This week we are looking at Acts 19 – and noting the various ways the people of Ephesus

respond to the gospel of Christ when Paul presents it to them.

In today’s passage, Paul is in Ephesus speaking to the people of the synagogue about

Christianity: Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months,

arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. (Acts 19:8)

Paul spent three months doing this! You don’t usually spend three months doing something if

you feel like you aren’t getting anywhere.

However, Paul did have some difficulty that caused him to make some changes: 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. (Acts 19:9)

Eventually Paul felt he was no longer being effective in the synagogue, so he left! And he went

to a different place that was not the “church” in town to keep his ministry going. We see this

decision paid off in Acts 19:10: This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia,

both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

By making the decision to leave the difficulty he faced in the synagogue after three months,

Paul was able to keep his ministry going for two years and reach many more people, both Jews

and Greeks.

Have you ever found yourself “stuck”? Have you ever felt that what you are doing is not effective

regardless of what you try? Pray about it and seek God’s wisdom. Sometimes it is a sign to look

for a way to change the strategy of your ministry. It may be just a small change. Paul stayed in

the same town and went to a different building.



I have been in jobs and ministries where I have served alongside close friends where we had

much in common. God didn’t need two of us there! Before too long, one of us felt called to do

something else.

Next time you find someone (or yourself) in this situation, encourage them to seek God’s

wisdom.

By Jason Grace

Jason is a software engineering manager. He and his wife, Karen, have two children and have

been active members at Immanuel for over 22 years. His service includes roles in the deacon

ministry, children's ministry, technical team, financial coaching, and leading Bible studies. He

loves traveling with his wife and family throughout the US.