Chapter

Acts 19:9

ESV But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.
NIV But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
NASB But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus.
CSB But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples, and conducted discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
NLT But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
KJV But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

What does Acts 19:9 mean?

The people of the Ephesian synagogue had heard something of Paul's teaching months before and asked him to return (Acts 18:19–21). Now that he has, many of them find it hard to swallow. He is explaining the kingdom of God: how Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and rose again to forgive our sins and reconcile us to God. But the synagogue is surrounded by witchcraft, demons, and Artemis worshipers (Acts 19:13, 19, 24). This "Jesus," who offers salvation outside of the Mosaic law—God with a physical form—sounds too much like the Greek gods. Fortunately, although Paul's antagonists drive him from the synagogue, they don't run him out of town like in other cities.

Paul finds a hall in town he can rent. One source says the church uses the venue from 11 am to 4 pm, when normal people take a siesta. The church that had started with twelve men grows as Paul preaches there for two years (Acts 19:1–7, 10).

The synagogue troubles may follow Paul back to Jerusalem. Ephesus is on the west coast of the province of Asia in southwestern modern-day Turkey. When Paul returns to Jerusalem, he brings some of the Gentiles with him. Jews from Asia see Paul at the temple and assume he has brought the Gentiles with him. They cause a riot that the Roman guards break up (Acts 21:27–36). Eventually, Paul is arrested by the Romans and, after two years in house arrest at Caesarea Maritima, taken to Rome.

"The Way" is what early Christians called their belief system. In part, it refers to Jesus, "the way, and the truth, and the life," and His work on the cross (John 14:6). It also identifies what we would call "Christianity" (Acts 9:2; 22:4; 24:14, 22).
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