The Way
Two Years in the Hall of Tyrannus
The word that spread from a lecture hall to all of Asia
Story
After leaving Corinth, Paul went to Antioch and then set out again. In Ephesus he met some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” They had received only the baptism of John the Baptist. When Paul told them about Jesus, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them. There were about twelve of them in all.
For three months Paul spoke boldly in the synagogue about the kingdom of God. But some hardened their hearts and spoke evil of the Way of Jesus in front of the crowd. So Paul took the disciples apart and taught every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, until all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia had heard the word of the Lord.
Around that time, worrying news came from Corinth across the sea. The church was splitting into groups and quarreling. The Corinthians had also written to him with a number of questions. From Ephesus, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth. Paul wrote, “You are the one body of Christ. Of faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love.”
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.
Brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: agree with one another, do not split apart, and be united in one mind and one purpose.
So these three remain forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 19:1–12
Background
The hall of Tyrannus is thought to have been a lecture hall belonging to a man named Tyrannus. One old manuscript adds that Paul taught there during the midday rest. At the end of 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote that he would stay in Ephesus until Pentecost.
Pause and Reflect
Even on busy days, do I stay close to God's word?