ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Acts 19

Acts 19:1 while Apollos was at Corinth. See 18:27. Disciples here refers to followers of John the Baptist. They did not know of Jesus (19:4).

Acts 19:2 not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. They had probably moved from Palestine to Ephesus before Jesus’ ministry began. As followers of John, they knew the Messiah would bring the Spirit (Luke 3:16).

Acts 19:5 Having learned how Jesus had fulfilled the message of John the Baptist, these disciples of John submitted to baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus. On baptism in the name of Jesus, see note on 10:48.

Acts 19:6 the Holy Spirit came on them. They received the new covenant presence and power of the Holy Spirit, as on the day of Pentecost (see notes on 1:8; 2:4). Their speaking in tongues and prophesying was an outward demonstration and verification of their receiving the Spirit. (See note on 1 Cor. 12:10 and notes elsewhere on 1 Corinthians 12–14.)

Acts 19:9 The Way refers to followers of Christ. See note on 9:1–2.

Acts 19:10 Paul ministered in Ephesus for about three years (c. a.d. 52–55; see 20:31). That he reached all the residents of Asia reflects his missionary strategy. He started in the major cities and then sent coworkers into the surrounding area to establish churches.

Acts 19:12 handkerchiefs or aprons. These were not magical objects. Rather, the Holy Spirit’s presence sometimes remained evident in connection with objects that Paul had touched (see note on 5:15).

Acts 19:13 itinerant Jewish exorcists. These persons used extensive ceremonies and spoken formulas to try to free people from the influence of evil spirits.

Acts 19:15–16 Using the name of Jesus was not enough to cast out evil spirits. True faith in Jesus was also necessary.

Acts 19:19 The Greco-Roman world believed in magical incantations and spells (see note on 13:6). They often collected them into books that sold for large sums. Pieces of silver probably refers to the Greek drachma, which represented a laborer’s average daily wage.

Acts 19:21 Macedonia included the churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Achaia included the church in Corinth. This verse provides an outline for the rest of Acts (see 20:1–2; 21:17; 28:14).

Acts 19:22 having sent into Macedonia . . . Timothy and Erastus. Paul apparently wrote 1 Corinthians during the springtime, near the end of his time in Ephesus (see Acts 19:21; also 1 Cor. 16:5–10). Paul sent the letter to Corinth with Timothy and Erastus (see 1 Cor. 16:10). Later he left Ephesus to go to Corinth (see Acts 20:1–2; 1 Cor. 16:5). Erastus was a Corinthian and is included in Paul’s greetings in Rom. 16:23 and 2 Tim. 4:20.

Acts 19:23 The Way refers to followers of Christ. See note on 9:1–2.

Acts 19:24 Silver shrines were replicas of the temple of Artemis. These were used for home altars or as offerings to be presented to the goddess.

Acts 19:28 Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Civic and religious pride led to the riot.

Acts 19:29 The theater had a capacity of more than 20,000 in Paul’s time. It was the place people gathered for town business meetings. Gaius and Aristarchus were eventually released. Aristarchus reappears later as Paul’s companion (see 20:4; 27:2; Col. 4:10; Philem. 24).

Acts 19:31 The Asiarchs were the keepers of the imperial Roman cult in Asia. They were concerned about the safety of their fellow citizen Paul.

Acts 19:33–34 The role of the Jew Alexander is unclear. Perhaps he wished to separate the Jews from the Christians in the crowd’s minds.

Acts 19:35 The town clerk was the chief administrative officer of the city. The sacred stone that fell from the sky probably refers to a meteorite. Meteorites were associated with Artemis worship.

Acts 19:38–40 the courts are open. Courts conducted by the Roman proconsul to settle disputes as well as the scheduled meetings of the town assembly. there are proconsuls. A “proconsul” was the head of government in a Roman province (see 13:7; 18:12). The town clerk’s reasoning shows the Christian gospel was not contrary to Roman law and did not disrupt public order.