Verse of the Day

Monday, November 24, 2014

Pastor's Sermon Notes: The First Ephesian Party (Acts 19:18-20)

The First Ephesian Party
Acts 19:18-20

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.


Introduction:

The passage that we considered last week, Acts 19:13-17 involved an attempt on the part of unbelievers to use the Name of the Lord as a magical incantation, or “power word.” That episode of “reverse exorcism” must be seen as connected directly to this one, and indeed setting the stage for this next event as Ephesus. And, in turn, the event which we now draw our attention to will lay the groundwork for the city-wide riot to follow. There is an interesting cause and effect relationship between these events, but a surface analysis may miss the real “cause” or controlling factor.

Outline:

I. The General Effects of the Failed Exorcism on Believers (19:18)
II. The Specific Evidence of the Repentance of Believers (19:19)
III. The Summary Explanation for these Evidences (19:20)

Transition:  Let us now consider the “Ephesian Example” of how to repent of syncretism.

I. The General Effects of the Failed Exorcism on Believers (19:18)

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

The key word for what is going on here may be Repentance.

Mt. 3:6 - And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mk. 1:5 - And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Rom. 14:11 - For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Jas. 5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Lk. 15:8-10 - 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Definitions of “repentance”:

 “...a change of mind, taking a wiser view of the past....a regret for the ill done in that past, and out of all this a change of life for the better...”[1]
                                                         
"...that mighty change in mind, heart, and life wrought by the Spirit of God (‘such a virtuous alteration of the mind and purpose as begets a like virtuous change in the life and practice,’ Kettlewell)…”[2]

Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q87: What is repentance unto life?[3]
 A87: Repentance unto life is a saving grace,[1] whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin,[2] and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ,[3] doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God,[4] with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience.[5] [4]

“1. When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
2. The word cannot be properly understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, i.e. confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.
3. Yet its meaning is not restricted to repentance in one's heart; for such repentance is null unless it produces outward signs in various mortifications of the flesh.”[5]

2 Cor. 7:7-11 - 7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

It is important to notice from this passage:

1) There are two kinds of sorrow, godly and worldly, one that brings salvation and an end to sorrow, while the second brings death and eternal sorrow. (vv. 9-10)

2) True, evangelical repentance is produced only by godly sorrow. (vs. 10)

3) True, evangelical repentance involves the following seven ingredients (vs. 11):
            (1) carefulness
            (2) clearing of yourselves
            (3) indignation
            (4) fear
            (5) vehement desire
            (6) zeal
            (7) revenge

4) True, evangelical repentance results in a righting of wrongs that is here referred to as "approving yourselves to be clear in this matter". (vs. 11)

The Opposition to the Preaching of Repentance

There is a great deal of opposition to the preaching of repentance, along with a serious lack of teaching concerning repentance, in our day involving a theological position that has been characterized as "anti-Lordship". This is a very serious error that divorces faith from life, and belief from behavior. Such a severing of faith from repentance would have been unthinkable in the first century A.D. The basis of the contemporary opposition to this doctrine comes from what I can only characterize as simplistic etymological nonsense that flies directly in the face of the fine teaching from Scripture of others like Trench above. An unrepentant easy-believism has no warrant in God’s Word!

Consider the teaching elsewhere in the New Testament on this subject:

Luke 15:7 - I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Mark 2:17 - When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Notice that the only ones who may claim "exemption" from God’s command to repent, are those who don’t see themselves as sinners! There is joy in heaven when there is repentance!

Acts 17:30 - And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Notice that in reality no one is exempt from God’s command to repent! He commands all men everywhere to repent! Any preachers who do not preach repentance as part of the Gospel, are failing to preach the Gospel according to the Word of God! This is no light matter! All men! Everywhere! No exceptions! 
           
Repentance is not just about cleaning your own house. Repentance also involves taking into consideration what is best for others.

Notice that what was done included a public display.

II. The Specific Evidence of the Repentance of Believers (19:19)

Many of them also which used curious[6] arts brought their books[7] together, and burned[8] them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.[9]

 “Or “fifty thousand silver drachmas” (about $10,000 US dollars). BDAG 128 s.v. ἀργύριον 2.c states, “ἀργυρίου μυριάδας πέντε 50,000 (Attic silver) drachmas Ac 19:19.” Another way to express the value would be in sheep: One drachma could buy one sheep. So this many drachmas could purchase a huge flock of sheep. A drachma also equals a denarius, or a day’s wage for the average worker. So this amount would be equal to 50,000 work days or in excess of 8,300 weeks of labor (the weeks are calculated at six working days because of the Jewish cultural context). The impact of Christianity on the Ephesian economy was considerable (note in regard to this the concerns expressed in 19:26-27).”[10]

“The Ephesian abandonment of magic was not without some personal sacrifice. Their magical books must have been much like the papyrus collections that have been unearthed and are now on display in museums in Paris, Berlin, Rome, and London. All ancient books were expensive, but magical collections brought a considerable premium. Luke estimated the value of those burned in Ephesus at 50,000 pieces of silver. If the piece of silver concerned is the drachma, the most common Greek silver coin, that would come to about $35,000 in current silver value.26 Translated into terms of living standards, however, the sum was greater still, since the drachma was an average day’s wage.”[11]

“The Attic drachma contained 67.5 grains of silver, or approximately 14 percent of a troy ounce. With silver at $5 a troy ounce, the drachma would contain about 70 cents in silver value.”[12]

Schnabel’s remark on Polhill’s estimate (above): “In September 2009, a troy ounce of silver sold at $14, which translates into $98,000 for the value of the magical texts - an example for the notorious unreliability of the computation of biblical currency figures.”[13]

On the basis of Polhill’s data above, and estimating the current value of silver (see below) at $16.14 per troy ounce the drachma would be worth $2.2596. Therefore, the current value of 50,000 drachmas would be $112,980.00. This is a significant increase over the $35,000.00 estimate Polhill published in 1992. It may be a more realistic estimate than that found in the ESV Study Bible note[14] which calculates the drachma as an average laborer’s days wage as $15.00 per hour, or $120.00 per day, resulting in 50,000 drachmas being the modern equivalent of $6,000,000.00.

Current value of silver

Metals
New York Mercantile
Last
Change
% Change
52-week price range
Last
Update
Silver 
Dec. 2014 contract
$ / troy ounce
Floor
16.40
+0.12
+0.74%
15.41  TODAY 22.05
Nov 21
Electronic
16.42
-0.269
-1.65%
15.04  TODAY  22.18

Source: CNN Money at http://money.cnn.com/data/commodities/  [accessed 21 NOV 2014].

Silver Spot Price & Charts - Silver Prices Per Ounce, Gram & Kilo
Below are live silver spot prices per troy ounce, gram, and kilogram.
New York Silver Spot Price (24hrs) Nov 21, 2014
Silver Price Per Ounce
$ 16.49
Silver Price Per Gram
$ 0.53
Silver Price Per Kilo
$ 530.17

Source: JM Bullion at http://www.jmbullion.com/charts/silver-prices/ [accessed 21 NOV 2014].

Why not sell the books on eBay, Amazon or Craigslist, and donate the funds to the Lord’s work? Isn’t that what many if not most Christians today would either do or suggest?

Syncretism: “the combining of different, often seemingly contradictory beliefs, while melding practices of various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merger and analogizing of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology andmythology of religion, thus asserting an underlying unity and allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths.”[15]

The key word for what is going on here may be Mortification.

Dt. 18:10-14 - 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

Dt. 7:25-26 - 25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. 26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Josh. 7:15, 25 - And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel…. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

Num. 33:52 - Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:

Is. 30:22 - Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Dt. 12:1-3 - 1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. 2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: 3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

Repentance is not just about cleaning your own house. Repentance also involves taking into consideration what is best for others.

Notice that what was done involved a permanent purging.

III. The Summary Explanation for these Evidences (19:20)

So mightily grew the word of God[16] and prevailed.

Notice that what was done indicated a powerful effect.[17]

This does not work with the Word of God! Jer. 36! Many have tried to burn the Word of God out of existence, but it defeats every effort, continues to grow mightily, and ultimately prevails in every case.

Compare the usage of the verb “prevailed” in 19:16 as an obvious emphasis for what is going on in these episodes at Ephesus.

The key word for what is going on here may be Reputation.

Acts 6:7 - And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Acts 9:31 - Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Acts 11:21 - And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Acts 12:24 - But the word of God grew and multiplied.

Acts 14:1 - And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

Acts 16:5 - And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Acts 19:10 - And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Conclusion:

We read Psalm 32 for our “Call to Worship,” and Joshua 7 for our “Scripture Reading.” Now let us turn to Psalm 51, and read the words of one who came confessing his sin in repentance before God.

Complete outline:

I. The General Effects of the Failed Exorcism on Believers (19:18)
II. The Specific Evidence of the Repentance of Believers (19:19)
III. The Summary Explanation for these Evidences (19:20)

[Sermon preached 23 NOV 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Resources on Acts:

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.

Paul Barnett, The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005).

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
                                                  
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).

Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

W. C. van Unnik, “The ‘Book of Acts’ the Confirmation of the Gospel,” in Novum Testamentum 4:1 (OCT 1960), pp. 26-59; reprinted in The Composition of Luke’s Gospel: Selected Studies from Novum Testamentum, compiled by David E. Orton, Vol. 1 of Brill’s Readers in Biblical Studies (Leiden: Brill, 1999), pp. 184-218.

William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

Resources on Paul:

Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians  (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).

F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977).

D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), pp. 496-501.

W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Adolf Deissmann, Paul: A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson (New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).

F. W. Farrar, The Life and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and Letters”, in The Face of New Testament Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R. Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.

Richard B.Gaffin, Jr., "Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center on Westminster Theological Seminary at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].

Frank J. Goodwin, A Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Richard N. Longenecker, The Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).

Richard N. Longenecker, Paul, Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).

Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life, Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).

Richard N. Longenecker, Studies In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2004).

J. Gresham Machen, The Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1925).

Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1955).

John Pollock, The Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969, 2012); also published as The Man Who Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York: Doubleday, 1969).

Stanley E. Porter, Paul in Acts, in Library of Pauline Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).

W. M. Ramsay, The Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, Pauline and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, The Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York University (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914); on Internet Archive at http://ia600404.us.archive.org/2/items/teachingofpaulin00rams/teachingofpaulin00rams.pdf [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

A. T. Robertson, Epochs in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul The Missionary: Realities, Strategies And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008).

Udo Schnelle, Apostle Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).

Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2001).

James Stalker, The Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=vT0HAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 7 FEB 2013].

James Ironside Still, St. Paul on Trial (London: Student Christian Movement, 1923).





End Notes:

[1] Richard Chenevix Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d.; reprint of 9th ed., London, 1880), pg. 259.
[2] Ibid., pg. 260. John Kettlewell was an English author who died in 1695.
[3] See also Westminster Larger Catechism, Q. 75-76; London Baptist Confession (1689), Ch. XV; Second Helvetic Confession, Ch. XIV.
[4] 1.  Acts 11:18.  2.  Acts 2:37. 3.  Joel 2:13. 4.  Jer. 31:18-19. 5.  Psa. 119:59
[5] Martin Luther, 95 Theses; on Phil Johnson’s Hall of Church History at http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/history/95theses.htm [accessed 1 NOV 2014].
[6] G. Adolf Deissmann, Bible Studies: Contributions Chiefly from Papyri and Inscriptions to the History of the Language, the Literature, and the Religion of Hellenistic Judaism and Primitive Christianity, trans. Alexander Grieve (Winona Lake, IN: Alpha Publications, n.d.; 1979 ed., reprint of Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1923, combining both Bibelstudien and Neue Bibelstudien), pg. 323, note 5 on “the expression τὰ περίεργαas “a terminus technicus for magic.”
[7] On the “ancient papyrus books of magic” see especially:
Adolf Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East: The New Testament Illustrated by Recently Discovered Texts of the Graeco-Roman World, 4th rev. ed. of Licht vom Osten (Tübingen, 1909, 1923), trans. Lionel R. M. Strachan (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, n.d.; 1978 ed.), pp. 254-264. Note:  The page numbering is different in the Hodder & Stoughton ed. (London, 1910) cited below. Adolf Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East: The New Testament Illustrated by Recently Discovered Texts of the Graeco-Roman World, 4th rev. ed. of Licht vom Osten (Tübingen, 1909, 1923), trans. Lionel R. M. Strachan (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1910), pp. 249-261.
[8] On this compound verb see especially A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research, 4th ed. (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1934), pp. 826-828, s.v. “10. The Effect of Prepositions on the Verb.”
“ This is another aspect of Aktionsart. This subject has already been briefly discussed from the standpoint of the prepositions. Delbrück has worked the matter out with thoroughness and he is followed by Brugmann. Moulton has applied the principle to N. T. verbs. The point is that often where the simple verb is durative it is rendered “perfective” by the preposition in composition.” Op. cit., pg. 826.
“The “imperfective” simplex becomes “perfective” in the compound.” Ibid.
“It is unfortunate that the term “perfective” is used for this idea, since it inevitably suggests the perfect tense. Some writers use “perfective” also for the aorist or punctiliar action, a means of still further confusion.” Op. cit., pg. 817.
“The point of the preposition here is best seen in the prepositions ἀπο-, δια-, κατα-, συν-. But even in these the actual majority of examples preserve the original local meaning and so are not perfective.” Ibid.
“In Heb. 6:18, οἱ καταφυγόντες, the perfective sense of κατά coincides with the effective aorist. So even when the tense is durative, the notion of completion is expressed in the preposition as contemplated or certain.” Ibid.
“…it remains true that the Aktionsart of the verb-root is often modified by the preposition in composition.” Op. cit., pg. 828.
“In some verbs the preposition has so far lost its original force that the “perfective” idea is the only one that survives.” Ibid.
[9] “Sometimes with numerals the substantive for money is not expressed.” A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research, 4th ed. (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1934), pg. 674; and
Deissmann, Bible Studies, op. cit., pp. 323-324.
[10] NET Notes on Lumina at https://lumina.bible.org/bible/Acts+19 [accessed 20 NOV 2014]. See also https://bible.org/netbible/ [accessed 20 NOV 2014].
[11] John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992), pp. 405-406.
[12] Polhill, op. cit., pg. 406, footnote 26.
[13] Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), pg. 799, note 77.
[14] ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 2127, note.
[15] “Syncretism,” on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncretism [accessed 24 NOV 2014]. On the issue of “dual loyalties” being publicly repudiated in a proof of repentance see especially Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997), pp. 181-192; and Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 604-605.
[16] On the textual criticism issue involving the readings τοῦ κυρίου ὁ λόγος vs. ὁ λόγος τοῦ κυρίου:
“A majority of the Committee preferred the Alexandrian reading (א* A B), on the consideration that it is more likely that the less usual order was altered into the characteristic order, than vice versa.” B. M. Metzger, & United Bible Societies, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 2nd ed. (London; New York: United Bible Societies, 1994), pp. 418–419. In the face of overwhelming external witnesses demonstrating antiquity, variety and multiplicity the editors of the Nestle-Aland and United Bible Societies Greek New Testaments have demonstrated once again, along with Westcott, Hort Tregelles, and others, their prejudice for the highly subjective internal “probabilities.” Indeed, the editors of the United Bible Societies text even indicated an increased level of certainty from a {C} in their 3rd ed. (“difficulty in deciding”), to a {B} in their 4th ed. (“almost certain”).  Barbara Aland, Kurt Aland, Matthew Black, Johannes Karavidopoulos, Carlo M. Martini, Bruce M. Metzger, Allen Wikgren, eds., The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition 4th. rev. ed. (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1993, 1994), pg. 3. The only manuscripts that contain the reading found in these Greek New Testaments are: א*, B, A. The editorial committee’s prejudice in favor of these uncials is patent here as elsewhere. The external witnesses against this reading are as follows: p74, א2, (E, Ψ), 33, 36, 181, 307, 453, 610, 614, 945, 1175, 1409, 1678, 1739, 1891, 2344, m/Byz, [L, P], Ɩ156, Ɩ165, Ɩ170, Ɩ617, Ɩ1178, lat, itdem, vgmss, syrh, cop(sa), bo, geo, slav, Chrysostom, Jerome. Novum Testamentum Graece, eds. Eberhard and Erwin Nestle, 27th ed., eds. Barbara and Kurt Aland, Johannes Karavidopoulos, Carlo M. Martini, and Bruce M. Metzger (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1898, 1993), pg. 380; Barbara Aland, et al., op. cit., pg. 484. See also the New Testament Transcripts Prototype maintained by the University of Munster Institute for New Testament Textual Research at http://nttranscripts.uni-muenster.de/AnaServer?NTtranscripts+0+start.anv [accessed 24  NOV 2014].
On the exceptional nature of the “less usual order” see the following:
Nigel Turner, Syntax, Vol. III in James Hope Moulton, A Grammar of New Testament Greek, 4 vols. (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1963), pg. 350.
C. F. D. Moule, An Idiom-Book of New Testament Greek, 2nd ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1953, 1959), pg. 169.
[17] Johnson, op. cit., pp. 181-182; Bock, op. cit., pg. 605.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Knowing Jesus (Acts 19:13-17)

Knowing Jesus
Acts 19:13-17

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


Introduction:

 “A New Testament scholar of the present day has compared Luke’s literary style to “a lecture with lantern-slides; the pictures are shown one after another illustrating the story the lecturer wants to tell while he makes the transition from one plate to another by some general remarks”. Nowhere in Acts is this analogy more apt than in the account of Paul’s Ephesian ministry (Acts 19:1-41).” [1]

Outline:

I. The Strange Case of a Failed Attempt at Exorcism (19:13-14)
II. The Demonic Responses to the Attempted Exorcism (19:15-16)
III. The Extensive Effects of the Failed Exorcism (19:17)

Transition: 

The reputation of Ephesus worked its way into Shakespeare!

“Antipholus of Syracuse. Upon my life, by some device or other                                       260
The villain is o'er-raught of all my money. 
They say this town is full of cozenage, 
As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye, 
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind, 
Soul-killing witches that deform the body,                                                                            265
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks, 
And many such-like liberties of sin: 
If it prove so, I will be gone the sooner. 
I'll to the Centaur, to go seek this slave: 
I greatly fear my money is not safe.”                                                                                      270 [2]

I. The Strange Case of a Failed Attempt at Exorcism (19:13-14)

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. [3]

1. The Identities of the Exorcists (19:13a-b; 14)
2. The Statement of the Exorcists (19:13c-e)

1. The Identities of the Exorcists (19:13a-b; 14)

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists,….14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

vagabond - “itinerant” (ESV, HCSB), “who went from place to place” (NASB), “traveling from town to town” (NLT)

Sceva?

chief of the priests?

2. The Statement of the Exorcists (19:13c-e)

took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. [4]

adjure (KJV, NASB, ESV) - “command” (HCSB, NIV, NLT)

II. The Demonic Responses to the Attempted Exorcism (19:15-16)

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

1. The Audible Response to the Exorcists (19:15)
2. The Physical Response towards the Exorcists (19:16)

1. The Audible Response to the Exorcists (19:15)

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

1) The Recognition of Jesus
2) The Recognition of Paul
3) The Lack of Recognition of the Exorcists

1) The Knowledge of Jesus

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know

Jas. 2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

2) The Recognition of Paul

and Paul I know

Two different words are used in this verse for the demon’s familiarity with Jesus and Paul.

Trans
Acts 19:15
KJV
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
NASB
And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
ESV
But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”
HCSB
The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?”
NIV
One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”
NLT
But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”

There is a significant point being made here about the connection to the authority for the use of Jesus’s name, and the delegated authority to His Apostles. This should not only serve as a warning to any and all who would attempt to employ the Name of Jesus as some sort of magical incantation, as well as any pretenders to Apostolic authority or lineage.

Acts 8:9-24 (Simon the magician); and 13:6-11 (Elymas the Sorcerer)

3) The Lack of Recognition of the Exorcists

but who are ye?

Ask the question! Who are you?

2. The Physical Response towards the Exorcists (19:16)

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

1) The Exercising of the Exorcists
2) The Exit of the Exorcists

1) The Exercising of the Exorcists

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them
  
2) The Exit of the Exorcists

so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded

“…a ‘reverse exorcism’…” [5]

III. The Extensive Effects of the Failed Exorcism (19:17)

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

1. The Public News of the Failed Exorcism
2. The Psychological Impact of the Failed Exorcism
3. The Positive Testimony of the Failed Exorcism

1. The Public News of the Failed Exorcism

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus

2. The Psychological Impact of the Failed Exorcism

and fear fell on them all.

3. The Positive Testimony of the Failed Exorcism

and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified

cp. also verses 18-20!

Conclusion:

Do you know Jesus? Do you really know him any better than the demon did?

Are you familiar with Paul?

Who are you in relation to Jesus and Paul?

Complete outline:

I. The Strange Case of a Failed Attempt at Exorcism (19:13-14)

1. The Identities of the Exorcists (19:13a-b; 14)

2. The Statement of the Exorcists (19:13c-e)

II. The Demonic Responses to the Attempted Exorcism (19:15-16)

1. The Audible Response to the Exorcists (19:15)

1) The Knowledge of Jesus

2) The Recognition of Paul

3) The Lack of Recognition of the Exorcists

2. The Physical Response towards the Exorcists (19:16)

1) The Exercising of the Exorcists

2) The Exit of the Exorcists

III. The Extensive Effects of the Failed Exorcism (19:17)

1. The Public News of the Failed Exorcism

2. The Psychological Impact of the Failed Exorcism

3. The Positive Testimony of the Failed Exorcism

[Sermon preached 16 NOV 2014 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

*****************************************************************************

Resources on Acts:

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.

Paul Barnett, The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005).

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
                                                  
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).

Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

W. C. van Unnik, “The ‘Book of Acts’ the Confirmation of the Gospel,” in Novum Testamentum 4:1 (OCT 1960), pp. 26-59; reprinted in The Composition of Luke’s Gospel: Selected Studies from Novum Testamentum, compiled by David E. Orton, Vol. 1 of Brill’s Readers in Biblical Studies (Leiden: Brill, 1999), pp. 184-218.

William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

*****************************************************************************

Resources on Paul:

Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians  (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).

F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977).

D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), pp. 496-501.

W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Adolf Deissmann, Paul: A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson (New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).

F. W. Farrar, The Life and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and Letters”, in The Face of New Testament Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R. Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.

Richard B.Gaffin, Jr., "Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center on Westminster Theological Seminary at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].

Frank J. Goodwin, A Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Richard N. Longenecker, The Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).

Richard N. Longenecker, Paul, Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).

Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life, Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).

Richard N. Longenecker, Studies In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2004).

J. Gresham Machen, The Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1925).

Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1955).

John Pollock, The Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969, 2012); also published as The Man Who Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York: Doubleday, 1969).

Stanley E. Porter, Paul in Acts, in Library of Pauline Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).

W. M. Ramsay, The Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, Pauline and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, The Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York University (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914); on Internet Archive at http://ia600404.us.archive.org/2/items/teachingofpaulin00rams/teachingofpaulin00rams.pdf [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

A. T. Robertson, Epochs in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul The Missionary: Realities, Strategies And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008).

Udo Schnelle, Apostle Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).

Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2001).

James Stalker, The Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=vT0HAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 7 FEB 2013].

James Ironside Still, St. Paul on Trial (London: Student Christian Movement, 1923).




End Notes:

[1] F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977), pg. 289; citing W. C. van Unnik, “The ‘Book of Acts’ the Confirmation of the Gospel,” in Novum Testamentum 4:1 (OCT 1960), pg. 35; reprinted in The Composition of Luke’s Gospel: Selected Studies from Novum Testamentum, compiled by David E. Orton, Vol. 1 of Brill’s Readers in Biblical Studies (Leiden: Brill, 1999), pp. 184-218.
[2] William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors (1594?), in First Folio (1623), Act 1, Scene 2; on Open Source Shakespeare at http://www.opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/play_view.php?WorkID=comedyerrors&Scope=entire&pleasewait=1&msg=pl#a1,s2 [accessed 15 NOV 2014]; lines 262-267 cited by Bruce M. Metzger, “St. Paul and The Magicians,” The Princeton Seminary Bulletin 38:1 (June 1944), pg. 27; in the “Special Collections: Digital Collections” of the Princeton Theological Seminary Library at http://scdc.library.ptsem.edu/mets/mets.aspx?src=PSB1944381&div=7&img=1 [accessed 15 NOV 2014]; and F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977), pg. 291.
[3] On this episode see also:
F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977), pp. 291-293.
Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997), pp. 26-27, 178-184, 187.
John Pollock, The Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969, 2012); also published as The Man Who Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York: Doubleday, 1969), pg. 144.
A. T. Robertson, Epochs in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974), pp. 182-183.
[4] On this see especially Bruce M. Metzger, “St. Paul and The Magicians,” The Princeton Seminary Bulletin 38:1 (June 1944), pp. 27-30; in the “Special Collections: Digital Collections” of the Princeton Theological Seminary Library at http://scdc.library.ptsem.edu/mets/mets.aspx?src=PSB1944381&div=7&img=1 [accessed 15 NOV 2014].
[5] ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 2127, note.