The Bible Recap – Day 332 (Acts 18–19) – Year 7
Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: November 28, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble walks listeners through Acts chapters 18 and 19, tracking Paul’s missionary journey from Corinth to Ephesus and the events that unfolded as the Gospel took root and spread. The focus is on God’s sovereign orchestration of circumstances, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the challenges and miracles encountered by early Christians.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Paul in Corinth: Tentmaking and Ministry
- Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla, fellow tentmakers who were expelled from Rome.
- “He probably makes tents Sunday to Thursday. Then on Saturday he heads to the synagogue to do some reasoning, as is his way.” (00:33)
- Paul’s shift in ministry focus:
- After persistent rejection by Corinthian Jews, Paul adopts Jesus’ gesture of shaking dust off—“the Byefelicia of the Bible”—to signify he’s done all he can. He then turns his focus to the Gentiles.
- “What Jesus said about shaking the dust off and what Paul does here, these actions are location specific. This isn’t a dismissal of the Jews at large.” (01:14)
- Despite rejection, many Gentiles and some Jews come to faith.
2. Divine Encouragement and Protection
- God reassures Paul in a vision, promising protection and fruitfulness.
- “Getting this kind of encouragement from God about protection usually means there’s going to be some kind of threat to be protected from.” (01:55)
- Paul stays in Corinth for 18 months; when accusations come, the governor dismisses the charges, fulfilling God’s promise.
3. Paul’s Nazarite Vow
- Paul gets a haircut related to a Nazarite vow—a detail Luke includes to signal Paul’s commitment.
- “Most likely, Paul adhered to the Nazarite vow while he was living in Corinth, which is known for its worldliness. It would have been a way to set himself apart.” (03:05)
- Listeners are referred to the show notes for more on the Nazarite vow.
4. Encounter with Apollos in Ephesus
- Aquila and Priscilla meet Apollos, a talented teacher lacking understanding of the Holy Spirit.
- “They both pull him aside and together they explain things to him to fill out his theology a bit more.” (04:12)
- Apollos becomes a major asset to the church after his teaching is completed.
5. Paul's Ministry in Ephesus & the Holy Spirit
- Paul returns to Ephesus, meeting believers who were only baptized by John the Baptist.
- Upon learning about the Holy Spirit, “they’re filled with the Holy Spirit and start prophesying and speaking in tongues.” (05:03)
- Clarification of terms:
- Prophecy is “telling the truth,” sometimes about the future.
- Speaking in tongues: Occurs here for the second time in Scripture, details are less clear.
6. Teaching at Tyrannus Hall
- Paul, facing resistance in the synagogue, moves to the secular Tyrannus Hall.
- “I don’t have any interest in casting my pearls before swine. So he goes down the street to teach in a different building, one that is probably more of a cultural space.” (06:01)
- He teaches daily for two years, spreading the Gospel widely due to Ephesus being a travel hub.
7. Extraordinary Miracles and Power Struggles
- God works unique miracles through Paul:
- “People are even healed by his handkerchiefs. These things are so unique, in fact, that even scripture notes how odd it is.” (07:10)
- Local exorcists misuse Jesus’ name and are overpowered by a demon.
- Memorable moment: “The demon basically responds by saying, ‘I know who Jesus is, of course, and I’ve heard of Paul, but I don’t know you and I don’t have to listen to you.’” (08:08)
- Tara-Leigh: “They leave the house naked and wounded. Yikes.” (08:23)
8. Repentance and Spiritual Awakening
- Widespread conviction leads people to confess sins, renounce magic, and publicly value God above all.
- “They start confessing their sins and turning from them. They renounced the dark arts they’d been practicing…” (08:45)
- Summary: “The word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” (09:11)
9. Riot Over Threat to Idolatry
- A silversmith fears loss of income due to declining idol sales and incites a riot centered on the goddess Artemis.
- “A mob mentality takes over, and some of the people who are rioting don’t even know why they’re rioting.” (10:05)
- The town clerk calms the crowd, reminding them of Artemis’ “statue and holy meteorite” and urging peace to avoid trouble with Rome.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On God’s sovereignty:
- “God is weaving all these little details together behind the scenes. Everything from jobs to timing to rejection. He has his hands in everything because how else could he work all things together for the good of those who love him?” (12:08)
- “He’s always at work on our behalf. I love him. He’s where the joy is.” (12:40)
- Connection to Romans 8:28:
- “Like Romans 8:28 said, if he weren’t working in all things…”
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Paul Meets Aquila & Priscilla, Tentmaking — 00:33
- Paul Shakes Off the Dust, Focuses on Gentiles — 01:14
- God’s Encouragement in a Vision — 01:55
- Nazarite Vow Explained — 03:05
- Aquila & Priscilla Disciple Apollos — 04:12
- Paul Returns to Ephesus, Holy Spirit Outpouring — 05:03
- Teaching in Tyrannus Hall — 06:01
- Extraordinary Miracles Through Paul — 07:10
- Demon Overpowers Exorcists Misusing Jesus’ Name — 08:08-08:23
- Citywide Repentance & Confession — 08:45
- Silversmith Riot, Artemis Worship — 10:05
- Reflection on God’s Sovereign Timing — 12:08-12:40
Reflection: God’s Sovereign Timing and Placement
Tara-Leigh highlights how God masterfully orchestrates details:
- In Acts 18, Paul’s profession and Aquila and Priscilla’s displacement lead to strengthening the church through Apollos.
- In Acts 19, synagogue resistance pushes Paul to a more public space, catalyzing the spread of the Gospel across Asia.
- “He has his hands in everything... He’s always at work on our behalf. I love him. He’s where the joy is.” (12:40)
Tomorrow: The journey continues into 1 Corinthians. Supplemental resources and a video overview are available in the show notes.
This summary captures the natural, encouraging tone of Tara-Leigh Cobble’s teaching, distilling the core narrative, spiritual reflections, and key learning moments of the episode for listeners and non-listeners alike.