Who Are You

In one paragraph

This message walked through Acts 19:11-20:1, covering the extraordinary miracles surrounding Paul in Ephesus, a disastrous attempted exorcism by seven men who knew about Jesus but did not know Him, the public burning of magic books worth a small fortune, and a near-riot stirred up by a silversmith whose trade was threatened by the gospel. Pastor Mark used the whole passage to press one simple...

Read together

1. Acts 19:11 starting point for the sermon text, God performing extraordinary miracles through Paul
2. Acts 19:12 handkerchiefs and aprons carried from Paul healing the sick and driving out evil spirits
3. Acts 19:13 Jewish exorcists attempting to use the name of the Lord Jesus
4. Acts 19:14-16 the seven sons of Sceva overpowered by the evil spirit who said 'I recognize Jesus and I know of Paul, but who are you'
5. Acts 19:17 fear fell on all Ephesus and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified
6. Acts 19:18-19 believers confessing practices and those who practiced magic burning their books worth fifty thousand pieces of silver
7. Acts 19:20 summary statement: the word of the Lord was growing and prevailing mightily
8. Acts 19:21-22 Paul resolved in the spirit to go to Jerusalem by way of Macedonia, then Rome, sending Timothy and Erastus ahead
9. Acts 19:23 a major disturbance occurred concerning the Way
10. Acts 19:24-27 Demetrius the silversmith stirring up craftsmen, warning that Paul's preaching threatened their trade and the temple of Artemis
11. Acts 19:28-29 crowd filled with rage shouting 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians' and rushing into the theater
12. Acts 19:30-31 Paul wanting to enter the assembly but disciples and Asiarchs urging him not to
13. Acts 19:32 the assembly in confusion with the majority not knowing why they had come together
14. Acts 19:33-34 Alexander put forward by the Jews but shouted down for two hours when the crowd recognized he was a Jew
15. Acts 19:35-41 the town clerk quieting the crowd and dismissing the assembly, warning against riot
16. Acts 20:1 after the uproar ceased Paul encouraged the disciples and left for Macedonia
17. Acts 2:47 summary statement after Pentecost: the Lord adding daily those being saved
18. Acts 6:7 summary statement: word of God spreading and disciples increasing greatly in Jerusalem
19. Acts 1:8 Jesus telling disciples they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts
20. Acts 9:31 summary statement: church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoying peace and increasing
21. Acts 12:24 summary statement: the word of the Lord continued to grow and be multiplied
22. Acts 16:5 summary statement: churches strengthened in faith and increasing in number daily
23. Acts 17:24-25 Paul on Mars Hill saying God does not dwell in temples made by hands nor is served by human hands

Talk about it

1. The pastor described the sons of Sceva as people who knew about Jesus but did not know Jesus. What is the difference between the two, and where do you see that distinction showing up in your own life or in the people around you?
2. The craftsmen burning their magic books represented a costly and public break from their old practices. What has following Christ cost you, or what have you had to walk away from, that others could see?
3. The pastor pointed out that the word of the Lord kept growing and prevailing through opposition, confusion, and even a near riot. When has your own faith felt like it was in the middle of that kind of chaos, and what did you hold onto?
4. Demetrius was not wrong about the facts but was using them to protect his own livelihood rather than seek the truth. Can you think of a time when you resisted something true because it threatened something you were invested in?
5. The pastor closed by saying that if you are part of the majority who does not know what all the confusion is about, the answer is to turn your eyes on Jesus and humble yourself. What does that humility actually look like in a practical, daily way for you right now?