the coast of Judea, drops by the church in Jerusalem, and returns to Syrian Antioch. After a stay in Antioch, Paul begins his third missionary trip by returning to central Turkey to, again, encourage the churches he'd planted with Barnabas (Acts 13:4—14:23