Christ's command to his followers before his ascension to heaven was for them to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the earth.

Our Lord did not intend for the good news of his death and resurrection to stay local, but

instead it was to be taken globally.

In this third section of Acts, the adventure continues as the gospel is taken to the ends

of the earth. Let's join Scott Pauley now for today's study.

There is no forward motion without friction.

If you're going to move forward, there's going to be difficulty.

There's going to be opposition.

That is especially true in the realm of spiritual

work. If the gospel is moving forward, know that Satan and all the hounds of hell are going to do

everything they can to push back against that. We're in Acts chapter 19. The gospel is advancing.

Remember, Ephesus now has become a gospel beachhead. All of Asia is going to hear the

word of God. And in verse 13, the Bible says, then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcist, took upon them to call

over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, we adjure you by Jesus whom Paul

preacheth. So here's a group of people that they want in on the action. They don't really believe

the gospel. They don't really know Jesus personally. But they feel like they can use this power

to their own benefit. And so they decide they're going to start casting out evil spirits as Paul has.

They'll just use the same name.

The Bible says in verse 14, and there were seven sons of one Skeva, a Jew,

and chief of the priest, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus, I know, and Paul, I know, but who are ye? I think it's fascinating

that this evil spirit, this devil, recognizes the name of Jesus, even recognizes the name of

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