The Truth Hurts (Acts 19:8-41)

What would it take for you to sacrifice what is true and accept what is false? In other words, how much is the truth worth to you? We all want to believe we would be completely devoted to the truth. But we live in a world where it can be easy to get caught up in misinformation, propaganda, and false narratives. The truth can often be distorted and presented in a way that serves someone's agenda and appeals to our desires, leaving us with the challenge of discerning what is true. In today's message, we will explore three stories from the book of Acts, where we see men sacrificing the truth for something false. The big question we will consider is, "How much would it take for you to sacrifice what is true for what is false?"

Calling Good Evil (19:8-10)‌

The first part of our text reveals Paul preaching and teaching at a synagogue in Ephesus for three months. Before he came there, Aquila & Priscilla, and Apollos attempted to preach there, but apparently, the crowd had not fully decided what to believe.

Acts 19:8--10 (ESV) --- 8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks

These Jews do not accept the gospel that Paul has been teaching. They do not believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus or that he has fulfilled the OT prophesies. It got to the point where it wouldn't matter if Jesus himself walked into the room. They were stubborn and hard of heart, so they started calling what Paul was teaching evil. They labeled him a deceiver. So he withdrew from them and took those who believed with him. The text tells us that he spent the next two years teaching the disciples in Ephesus.

Lies Based On Feelings

As we read this part of the story, isn't it easy for us to relate to? Society has a tendency to reject the truth, no matter how extensive the evidence is, based on preference or feeling. How often have you witnessed someone deciding based on what they want to be true instead of considering an objective truth? As proud men and women, we often make assumptions about what is right in a given situation without paying any attention to the evidence or pausing to think about what is truly good or evil for everyone involved.

Lies Based On Fear

What is at the root of their rejection? Perhaps some are dealing with misinformation and a lack of understanding of the truth, but these Jews should know after listening to Paul for three months. Their rejection is due to their fear of change. They don't want to abandon what is traditionally taught and believed. They are insecure. It doesn't matter how well Paul explains it. To them, truth depends on what their forerunners thought was true. But something is false just because the people before us thought it was. This thought process led them to call what is good evil and reject God's blessings for them.

These lies don't work in other areas of life. We can't read a sign saying the bridge is out and decide it isn't. We might believe that we are safer to just drive over the bridge we have always driven, but we would be wrong. I wonder how many people have died because they didn't believe the hurricane was dangerous. They refused to believe the warnings. In the same way, how many have been led away from the gospel because men and women discounted it too quickly without taking the time to consider their prejudices and biases?

What About You?

What about you? Are there beliefs in your life not up for debate because it would be too painful to believe anything different? The truth does not depend on our feelings or our fears. It is not subjected to them. It depends entirely on the facts of what is happening in the world and beyond what we know and see. If we make the truth depend on our feelings and fears, we will find ourselves calling good evil and evil good.

An Identity Problem (19:21-41)

Now I'd like for us to look at the third example together. We skipped the second one, but we will come back to it.

In this section, we see Paul preparing to leave Ephesus, but a man named Demetrius is upset. You see, after the Jews rejected the gospel, many of the Gentiles accepted it. But, the acceptance of the truth is bad for business. If people in the city of Ephesus start becoming Christians, no one wants to worship idols anymore. They stop believing that idols do anything. This is a significant shift in thinking for people in those days. Demetrius is a silversmith. Listen to what he did.

Acts 19:25--29 (ESV) --- 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” 28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.

Demetrius is riling up the crowd and trying to mount a comeback for his job. He's not ready to accept the fact that his primary source of income is no longer acceptable. Here's a man who is passionate about idolatry. He pulls all the other craftsmen in to fill the city with confusion. Everyone is looking around and trying to figure out what is going on. Their speech instills fear in the people because the goddess and the temple bring in much business. Who knows what will happen if everyone in the city stops believing in and worshipping this goddess?

Now, why would they accuse Christians and cause a riot like this? Once again, we have a group of people who do not accept the teachings of Paul. That's their truth and their identity. They can't have men coming in and disrupting their lives with this gospel and eternal life nonsense. It's indirectly disruptive to their financial security.

Lies Based On Money

Again, I believe we can easily relate to this story. Can you imagine the uproar we would face if our country started taking faith in Jesus more seriously? What if Christianity spread so much that the pornography industry would have to shut down? What if people were so focused on living like Christ that the Psychiatrists and Counselors didn't have to work with people anymore because homes weren't so broken and people loved one another as Christ has loved them? That might remove the need for lawyers. What if the crime rate was also dramatically decreased so that the police force could be reduced? There are many aspects of our lives where godly living would solve problems.

That's what these folks are dealing with. It appears to be the end of the easy money and luxury lifestyles on the backs of idolatry and sexual immorality, and they aren't too happy about it. They can't let go of what is fake and accept the truth because they love money. They are emotionally attached to their possessions, and their desires are misplaced in temporary things. These affections are so strong that their identity is tied up in them. These things distract them from the truth and lead them to reject God's blessings and miss out on eternal life.

What About You?

What about us? What if we were put in a situation where our livelihood was threatened? Would we still accept the truth or give it up to be wealthy?

Partial Belief (19:11-20)

Now, let's go back to the second story. I chose this story for last because it has a happy ending, and I like to end with a happy one. In this story, we learn that Paul has been given the ability to perform many extraordinary miracles while in Ephesus. His miracle-working was on the level of Jesus, with people touching a piece of cloth that touched his skin and being healed, so you could imagine how much attention that would draw.

While he was healing many sick and casting out many demons, some traveling Jews came into town. These men were the sons of the high priest, Sceva. These Jews were exorcists and were called in to help a man with many demons. After they have tried everything to cast out the demons, they do something very interesting.

Acts 19:13--16 (ESV) --- 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

They tried to call on the power of Jesus' name like Paul was known to do, but the demon won't listen to them. Instead, the demon attacks them. He beats them and tears off their clothes, so they run away naked. One guy did this to seven guys. That's how powerful a demon is. But what's most interesting about this interaction is the words of this demon-possessed man. He says, "Jesus, I know, and Paul's name I recognize, but who are you?" You see, these men were not believers in Christ. They had not submitted to the gospel and had been granted the power to cast out demons. They still lived in disobedience but wanted to act like followers to gain benefits.

Lies Mixed With Partial Truths

This is unlike the other two. When we look at this story, we see that these men knew that Jesus had power. They could not deny it. They desired that level of power but refused to give themselves entirely to the truth. They thought it would be wise to accept some of the truth and reject the part they didn't like. They believe some of the truth but not all of it. They submit to some of it and want the power, but they reject the part they don't like. What about them? In this text, they end up naked and wounded. Jesus doesn't protect them or work through them. Notice what happened next.

Do you know anyone like this? They believe enough to get the blessings but aren't so convinced they are willing to commit fully. I think a lot of people are that way. That's why our church buildings are becoming more and more empty. People want to believe enough to get the blessings but don't want to give their lives.

Some Believed

Consider what happens when people find out about what happened to these men.

Acts 19:17--20 (ESV) --- 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

‌This event resulted in believers coming "confessing and divulging their practices." It says, "A number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all." Everyone hears this demon beating up seven men and recognizing Jesus and Paul. Then, they are ready to give up their magic. They come forward and admit that it was all fake. It was all an attempt to take advantage of people and deceive them. They are so committed that they burn all of their books.

What a remarkable turnaround at the end of this. Those who are impersonating power recognize what is true and confess their lies. That's a proper response. As a result, the word of God spread throughout the region.

Lessons Learned

These three stories show us three wrong responses to the truth and one correct response. People who aren't willing to accept the truth do so because they believe lies based on feelings, fear, and money. They have cares and concerns that are greater than their desire to know the truth. The Sons of Sceva knew they thought they could get away with a partial belief, but the truth mixed with lies is still a lie. These approaches are put to shame by the right approach. Like all magicians, everyone who hears the truth should confess their lies and give up a deceptive way of life.

We must walk in the light as he is in the light.

John 3:17--21 (ESV) --- 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Application‌

We may accept falsehoods without thoroughly examining the evidence in our fast-paced society. This can lead us down a dangerous path, away from the truth that sets us free. But it doesn't have to be this way. With God's guidance, we can resist the temptation to compromise the truth and hold fast to what is good and right. Let's open our hearts and minds and consider what it means today.

As we study this text together, do you feel the importance of the concept of truth? Truth is not something we just automatically know in our hearts. It's something we learn through a study of scripture. When we compromise that truth, we risk hardening our hearts and calling evil good and good evil. We might be trading the eternal for the temporary. Truth is the battleground where we fight against Satan, the great deceiver, and accuser. We cannot forfeit a love for truth for anything. When we make that compromise, we enter the darkness and lose sight of the faith God calls for us to put in him.

Conclusion

We must guard our hearts and minds against the temptation to sacrifice what is true for what is false. The lie might appear safe and comfortable and give you what you want. But accepting lies is the most dangerous thing we can do. We might need to challenge our beliefs and re-examine the evidence carefully, but it's worth it for our faith's sake and our souls' salvation. We must do like the magicians did and sacrifice everything for the truth. What do we need to burn and destroy so we aren't tempted to return to it? Buy into the truth and love God with all of our hearts.