And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 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. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.—Acts 19:1–20

Sermon Discussion Questions

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Introduction: What’s in a Name?

1. The Power of Jesus in the Giving of the Spirit (Acts 19:1–7)
2. The Power of Jesus in the Preaching of the Word (Acts 19:8–10)
3. The Power of Jesus over the Powers of Darkness (Acts 19:11–17)
4. The Power of Jesus in the Provision of Repentance (Acts 19:18–20)

Prayer Reflection

Discussion Questions

• In your life, which names have the most meaning to you? Which names bring about the most joy, hope, and comfort? Which names bring about the most fear? 
• Does the name of Jesus fill you with joy, hope, and comfort when you hear it? 
• Reflect on what it means that we have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. How does that give you hope for endurance, victory over sin and the devil, and evangelism? 
• Reflect on the gift of the word of God and the privilege it is to know it and speak it. Where have you seen the word of God change someone’s heart? 
• When was the last time you thought of the devil as working with your flesh in your sin? Why do we take him for granted so often in our society? 
• Is there any area in which the Lord, in his power and mercy, is prompting you to repent of today? What steps can you take?