Acts 19:9-10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 19:8-12

Paul is here very busy at Ephesus to do good. I. He begins, as usual, in the Jews? synagogue, and makes the first offer of the gospel to them, that he might gather in the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who were now scattered upon the mountains. Observe, 1. Where he preached to them: in their synagogue (Acts 19:8), as Christ used to do. He went and joined them in their synagogue-worship, to take off their prejudices against him, and to ingratiate himself with them, while there was any hope... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 19:8-12

19:8-12 He came into the synagogue and for three months he spoke with boldness, debating and persuading people about the things connected with the kingdom of God. When some made themselves difficult and would not believe, and when they spoke ill of The Way before the congregation he left them and withdrew the disciples from them and debated daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Asia, Jews and Greek alike, heard the word of God; and God kept on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:9

But when divers were hardened and believed not ,.... For though some were affected with and convinced by the arguments the apostle used, others were but the more hardened and remained incredulous: for the Gospel, while it is the savour of life unto life to some, it is the savour of death unto death, to others; as the sun melts the wax, and hardens the clay: but spake evil of the way before the multitude ; the Syriac version and Beza's ancient copy read, "before the multitude of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:10

And this continued by the space of two years ,.... Reckoning from the end of the three months, which had been spent in teaching in the synagogue: so that all they which dwelt in Asia ; in the lesser Asia, called the proconsular Asia, of which Ephesus was the chief city: heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks ; these, as they came to Ephesus, whether on account of religion, the Asiatic Jews to their synagogue, and the Greeks or Gentiles to the famous temple of Diana,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 19:9

When divers were hardened - Τινες , When some of them were hardened; several no doubt felt the power of Divine truth, and yielded consent. Our term divers, one of the most bald in our language, has too general a meaning for this place. Behold the effect of the word of God! It is a savour of life unto life, or death unto death, according as it is received or rejected. The twelve men mentioned above received it affectionately, and they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; the others were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 19:10

By the space of two years - The schoolhouse of Tyrannus was his regular chapel; and it is likely that in it he taught Christianity, as Tyrannus taught languages or sciences. All they - in Asia heard the word - Meaning, probably, the Proconsular Asia, for the extent of which see the note on Acts 16:6 . Jews and Greeks - For, although he ceased preaching in the synagogues of the Jews, yet they continued to hear him in the school of Tyrannus. But it is likely that Paul did not confine... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 19:9

Verse 9− 9.Seeing their hearts were hardened. We do not read that Paul was heard so patiently and so favorably by the Jews at any place as at Ephesus at his first coming. For whereas others raising tumults did drive him away, he was requested by these to tarry longer. Now, after that he had endeavored, by the space of three months, to erect the kingdom of God among them, the ungodliness and stubbornness of many doth show itself. For Luke saith that they were hardened; and surely such is the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 19:10

Verse 10− 10.All which dwelt. Luke doth not mean that the men of Asia came thither to hear Paul; but that the smell [savor] of his preaching went throughout all Asia, and that the seed was sown far and wide; so that his labor was fruitful not only to one city, but also to places which were far off; and that cometh to pass oftentimes, that when the truth of God is preached in one place, it soundeth where the voice of the minister cannot sound, being spread abroad far and wide; because it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 19:1-20

The advance. The founding of a Church at Ephesus, the capital city of Proconsular Asia—a great center of Greek and Asiatic life, civil, religious, and commercial, the seat of the famous temple of Artemis, the place of concourse of all Ionia for its celebrated games—is one of those great epochs in the history of Christianity which arrest the attention and demand the consideration of the Christian reader. Not above two years (if so much) had elapsed since the Holy Ghost had expressly... read more