In what ways does Acts 19:26 connect with the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? The First Commandment in Brief “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) Paul’s Claim in Ephesus “And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large number of people, saying that gods made by hands are no gods at all.” (Acts 19:26) Continued Call to Exclusive Allegiance • Both passages insist there is only one true God. • Exodus states it positively—“before Me” allows no rivals. • Acts states it negatively—“gods made by hands are no gods at all,” exposing idols as nonexistent. Idolatry Unmasked • Exodus forbids elevating anything above or alongside the LORD. • Paul repeats the same standard centuries later, confronting Artemis worship and all man-made deities. • Isaiah 44:9-11, 19-20; Psalm 115:4-8—prophets and psalmists echo the same argument: idols are lifeless. Creator vs. Created • Exodus roots allegiance in God’s self-revelation as Creator and Redeemer (Exodus 20:2). • Acts contrasts the living Creator with objects fabricated by craftsmen (cf. Acts 17:24-25). • 1 Corinthians 8:4-6—“there is no God but one… yet for us there is but one God, the Father… and one Lord, Jesus Christ.” Cultural Collision • Sinai: Israel called to stand apart from surrounding polytheism. • Ephesus: new believers abandon lucrative idol trade, sparking economic backlash (Acts 19:23-27). • Both scenes show faithfulness to God disrupting societies built on false worship. Continuity of Revelation • Deuteronomy 6:4—“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.” • 1 Thessalonians 1:9—believers “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” • From Moses to Paul, Scripture lands on the same foundation: sole allegiance to the one true God. Practical Takeaways • Identify modern “hand-made” substitutes—career, pleasure, possessions—that compete for first place. • Measure every loyalty against the First Commandment’s absolute claim. • Follow Paul’s example of clear, courageous proclamation that only the Creator is worthy of worship (Romans 1:23-25). |
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