[NIV] 1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took theroad through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. Therehe found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you
receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered,
"No, we have not even heard that there is a HolySpirit." - P48
4 Paul said, "John‘s baptism was a baptism of repen-tance. He told the people to believe in the one comingafter him, that is, in Jesus." - P48
5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of theLord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, theHoly Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tonguesand prophesied. - P48
9 But some of them became obstinate; they refusedto believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul leftthem. He took the disciples with him and had discus-sions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews andGreeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the wordof the Lord. - P49
Paul arrives in Ephesus. The disciples there have only received John‘s baptism,
so he explains about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For three months, he ar-gues persuasively about the kingdom of God in the synagogue. - P49
Some rejectand malign him, so Paul leaves. For two years, he holds discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus
so that Jews and Greeks in the province hear God‘s Word. - P49
Paul knows that whenever he walks into a synagogue, he is enteringhostile territory. - P50
He understands that his message could easily lead to hisheto,
arrest or even execution. And yet, in every city he travelsthe synagogue and boldly proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah. How canhe be so confident? - P50
Paul‘scourage comes from the power of the HolySpirit dwelling within him. The very same Spirit dwells in us today. Ifyou are in Christ, you can preach the gospel with the same boldnessas Paul because you have the same Spirit within you, giving you thewords to say. - P50
It is a huge encouragement to realize that the Holy Spiritis always with us, helping us to point others to Christ. So, the next timeyou feel afraid of a hostile response to the gospel, remember that theHoly Spirit empowers you to face opposition with boldness. - P50
Japan is a global leader in technology and consumer goods and boasts the third largesteconomy in the world. However, Japanese society currently faces a number of alarming socialissues such as a high abortion rate, high suicide rate, and low birth rate. - P50
This has brought aboutan atmosphere of anxiety and hopelessness to an otherwise prosperous nation. - P50
Though thechurch in Japan is small, it is faithfully working to show Christ‘s love to the Japanese peopleso they can find hope in Him. - P50
Dear Jesus, thank you for bringing us salvation through Your sacrifice on thecross. - P51
Continue to fill us with the Holy Spirit. Empower us to share about You withothers for Your glory. In Your name, amen. - P51
[NIV] 11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that hadtouched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesseswere cured and the evil spirits left them. - P52
15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know,
and Paul I know about, but who are you?" - P52
20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely andgrew in power. 21 After all this had happened, Paul de-cided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedoniaand Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I mustvisit Rome also." - P53
God works amazing miracles through Paul. The sons of Sceva drive out evilspirits and are confronted by one that says it does not know them. The manwith the evil spirit beats them so badly that those in Ephesus are seized withfear. Sins are publicly confessed, sorcery scrolls are burned, and God‘s Wordspreads. Paul decides to go to Jerusalem. - P53
The presence of the Holy Spirit is so strong upon Paul that His pow-er begins to work through handkerchiefs and aprons that Paul hastouched, healing those who are sick and spiritually oppressed. - P54
SomeJews attempt to imitate these miracles by using Jesus‘ name to cast outdemons. However, to these men, Jesus is nothing more than a toolthat they are using to bring glory to themselves. - P54
Even the evil spiritrecognizes their counterfeit faith and attacks them. The name of Jesushas incredible power and should never be used in vain. - P54
Those who havewholeheartedly put their faith in Him, however, are invited to call uponHis name and experience His deliverance whenever they need help. - P54
The people of Ephesus become awestruck by what has happened: thename of Jesus is so powerful and fearsome that even demons will vi-ciously attack those who use it with ungodly motives. - P54
This leads to apublic confession of sin. A group of people who had practiced sorceryburn their scrolls as an act of repentance. - P54
As more and more peoplerepent and believe, the gospel continues to grow in
influence and power.
- P54
This is the power of Jesus; He is the ultimate fulfillment of everyword and every promise that has been spoken in Scripture. - P54
His namealways triumphs, and His grace compels sinners to fall to their knees in repentance. - P54
Father, where I lack the faith to call out to You in Jesus‘ name, may You increaseit. It is by Jesus‘ name that I have been saved and given new life. What a pow-erful and beautiful name it truly is. In His mighty name I pray, amen. - P55
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