Message

When Paul left Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus, he promised to "return. . . if God wills." After he had gone up to Jerusalem, he spent some time in Antioch before embarking on his third missionary journey. He revisits the churches in Asia Minor (modern-day central Turkey), strengthening the believers. We now find him back in Ephesus, where he meets some disciples who knew only John's baptism. Paul tells them about Jesus, and they are "re-baptized." Paul prays for them and lays hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. This is considered to be the Pentecost of Ephesus. Unusual miracles and events take place, culminating with the forsaking of "magic arts," and the destruction of their books. The result is "the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed."