Acts 19:8-10 8And when he entered the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months, discussing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9But when some became hardened and were disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, withdrawing from them, he took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10And this continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Although Paul got frustrated a lot with the Jews he encountered on his travels, he continued his strategy in Ephesus of going to the local synagogue, where he had been openly received before in 18:19. Luke’s inclusion of how Paul spoke boldly is a significant indicator of Paul’s faith and devotion to the cause of Christ that comes out in his various letters. He was passionate about what he was doing, unafraid of any personal consequences because he allowed Christ’s grace to work in him (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
Paul did not appeal simply to the emotions but to the minds of those gathered to listen to him in the synagogue. Emotions come and go, but clear thinking leading to firm conviction will last. The topic of his speaking was the kingdom of God. This phrase is common in the Synoptic Gospels and was Jesus’ central teaching. The phrase is not used often by Paul in his letters. Based on what Luke records about Paul’s sermons, the kingdom was all about Jesus as Messiah and Lord and what faith in him offers.
As with other situations he encountered in his travels, Paul became frustrated with the obstinate Jews who would not listen to his clear explanation based on their own Scriptures. Being stubborn is related to unbelief and is a result of rejecting the message and light of the gospel. The unbelief of the Jews lead to the malignment of the Way, which is another word for the church (9:1–2; 19:23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).
Paul’s response of leaving indicated his frustration. Verse 9 suggests that there is a point where division is necessary: when people refuse to believe the truth that is clearly proclaimed. With Paul’s move to the hall of Tyrannus, the work in Ephesus began to become more Gentile. This hall (schole) served as a good meeting place where Paul, as the rhetorician, could give his “speeches” and audiences could listen and dialogue with him. The core group of believing Jews had a vision for their pagan community. As Luke often does in Acts, he provides a summarizing statement in verse 10 of how the gospel continued to spread. The phrase all the residents of Asia may be an overstatement, but it reinforces the dedication of Paul and his ministry team, as well as the witness of the growing church. One man or a small group could never get the word out to the whole region by themselves. The only way the gospel of Christ could have gotten out so far and so quickly was through the words and changed lives of the new believers. One evidence of this is Epaphras who went to nearby Colossae to start the work there (Colossians 1:7-8). When one way closes, God will open another. We just need to trust his guidance with courage and faith.