7. “And all the men were about twelve.”
We are not to be occupied with numbers, but it is interesting to note how often the Spirit records numbers for our learning. When numbers become a matter of pride (2 Sam. 24), God brings solemn judgment. But there are other, important, “moral” lessons to be learned when God records numbers.
These twelve Gentile disciples, having been saved, baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit and given sign gifts, were now administratively responsible (symbolized by the number “12”) to their risen Head in glory. The assembly gathered to His name acts with administrative authority in the fear of God.
8. “And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.”
The beloved Apostle continues seeking to bring the truth before his beloved brethren in the flesh. Faith in Christ is to be displayed by moral conformity in daily life actions suited to God’s kingdom.
9. “But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.”
Paul did not continue to strive when the truth was rejected. Rather than subjecting the glorious truth to evil speaking (in moral principle, casting “pearls before swine”), he leaves the synagogue, where the truth ought to have been known and embraced, and uses a Gentile to preach God’s truth.
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.”
The hardened Jews heard things concerning the kingdom of God for three months. All they of Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus for two years. Let’s use the present “two years” of God’s grace to faithfully preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
11-12. “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”
God graciously and powerfully confirmed the truth of Paul’s preaching through miraculous signs. Today we have the written Word of God to confirm the truth of the gospel. But practical blessings ought to be a normal result of preaching the gospel. We do not expect miraculous events to confirm our words, but good works certainly ought to clothe our words.
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.”
What a horrible and blasphemous use of the precious name of Jesus by those who were guilty of His death! Fallen man dares to dabble in the spirit realm, seeking to gain supernatural power, when, as a slave of Satan, he is helpless and powerless against those very forces of evil by which he is enslaved.
Believers can display moral and spiritual victory over Satan in daily life, for “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” The infinite power of the blessed Spirit of God indwelling us gives the power to “resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Mere religious profession is helpless and worthless.
14-15. “And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”
Their position as sons of the chief priest should have provided power to overcome the enemy’s opposition. But the whole Jewish system had itself been overcome by evil. Thus there was no acknowledgment or trembling by the evil spirit in the presence of these seven sons. It is only in the presence of the Son of God that devils fear and tremble. Walking in the reality of faith as sons of God gives us power, dignity and victory over the enemy.
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.”
The emptiness and helplessness of their false profession became naked and open, not only before God, but before all they had tried to impress. Connecting false Christian profession with Satanic power results in awful defeat, pain and scars.
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.”
The name of Jesus was invoked by the seven apostate Jews in an attempt to mimic the power of God. But God uses His solemn judgment to glorify the name of the Lord Jesus. Let us ever own, submit to, and speak lovingly of our blessed Jesus as Lord.
18. “And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.”
Real faith produced by godly fear brings repentance and confession. Our lives and testimony should always be marked by such reality.
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.”
Man valued his Creator God, come to set at liberty those held captive by Satan, at thirty pieces of silver, while books about the power which held man in bondage were valued at fifty thousand pieces of silver. How dark the wicked delusion of man’s heart!
20. “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”
The living, eternal, never-changing Word of God is victorious over all man’s foolish, wicked books filled with the works of Satan. May our lives always be directed by the liberating power of the Word of God.
Ed.