Acts 19:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

See how Paul everywhere enters the synagogues himself and then departs. Everywhere he wished to begin with them, as I have said before. The Gentiles received him with zeal and eagerness. And when the Gentiles received him, the Jews came to repentance. He wished to separate the disciples from there and to begin with them, so that they would not gather together with the others. He did this not without reason. Therefore he often conversed with them, because he was persuading them. When you hear of Paul’s boldness, do not take it for obstinacy. He spoke about useful things, about the Kingdom of God. Who would not listen to this? The word “boldly” means that he was ready even for dangers. He spoke openly, without concealing the teaching.

What does "he spoke boldly" mean? He exposed himself to dangers. Or it means that he began to speak still more plainly, without obscuring his teaching. See how everywhere Paul enters the synagogues and always comes forth in the same way, since everywhere he desired to use the occasion.

Paul later chose as the place of his more prolonged activity a city especially important for spreading the Gospel. It was the center of communication and commerce for a vast part of Asia, the greatest commercial city in Asia on this side of Taurus: Ephesus. Here, however, Christianity faced a new struggle with alien directions of the religious spirit. These either directly opposed it, or threatened to merge with it. Pagan magic held sway here, having its origin in the mystical service of Diana. Behind this pagan magic, Jewish magic also gained access there. The spirit of the age was unsatisfied by religion and always thirsted for something new. It supported this false teaching: that by one’s own powers one could open communion with heaven and with spiritual powers.

After settling in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul, according to his custom, began to visit the synagogue and fearlessly preach Christ there. He did this for about three months. But certain Jews were gradually stirred up against the apostle’s preaching. Finally they became so hardened that they began openly to slander the way of the Lord before the people. They mocked the apostle’s teaching and the Christ Whom he preached. Then Paul left them and separated from them all the Christians in Ephesus. For his preaching he moved to the school of a certain Tyrannus. There he preached not only on the Sabbaths, as he had done until then in the synagogue, but daily. This school became a Christian school. The apostle remained in this situation in Ephesus for about two years.

The Apostle Paul arrived in Ephesus after Apollos had departed. According to his custom, he became a regular visitor to the synagogue, where he also preached the Gospel. There he first addressed those prepared for Christianity by the brilliant preaching of Apollos. Then he began preaching the truths of Christianity to the Jews generally.

Entering the synagogue, as Paul usually did (Acts 17:2 and note), he preached fearlessly for three months. The last word shows that, though the Jews were disposed toward him and his preaching, not all were so. Opposition to him gradually arose and developed. Nevertheless, he preached fearlessly, boldly, and without special apprehension for a whole quarter of a year. Concerning the Kingdom of God, see the notes on Mt 3:2; Jn 3:3; Jn 3:5.

The place of the apostle’s preaching in Ephesus was at first the synagogue, where he appeared on the days when the Jews gathered there. This shows that here too, as everywhere, the apostle preached above all to the Jews. They were more prepared to hear the teaching concerning the Messiah and Savior. The apostle’s special love for the Jews moved him to this; see Rom 9:3. In order to be more worthy of attention, he accompanied his preaching concerning Christ with prophetic and other testimonies. It seems that he did this consecutively. His preaching in the synagogue lasted a full three months. In that time, with the liveliness of his speech, he could recount everything foretold of Christ in Moses, the prophets, and the psalms.