What does Acts 19:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Evidently Paul taught in Tyrannus" public hall for two more years. Later Paul said that he had labored in Ephesus for a total of three years (cf. Acts 20:31). Paul evidently began his third missionary journey and his three-year ministry in Ephesus in A.D53 , twenty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the day of Pentecost. As a result of this three years of work, the local Christians preached the gospel and established churches all over the province of Asia. Among these were the churches of Colosse, Laodicea, and Hierapolis in the Lycus Valley ( Colossians 4:13), though evidently Paul did not personally plant them (cf. Colossians 2:1; Colossians 4:13). Perhaps the other churches mentioned in Revelation 2 , 3 (i.e, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Philadelphia) got their start at this time too. [source][source]

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"We may think of the "hall of Tyrannus" as the centre of Paul"s activity, attracting many Gentile enquirers from the province generally, who in due course became themselves, like Epaphras, faithful ministers of Christ on Paul"s behalf ( Colossians 1:7)." ^[1] [source]

"The province was intensively evangelized, and became one of the leading centres of Christianity for centuries afterwards." ^[2] [source]

Many students of Acts do not adequately appreciate the significance of Ephesus as a center for the spread of the gospel. One must carefully note the clues in Acts and the epistles as well as later church history to understand what took place during the years Paul lived there. God had opened a wide door of opportunity for Paul, but there were many adversaries ( 1 Corinthians 16:8-9). Timothy and later the Apostle John followed Paul in ministry there. The Christians at Ephesus became the original recipients of at least three New Testament books ( Ephesians , 1,2Timothy) and possible as many as seven (1 , 2 , and3John, and Revelation). [source][source]

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Context Summary

Paul had planted good seed at Corinth, and Apollos, in turn, had watered it, 1 Corinthians 3:6. Large numbers became his devoted followers. This, however, excited no jealousy in Paul. Apollos and he were only instruments through whom God was pleased to work.

Meanwhile Paul had a ministry to fulfill in Ephesus. The twelve men mentioned had known only so much of the truth as had been revealed to the Baptist. They had felt the need of repentance and had heard of Christ as the Lamb of God; but of His resurrection and ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit they were ignorant. Paul at once fixed on this lack as the source of their impotence. He seemed to say, "If you men had received the baptism of the Spirit, you would move this city."

It was wise on Paul's part to remove the disciples and his work to their own premises, which soon became famous throughout the city and indeed throughout the adjacent country. People who had come in to worship at the shrine of Diana gave themselves to Christ, and the Christian faith became disseminated through the province, Ephesus itself being mightily moved. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 19

¹  The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands
⁸  The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles
¹³  The Jewish exorcists,
¹⁶  are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit
¹⁹  Conjuring books are burnt
²¹  Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;
³⁵  which is appeased by the town clerk