Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 19:9

"But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus." — Acts 19:9 (ASV)

The ministry of Paul at Ephesus lasted approximately three years (cf. 20:31). It is remarkable how concisely Luke summarizes this extensive period— though perhaps not so remarkable if we may assume from the absence of the pronoun “we” that Luke was not himself an eyewitness of the events here narrated. The conciseness of the passage is particularly notable when compared with Luke’s expansive, anecdotal treatments of the ministry at Philippi (cf. 16:10ff.) and the return journey to Jerusalem (cf. 20:5ff.), where he was an eyewitness.

In the synagogue at Ephesus, Paul argued “persuasively about the kingdom of God.” He was speaking to those who had earlier received him favorably (cf. 18:19–21), and the three-month hearing they gave him was one of the longest he had in any synagogue. When opposition to “the Way” arose within the synagogue, he withdrew and continued to minister for two more years at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This was probably the hall of a local philosopher named Tyrannus (“Tyrant”) or one rented out to traveling philosophers by a landlord of that name. Since it is difficult to think of any parent naming his or her child “Tyrant,” the name must have been a nickname.

As for the rent for the hall, perhaps Priscilla and Aquila shared it or the growing congregation underwrote it. For two years Paul had daily discussions about the claims of Christ; during that time the Gospel radiated out from Ephesus through Paul’s converts so that the entire province of Asia heard the word of the Lord, with the result that many churches in the outlying cities and villages were founded (cf. Colossians 1:7; 2:1; 4:16; Revelation 2–3). Then after sending Timothy and Erastus as his envoys to Macedonia and Achaia, Paul stayed for a while longer at Ephesus (cf. 19:21–22).

While there, Paul wrote the Corinthian church a letter on the subject of separation from the ungodly (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:9–10)—a letter either not now extant or partially preserved (as often suggested) in 2 Corinthians 6:7–14:1. In reply he received a letter from certain members of the Corinthian church (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:1) seeking his advice on matters concerning marital problems at Corinth, food previously dedicated to idols, the decorum of women in worship, the observance of the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, and (possibly) the nature and significance of the resurrection. At about the same time he also had some visitors from Corinth, whom he identifies as “Chloe’s household” (1 Corinthians 1:11), who told of deep and bitter divisions within the church. And from rumors widely circulating (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1), he knew that some of the Corinthian believers were manifesting blatant immorality and pursuing litigations in the public law courts. To deal with these matters, the apostle wrote a second pastoral letter—1 Corinthians.

The problems at Corinth seem to have involved opposition to Paul’s authority and criticism of his doctrine, and he was forced to make a “painful visit” to the city in an attempt to settle matters within the church (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:1; 12:14; 13:1). This visit to Corinth from Ephesus is extremely difficult to place historically because Luke’s summary of events during this time is so brief and Paul’s references so allusive. It was not entirely successful, however, for Paul continued to rebuke the Corinthians. His opponents even taunted him, it seems, with being humble in their presence but bold when away (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:1).