1. Understanding the Gospel
Pastor David Jang delves deeply into Acts 18-19, emphasizing the importance of a "complete gospel" that the church must uphold, particularly through the example of Apollos-who "only knew John's baptism"-and the disciples at Ephesus. According to David Jang, the complete gospel is not merely about repenting of sin and being cleansed with water (the realm of John's baptism); rather, it encompasses the full process of salvation, including the forgiveness of sins through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Through this, both individuals and the church experience true rebirth and become empowered communities that influence the world-this is the core teaching of Pastor David Jang.
The figure Pastor David Jang focuses on in Acts 18 (latter part) and 19 (early part) is Apollos. Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria, well-versed in Scripture and academically gifted, with some knowledge about Jesus. However, the issue was that he "only knew John's baptism." That is, he had not fully understood the fundamental change brought about after the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ-namely, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the true essence of the church. Thus, when Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos preach, they likely discerned, "He speaks well about the Old Testament and repentance, but he is not conveying the completeness of the gospel of Jesus Christ nor the work of the Holy Spirit." Therefore, they took Apollos aside and "explained to him the way of God more accurately."
Pastor David Jang interprets this passage from the viewpoint of "the church's necessary recognition of the complete gospel." No matter how exceptional a church leader or preacher's biblical knowledge or eloquence might be, if he or she does not fully grasp Jesus Christ's death, resurrection, and the subsequent outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the gospel proclaimed will be "lacking." Such a deficiency might appear minor on the surface, yet it significantly hinders the church's growth, the depth of spiritual experience among believers, and the church's ability to influence the world. Apollos later became a leader whom even Paul highly regarded, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3 to the extent that Paul said, "I planted, Apollos watered." Pastor David Jang stresses that Apollos's development shows how a once-deficient leader can make a major contribution to the church once he grasps the complete gospel and experiences the power of the Holy Spirit.
This issue expands in Acts 19. Upon arriving in Ephesus, Paul meets some disciples and asks, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They reply, "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." This indicates that their knowledge was restricted to Old Testament concepts or John's baptism, lacking a full understanding of the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ's name. When Paul asks, "Into what then were you baptized?" they answer, "Into John's baptism." Paul explains, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in the one who was to come after him-that is, in Jesus." Then he baptizes them in Jesus Christ's name and lays hands on them so that they receive the Holy Spirit. As a result, they speak in tongues and prophesy, experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit; Acts 19 says there were about twelve of these people.
From this event, Pastor David Jang plainly points out what it means for a church or believer to remain at "John's baptism." While John's baptism is an extremely important starting point-an expression of repentance before God by confessing sin and being washed with water-if one does not grasp the complete event of Jesus Christ's shed blood on the cross, the total forgiveness accomplished by His resurrection, and the new stage of redemptive history opened by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2, then one has only understood "half the gospel." Staying at half the gospel means neither believers nor the church can fully enjoy the power and fruit they are called to. The reason is that only through complete forgiveness of sins, the experience of being born again by the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit's power actively working in our lives can the church become the true community of God.
Accordingly, Pastor David Jang clarifies the meaning and limits of John's baptism and strongly asserts the path to complete salvation-receiving forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit through baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. This is not limited to interpreting Acts 18-19 historically; rather, it suggests that today's church must not end with the moral appeal "Repent!" but must fully teach why Jesus Christ came, how His death and resurrection lead to the forgiveness of sins, and how the Holy Spirit renews each believer and the community. Only when the church moves beyond the state of "knowing only John's baptism" to the fullness of Jesus Christ's and the Holy Spirit's baptism does it become a "complete church." Pastor David Jang repeats this message, diagnosing it as the driving force that caused the early church to thrive.
Why does this complete gospel revive and grow the church? Pastor David Jang points to the "work of the Holy Spirit." Those who only know John's baptism may outwardly profess purification through repentance and water baptism but tend to rely on their own strength and effort in their faith. However, when they are baptized in Jesus Christ's name and receive the Holy Spirit, they no longer depend on human righteousness; instead, they experience fundamental transformation by the power of the Spirit and a newly reborn life. Under the Holy Spirit's work, churches and believers are transformed, evangelism and missions thrive, the community's love comes alive, the sick are healed, demons are cast out, and the church exerts powerful influence on the world. This exactly matches what happened in Ephesus in Acts 19. In other words, repentance on the level of John's baptism was insufficient; once the Holy Spirit's work came in the name of Jesus Christ, the Ephesian church became a radically new community. Acts 19:20 concludes by saying, "So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily."
Ultimately, Pastor David Jang underlines that a church only becomes powerful when believers "completely receive and experience" the truth of forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit's outpouring in the name of Jesus Christ, and that this has been a clear hallmark of the early church since Pentecost in Acts 2. He also expresses concern that, while many modern churches try to grow through programs, organizational strategies, or event-driven gatherings, they often fail to teach the "complete gospel" and the "work of the Holy Spirit" properly. For Pastor David Jang, Acts 18-19 offers a specific guideline for such churches-serving as a wake-up call to reconsider "what the church is missing."
Within this context, he asks, "How many modern church leaders today resemble Apollos?" Even if someone is well-versed in Scripture, captivates the congregation with eloquent preaching, and is proficient in today's cultural or doctrinal discussions, if that person has not truly experienced and taught the significance of the cross, resurrection, and the Holy Spirit's presence, he or she remains at the level of "knowing only John's baptism." Like Priscilla and Aquila guiding Apollos "more accurately" to the truth of Jesus Christ's name and the Holy Spirit, the church's mission is to guide such leaders and believers correctly so that they might truly acquire and embody the complete gospel.
Pastor David Jang believes that when the church transitions from John's baptism to Jesus Christ's baptism and the fullness of the Spirit, countless souls will be saved and the world will witness transformation through the church's manifested power and love, just as recorded in Acts 19. This is, in his view, the mission of the church and the core of early church history as revealed in Acts. The transformative power of the gospel, as witnessed in the changes of Apollos and the Ephesian disciples, demonstrates the foundational value that modern churches must rediscover. Such a gospel-centered shift ultimately paves the way for overcoming divisions or immaturity within the church and partaking in God's work; Pastor David Jang calls this "the restoration of the complete church."
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2. The Gifts of the Spirit and Diversity in the Church Community
Alongside a concern for the completeness of the gospel, Pastor David Jang also pays careful attention to how the work of the Spirit within that gospel manifests in "various gifts and fruits." In Acts 19, where speaking in tongues and prophesying occur, he cautions against using any single gift as definitive proof of salvation or the sole evidence of the Spirit's presence. He draws from 1 Corinthians 12-14 to explain how Paul laid out diverse gifts and the church's ethic of love, underscoring how the modern church should avoid splitting over gifts and instead strive to build one another up.
According to Acts 19, the Ephesian disciples, after being baptized in Jesus Christ's name and receiving the Holy Spirit through Paul's laying on of hands, began speaking in tongues and prophesying. Historically, some groups have taken this passage to mean that "tongues are essential evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit," while others argue, "tongues are just one gift and not the sign of salvation." Pastor David Jang's approach is that "it is indeed a fact that tongues and prophecy appeared when the Holy Spirit came, but it does not follow that these gifts are the only and universal proof of the Spirit." He cites 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul discusses many gifts-wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discerning spirits, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues-showing that the one Spirit manifests Himself in various ways.
Pastor David Jang particularly highlights 1 Corinthians 12:3, where Paul states that "no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit," underscoring that genuinely confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is already a work of the Spirit. Therefore, whether or not one speaks in tongues or prophesies cannot be used as an absolute standard to measure if someone has received the Spirit. Paul firmly warned the church not to overvalue specific gifts such as tongues or prophecy to the point of fostering pride or causing division. From the details in 1 Corinthians, it seems the Corinthian church was riddled with factions-Paul's group, Apollos's group, Cephas's group, Christ's group-and also with excessive boasting and confusion regarding spiritual gifts.
In this vein, Pastor David Jang notes, "The divisive patterns in the Corinthian church are not so different from those in modern churches." Different congregations place varying emphases on certain gifts: some heavily elevate speaking in tongues, to the extent that believers who do not speak in tongues are looked upon with suspicion; others place disproportionate emphasis on prophecy or healing ministries, stirring an unhealthy craving for supernatural phenomena. Yet as Paul clarifies in 1 Corinthians 12:7-"To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good"-gifts are bestowed to build one another up, not to display anyone's personal power or spirituality. Concluding 1 Corinthians 12, Paul declares, "And I will show you a still more excellent way," leading straight into the "love chapter" (1 Corinthians 13). Without love, all spiritual gifts become "a noisy gong" and are meaningless; the church must practice love while exercising a variety of gifts.
Pastor David Jang explains that the church which maintains a healthy measure of the Spirit, where diverse gifts are harmonized and centered on love, is precisely a Spirit-filled community. Citing the manifestations of tongues and prophecy in Acts 19 as proof of the universal necessity of such gifts in all churches would ignore the "diversity of the Spirit." As Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 12, "just as a body, though one, has many parts, so there are many different gifts." Such teaching is still relevant today. One congregation might emphasize speaking in tongues; another might excel in teaching or healing ministries; yet another might excel in service or hospitality. When these facets are recognized as part of the "Spirit's diversity," the church moves forward in cooperation rather than division. Pastor David Jang reiterates that it is crucial to maintain the perspective that everyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord already lives in the Spirit.
Why, then, did tongues and prophecy spontaneously appear the moment Paul laid hands on people in Acts 19? Pastor David Jang attributes it to the regional and spiritual circumstances of Ephesus, where the Spirit provided "signs" in a special way. Ephesus was a large city full of superstition, magic practices, and idolatry, and people there often looked for manifestations of divine power in mystical experiences. In such a context, the "undeniable sign of the Holy Spirit" was needed to confirm the genuine power of the gospel. Tongues and prophecy served as immediate proofs for those who had only known John's baptism, declaring the arrival of a new divine power throughout Ephesus. However, this cannot be converted into a doctrine that "all churches must manifest tongues and prophecy if they receive the Spirit."
Ultimately, Pastor David Jang explains that 1 Corinthians 12 and following do not conflict with the Spirit's work in Acts 19. As the Corinthian church boasted and compared spiritual gifts, leading to strife, so contemporary churches risk instability the moment they idolize certain gifts like tongues, prophecy, healing, teaching, service, or anything else. However, only when the church accepts all gifts in love and puts them to work together for building up the body of Christ does it truly experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Pastor David Jang calls this an "authentically Spirit-filled community," repeatedly stressing that the church can be as influential as the early church when the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ unite with the diversity of the Spirit's gifts in one body.
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3. Paul's Ministry in Ephesus, the School of Tyrannus, and Pastor David Jang's Perspective on the Core Task of Modern Church Education
Focusing on Acts 19, Pastor David Jang highlights Paul's founding of the school of Tyrannus in Ephesus and his daily teaching there for two years as a model example of church education. He argues that churches today are mistaken if they believe that one Sunday sermon alone can fully equip believers spiritually and lead them into discipleship. According to Pastor David Jang, the explosive revival and profound influence of the early church was driven, in large measure, by the systematic and daily education provided at Tyrannus Hall.
Acts 19:8-10 describes Paul initially preaching in the synagogue for three months about the kingdom of God. When that setting became hostile with opposition and slander, he withdrew the disciples, and for about two years he taught daily in the school of Tyrannus. Due to these efforts, everyone in Asia (modern-day Asia Minor) heard the word of the Lord. Ephesus was then a key cultural and religious hub of Asia, heavily populated and vibrant. Thus, the fact that Paul used Tyrannus Hall-a sort of teaching venue-to instruct and debate daily indicates that "systematic biblical education" was among the prime engines for the church's growth.
Pastor David Jang says modern churches must urgently revisit this part of Acts. Countless congregations today rely almost exclusively on a weekly sermon and small group sessions, diverging significantly from the early church's "daily" mode of instruction. While in modern times people are busy with work and school, and thus cannot realistically gather daily at church, Pastor David Jang insists that churches must create active educational programs-both in-person and online-throughout the week, so that believers do not miss the blessing of receiving and discussing God's word "day by day," as seen in Acts 19. Without such opportunities, believers remain under the delusion that a single Sunday service can complete their faith development.
The phrase "Paul took the disciples apart and taught daily in the school of Tyrannus for two years" bears profound significance, which Pastor David Jang calls "an immersive and ongoing training model." Paul settled in Ephesus, gathered the disciples, and immersed them thoroughly in God's word. Consequently, they publicly burned their magic scrolls (Acts 19:19), and when the sons of Sceva attempted to cast out demons by invoking "the name of Jesus" without genuine faith (Acts 19:13-16), they failed, thereby revealing that only the name of Jesus Christ carried real power. As a result, the Ephesian church became a center of mission outreach for all of Asia.
From these insights, Pastor David Jang concludes, "A church that does not teach the Word thoroughly has no power and is easily divided. But a church that learns the Word systematically and experiences the Spirit's power exerts unimaginable influence." He adds that at the heart of this phenomenon lies an "educational system akin to the school of Tyrannus." Certainly, in today's world we have the internet, multimedia, and digital tools, so it is not about reproducing the precise form of Tyrannus Hall. What is essential, however, is the "daily attitude of teaching," repeatedly focusing on the heart of the gospel and encouraging discussion and practice. Pastor David Jang stresses that such an approach remains indispensable for the church's fundamental mission, regardless of era.
Furthermore, Paul's tentmaking-working with his own hands and using sweat-soaked aprons and handkerchiefs that became instruments of healing (Acts 19:11-12)-illustrates how powerful the Holy Spirit's work can be when combined with diligent teaching and tangible daily service, says Pastor David Jang. In Ephesus, it was not just theory; Paul's bi-vocational labor, dedication, and the believers' own efforts coalesced to free a society ensnared in magic and idolatry. Modern churches thus need not only intellectual instruction but also living examples of devoted service. Pastor David Jang sums it up: "When biblical teaching meets sacrificial living, the church puts its feet on the ground and genuinely transforms the world."
Although Acts does not detail the exact content of Paul's teaching in Tyrannus Hall, Pastor David Jang argues that hints appear in Paul's farewell speech in Acts 20 and in his letter to the Ephesian church (Ephesians). Themes like "the gospel of grace," "salvation through the cross of Jesus Christ," "the renewing work of the Spirit," "unity in love as members of the church," and "putting on the whole armor of God against the spiritual forces of evil" in Ephesians 6 likely reflect the core messages Paul would have emphasized. Since Ephesians especially highlights "union with Christ, the head of the church," it stands to reason that Paul meticulously taught believers at Tyrannus Hall to ground the church in both doctrine and practice.
Pastor David Jang maintains that only when "the complete gospel," "the Spirit's diverse gifts," and "intensive teaching" operate together, as a kind of triad, can the historic works of the early church be duplicated. He cautions that if churches resort to shallow events to boost attendance or focus on social prestige and ignore "serious education," they will inevitably remain in the incomplete state of John's baptism or confine themselves to superficial charismatic experiences. By contrast, if they follow the Tyrannus Hall model-consistently sharing the gospel, recognizing the Spirit's work, loving each other through all kinds of gifts, and leading with genuine service-they can experience a revival akin to what occurred in Jerusalem or Ephesus.
According to this reasoning, Pastor David Jang insists that the modern local church should prioritize "lifetime discipleship training of believers" through education. It must not be left solely to the pastor; the church as a whole must adopt a "Tyrannus Hall mindset" in today's world. A small congregation might open daily or frequent Bible studies or use online platforms for teaching materials and Q&A between pastors, teachers, and believers, fostering a culture of instruction and discussion. Larger churches might establish Bible colleges or training institutes. Whatever the method, it should share in the spirit of "teaching daily," as illustrated in Acts 19, to produce genuine discipleship and a robust church. Pastor David Jang often poses the rhetorical question, "Without making the effort to meditate on God's Word day and night, sharing and applying it together, how can we expect to possess the power of the early church?"
Summarizing his perspective, Pastor David Jang contends that Acts 19, especially the ministry of Tyrannus Hall, brought about a revolution in Ephesus and Asia Minor, a revolution that modern churches would do well to emulate. This is not mere nostalgia for a distant past; it is a direct invitation to experience for ourselves what happens when we fully proclaim the gospel, honor the Spirit's manifold gifts, educate believers daily, and foster a community of love and service. Underlying all this teaching are the conclusions that a church must: (1) stand on "John's baptism progressing to the name of Jesus Christ" (the complete gospel), (2) recognize and integrate "the Spirit's many gifts in love," and (3) be a "community combining focused biblical instruction with sacrificial devotion."
Pastor David Jang believes the lack of these elements largely explains why many churches lack power and merely follow the world. Either they remain stuck in superficial repentance or religious formalities (John's baptism), overly exalt certain gifts or phenomena leading to rivalry and schism, or neglect robust teaching by relying solely on a Sunday sermon. Such churches will not exert the kind of holy and transformative impact that defined Ephesus or the early church. However, if a church examines itself, asking, "Are we truly proclaiming Jesus Christ's gospel and the Spirit's power in full? Are we embracing a variety of gifts with love to build one another up? Are we instructing and training believers daily, not just on Sundays?" and acknowledges areas of shortfall, then the door opens to replicate what Paul did, creating a new "Tyrannus Hall" for our own times.
Ultimately, Pastor David Jang's central point converges into one truth: the revival of the early church did not happen by chance or by mere human fervor. It was undergirded by the astonishing work of the Holy Spirit and a system of continuous Bible study, mutual love in spiritual gifts, and active service and discipleship. As a result, the city of Ephesus was transformed, and all of Asia came under the influence of the gospel. Pastor David Jang believes if the modern church chooses this path of becoming a "complete church," it can yield similar fruit. He often says: "When we teach God's Word rightly and deeply, fully follow the Spirit's leading, and share gifts in love, power will follow naturally. We don't need to artificially engineer programs or increase membership through human means-God Himself will add to our number. This is the biblical secret of church growth."
Pastor David Jang concludes that the message of Acts 18-19 for contemporary churches is far from "just a story of the past." It encompasses virtually every aspect of church life: a leader like Apollos, who had knowledge but lacked the complete gospel; the twelve Ephesian disciples who had repented but did not know the Holy Spirit; the daily teaching at Tyrannus Hall; Paul's self-supporting work and miracles; and the failed attempts of the sons of Sceva who tried to exploit Jesus' name without real faith. All these episodes unify into one overarching lesson: "When forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ's cross and resurrection, the Holy Spirit's power and varied gifts, and daily instruction in love converge, the church becomes a living conduit of God's power."
For Pastor David Jang, this is the core DNA the church must recover. Without it, no matter how large the facilities or how abundant the finances, the church loses vitality, disappoints people, and runs the risk of being swept away by worldly currents. He urges church members-especially leaders-to reaffirm the gospel of Christ, revive the "Tyrannus Hall spirit" of mutual teaching and learning, and train themselves daily to value the manifold gifts of the Holy Spirit in unity. By doing so, the church can embody what Acts depicts as a "church with power," transforming countless lives and inspiring genuine repentance. This is the overarching theme of all Pastor David Jang's messages centered on Acts 18-19, a teaching he continues to emphasize in his sermons and lectures today.
