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Name: Layla Cleveland
BIBLE STUDY PROJECT: APPLICATION TEMPLATE
Passage: Acts 19:11-22
What points of application can be made using the “Four Questions for Application?” State and
explain 1 point of application for each of these four questions. Your explanation for each of these
points should be 1 paragraph (200-300 words) in length, clearly connected to a part of this
passage (by way of a verse quotation and/or citation), specific to this passage, and relevant.
1. The Question of Duty
In Acts 19:11-12 it quotes “God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When
handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were
healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.” Throughout this passage we learn that
God contains the power of healing evil spirits and sicknesses, and with these powers he works
through his disciples and works His powers through them on earth. In this story God made use of
objects like aprons and handkerchiefs to portray his vigorous powers. With that information God
shields his people from any risk and reveals any foolishness and lies trying to attack Him and his
people. This is when it comes to our jobs to put our best foot forward and defend His works and
power, and be confident in His works and be obedient to the missions that He sets us to. There
was an abundant amount of miracles that happened during Pauls ministry in Ephesus. God was
using Paul to cast out any evil spirits and sicknesses. A feasible application is when we are faced
with difficulty and troubles, that it is very important for us to stay obedient and faithful to Our
Lord God who is capable of all healing, and make sure that we are trusting Him instead of
making our own plans and going off onto our own path. Regardless the trials and tribulations that
Paul faced from the idolaters and Jews who didn’t believe in him, he was determined and
obedient to God and kept sharing what God had called him to do. Paul stayed strong and didn’t
let the devil defeat what he was called to do on that mission.
2. The Question of Character
In the story Acts 19:13-6 states “A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out
evil spirits . They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I
command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out.” There were seven sons
of Sceva and a leading priest. When they attempted to do it an evil spirit casted out and
responded saying “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Moments after, the man
that was filled with the evil spirit pounced and attacked the men with such aggressive violence
that they had to abandon the house that they were all in. Within these scriptures God is teaching
us as servants to remain humbled and stay open to His teaching and be willing to accept
criticism, so that we can gain more through Him, because none of it is possible without Him
moving through us. The people of Ephesus began to have fear in the name of Jesus Christ after
what they had heard about what happened to the sons of Sceva. This story portrays to us what
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God is frequently teaching us our big lessons by using our mistakes, and with these lessons it is
helping our faith to further grow for the better. This is another reason why it is so important for
us to be obedient to God and why it is important to be wise with our decisions towards God. It is
crucial that we are staying humble and not trying to use our own powers (that we don’t have) and
to not take credit for Gods work through us, and instead be thankful and praise Him. We need to
depend on the one and only power of the Holy Spirit. Paul was humbled and new that the power
that he was gifted with was not of his own, but fully through and from Christ.
3. The Question of Goals
The message of Acts 19:11-22 is focused on how Paul was passionate about Gods kingdom, and
how we need to do so as well. Our main focus should be on seeking His glory and relationships
in our obedience to His work. Our goals and work that we complete are not to be self-centered
and self-praised, but should be fully credited and praised to God. We should not be looking for
things in return as rewards such as wealth and fame, yet we should be seeking glory and a closer
relationship with God, and watch people build a spiritual relationship with God. Paul was
provided with a vision and was struck with a desire to share the gospel around the countries,
specifically those countries that were not yet introduced to the gospel. Paul was very disciplined
and did not let any of his own personal problems and obligations let him get distracted from what
God was having him do in his life. So instead of letting little things get to him, Paul stuck to
Gods word and learned how to approach each situation and stay strong to what he believed in.
This just shows how much it pays off to be obedient, no matter how hard it may seam at times,
and how God always has something bigger and better waiting for us once we learn to accept that,
and go through with it.
4. The Question of Discernment
We are fully surrounded by discernment. We as Christians understand that the devil is only full
of lies and he tries to discern us. If we are to fall for the wrong discernment, which is the devils
discernment, we are then tempted to fall into a life of temptations in sin. In Acts 19:14 it shows
us the discernment of the seven sons of Sceva. These seven sons of Sceva were lying to the
townspeople about what their riotous abilities to heal sicknesses and evil spirits. With this,
discernment can appear in different forms such as ritualistic practices and literature. In Acts
19:19 it states “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.” There are many practices such as ritualistic and magic that do not fall
under the name of the Lord, that are both sinful and offensive. These can lead to discernment of
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ones soul. Because of this sinful nature, it is very keen and important for us to only participate in
Gods Holy practices. With all of that, this verse of Acts 19:19, we conduct that the way to attack
the evil is by fully committing oneself to the Lord. And although we are surrounded by
discernment, we need to fully commit and give all of our trials and tribulations to God.
