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The Way - Acts 19
The Way - Acts 19
Here in Acts 19, we encounter the phrase “the Way” describing the followers of Jesus (Acts 19:9, 23). Such description of the disciples will appear some 10 times in Acts. I find it instructive!
First, Jesus claimed that HE was the way, the truth, and the life and that NO ONE can come to God apart from Him (John 14:6). He explained that there are TWO ways but only ONE of them leads to God: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus also said, “unless you believe that I Am, you shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Peter would say: “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Of course, such a claim was controversial. Amidst all the religious ideas of that time, this is THE way, the only way. The unbelieving Jews called it the ‘heresy” [the way which they call heresy] (Acts 24:14).
It is further defined as the way of peace (Luke 1:79; ); the way of salvation (Acts 16:17); the way of the LORD (Acts 18:25); the way of God (Acts 18:26); the way of truth (2Pet. 2:2); and the way of righteousness (2Pet. 2:21).
As Jesus showed, it is a narrow way. It really hinges on the truthfulness of who Jesus is. Paul declared that Jesus was declared with power to be the Son of God by the resurrection (Rom 1:4). With the resurrection, He is shown to be the Lord of all, the Christ, the Savior.
To trust Him and follow Him faithfully is to in ‘the Way’ and to be on our way to an eternity with God. Hence the pivotal question for you: are YOU in the WAY?
Hugh DeLong
