Bible Strands
Acts 19:9
But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul relocates his teaching from the Ephesian synagogue to the lecture hall of Tyrannus after three months of proclaiming the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8). The move follows a specific group's refusal to believe and their public slander against "the Way."
The words — ἐσκληρύνοντο (esklērunonto) literally means "were hardened," denoting entrenched resistance. κακολογοῦντες (kakologountes) translates to "speaking evil of," describing the public slander directed at the movement.
The thread — The title "the Way" appears again in Acts 19:23 regarding a subsequent civic disturbance and in Acts 9:2 where Paul sought to arrest its followers. Paul's departure from a hostile synagogue mirrors his earlier response in Acts 18:6 when faced with open opposition.
Why it lands — The text records a practical pivot: when a group consistently rejects the message, ministry shifts to a new venue without abandoning the work. It requires the reader to accept that persistent hostility justifies a change in audience and location.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Cross-references
- Acts 19:23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
- Acts 9:2 and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
- Acts 18:6 But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
- Acts 14:4 The people of the city were divided. Some sided with the Jews, and others with the apostles.
- 2 Peter 2:12 These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
- Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
- Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
- Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way even to the death, detaining both men and women and throwing them into prison,
- Romans 9:18 Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.
- Romans 11:7 What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,