Doug’s Coffee Break

Paul hurries toward Jerusalem, charting a careful course through the Aegean. By walking to Assos, sailing past Ephesus, and meeting the Ephesian elders in Miletus instead, he balances urgency with pastoral care—pressing forward on mission while making time for heartfelt farewells.

In Troas, an all-night gathering with Paul turns dramatic when young Eutychus falls to his death from a window—only to be restored to life. This episode gives a rare glimpse into early Christian worship, Sunday gatherings, and the miraculous power that confirmed the gospel in the apostolic church.

As Paul moves through Macedonia and Greece, he writes 2 Corinthians and Romans, navigates assassination plots, and oversees a collection for the Jerusalem church. Luke’s brief account expands into a journey of danger, strategy, and gospel advancement, stretching as far as the edge of the Roman world.

A powerful city official steps in to end the riot in Ephesus, defending Paul’s companions and warning of Roman consequences. His calm logic and political savvy dissolve the chaos, sparing the city and the church. Even in the eye of a civic storm, the gospel moves forward—Paul writes, visits, and builds.

In the massive theater of Ephesus, a gospel-fueled riot erupts as Paul’s preaching threatens local idols—literally and economically. Gaius and Aristarchus are swept up in the chaos, while Paul is held back by friends, both Christian and official. For two hours, the city shouts in defense of Artemis, revealing how deeply culture and commerce were tied to worship.

As Paul sets his course for Rome, a riot in Ephesus reveals the power of the gospel to disrupt economic systems tied to idol worship. Behind the noise of religious outrage is a deeper fear: the loss of profit. In this pivotal moment, the gospel continues its relentless march—from Jerusalem to the heart of the empire.

In this episode, we explore Acts 19 and the explosive impact of Jesus’ name in Ephesus. Awe spreads, secret sorcery is renounced, and believers burn costly magic books in a radical turn toward Christ. As darkness is exposed, the church surges forward, transformed and empowered.

Paul’s miracles in Ephesus echo Peter’s earlier works, affirming his apostolic authority. But when impostors try to wield Jesus' name for personal gain, they’re exposed—literally. This dramatic clash highlights the victory of Christ over counterfeit power and the dangers of spiritual pretension.

Paul’s bold three-month run in the Ephesian synagogue was unusually peaceful—until public opposition forced him to shift venues. Teaching daily from the lecture hall of Tyrannus, Paul sparked a gospel movement that reached across Asia Minor. This episode traces the strategic, Spirit-filled groundwork behind one of the most fruitful seasons of Paul’s ministry.

Paul’s arrival in Ephesus opened a new chapter in his ministry, but it also revealed gaps in spiritual understanding among early believers. This episode explores how Paul addressed a group of disciples who knew only John’s baptism, why they were re-baptized, and how the Holy Spirit’s unpredictable movement in Acts reflects a pivotal transitional period in church history.