Several Lessons

Acts chapter 19 has several lessons for us today.

It starts out highlighting the difference between how each of us can be used by God in a mighty way if our hearts are right.  But if we are self-serving and power-hungry, it can go bad quickly.  We see it at the beginning of the Bible between Cain and Abel and we see it in Acts 19 with the Seven Sons of Sceva. 

However, even though this story is a warning, it is also yet another example of how all things work together for good for the called of God.  There a newfound respect for the name of Jesus after the debacle with the seven brothers. It also motivated many to confess their own dabbling in the black arts, hand over their magic books and burn them.  

Then we read of the riot in Ephesus. In general, I think we can agree that nothing was accomplished by this riot.  But this is my curiosity. We just happen to be reading Acts amidst the backdrop of the riots happening in many of our cities currently. There are no coincidences in God’s economy. 

We would do well, I believe, to glean from these events, tools that we can apply in our present times.  So much seems to be parallel.  Innocent people were being injured, blind rage led the charge, and many didn’t even know why they were there.  Then, they even feared that Paul would be torn apart if he entered the amphitheater.  We see people being torn apart today.

Praise God that He provided this level-headed city clerk to calm the crowd.  Who will be the voice of reason today? 

I would love to know your thoughts.