We will spend the day at Ephesus, an important city in Paul’s third missionary journey. Although we usually imagine Paul constantly moving from place to place, Jesus often directs him to remain in a particular location for an extended period of time. Such will be the case in Ephesus, where Paul will preach for three years in order to establish a gospel movement that radiates out from the city to reach the entire region (Acts 20:31). During his time in Ephesus, Paul corresponds with the growing church at Corinth and labors toward their mature Christian formation (1 Cor 14:20).
In Acts 19:1, we read that Paul then travels through “the inland country,” reaching Ephesus after a month-long journey of nearly five hundred miles. When Paul reached Ephesus in the fall of AD 52 (Acts 19:1), he entered a bustling metropolis of 250,000 inhabitants enclosed by a five-mile wall. The city was built at the mouth of the Cayster River and served as the major port of the province of Asia. A long colonnaded street led to the city center with a civic theater that could hold 25,000 people. Ephesus was renowned as the cult center and guardian of Artemis, goddess of hunting, fertility, and patron deity of the city. The Temple of Artemis housed her multi-breasted image, which devotees claim to have fallen from heaven (Acts 19:36). The temple was the largest Greek building in the world at the time, more than twice the size of the Parthenon, with 127 columns each 60-feet high. The temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and employed a large number of priestesses known as “honey bees” and castrated priests called “drones.” Ephesus also had a reputation for magic and the occult. The phrase “Ephesian writings” was used in antiquity to describe documents that contain various incantations and spells. Despite such deep cultural barriers and imposing idolatry, Paul was most impressed in Ephesus by how Jesus had opened “a wide door for effective work” (1 Cor 16:9).
Following his usual pattern, Paul goes first to the synagogue and begins to reason from Scripture about the arrival of the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8). God does extraordinary work through Paul, who performs miracles and casts out demons in the name of the Lord Jesus. The spiritual authority of Jesus leads many to abandon their idolatry and occult practices. Luke describes a moving scene of genuine repentance as “many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:18-19). The gospel of Christ continues to confront idolatry and set the captives free. In fulfillment of God’s promise to fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord like the waters cover the sea, “the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Acts 19:20; see also Isa 11:9).
A surprising venue is opened for the public proclamation of the gospel. Luke records that Paul began “reasoning daily” in the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9). The Latin term Tyrannus means Tyrant; it might have been a nickname given to the teacher by his students! Nevertheless, Jesus tames the heart of this tyrant to open his school for the cause of Christ. An early Greek manuscript variant records Paul’s daily hours of instruction as 11 AM to 4 PM. During the peak heat of the day, Paul taught five hours a day for two years, more than three thousand hours. Over these many hours of teaching, Paul set forth “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8). As a result, “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). The Lord uses Paul’s daily lectures in the school of Tyrannus to establish a flourishing Christian community and a gospel movement in Ephesus that would even result in churches being planted in neighboring cities (Col 1:7).
Paul’s preaching about Jesus Christ comes as a frontal assault against the idolatrous worship of Artemis. Luke describes the resulting opposition as “no small disturbance concerning the Way” (Acts 19:23). Those who prosper through idolatry and the degradation of the image of God in humanity always resent the restoration of that image in Christ. A wave of opposition arises from the guild of silversmiths who benefited from selling images of Artemis. Their leader, Demetrius, rightly understood Paul’s preaching about Christ to claim that “gods made with hands are not gods” (Acts 19:26; cf. Isa 44:9-20; Acts 17:29). Demonic power can only parody the reality of God. The incarnation of Christ exposes the myth of Artemis’ descent from heaven. New birth through Christ reveals the misguided devotion to Artemis for protection at birth. The glory of Christ’s everlasting kingdom silences the petty civic pride that shouts: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:28). Alternative religious beliefs cannot compare to the truth of the gospel in Jesus Christ.
During Paul’s later imprisonment in Rome, he writes one of his most significant letters to the church at Ephesus. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a stirring statement of God’s eternal purpose in Christ and an exhortation to live out the unity of the church that is found in Christ. Paul begins by identifying himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” and addresses the church at Ephesus as “saints” (lit. “holy ones”), who are faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1). Paul generously applies here and in other letters the language of Israel’s calling to the entire family of believers in Christ (Exod 19:6; Lev 19:2). He prays that they would experience God’s great power in their life together as the church, the body of Christ in the world (Eph 1:15-23). The unity of the church displays the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10). The church fulfills God’s eternal purpose “in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” (Eph 3:11-12). Paul’s vision of God’s new humanity in Christ is overwhelming and leads him directly into worship, prayer, and praise:
Key Scripture Reference:
Acts 19-20; Paul’s letter to the Ephesians
Key Readings:
Peter Walker, In the Steps of Paul, chapter 10
Mark Wilson, Biblical Turkey, 202-228
David Palmer, CASKET EMPTY: God’s Plan of Redemption through History New Testament Study Guide, Pentecost part 2, Teaching part 2
Additional recommended resources:
Dr. Constantine Campbell, NT Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, presents a series of onsite videos documenting Paul’s missionary journeys entitled: In Pursuit of Paul.
Videos:
Home Turkey video gallery (search on "Ephesus")
Rick Steves' Ephesus overview
Amazing Places on Our Planet: Ephesus
Archaeology Illustrated reconstruction drawings of Ephesus during Paul’s ministry
In Acts 19:1, we read that Paul then travels through “the inland country,” reaching Ephesus after a month-long journey of nearly five hundred miles. When Paul reached Ephesus in the fall of AD 52 (Acts 19:1), he entered a bustling metropolis of 250,000 inhabitants enclosed by a five-mile wall. The city was built at the mouth of the Cayster River and served as the major port of the province of Asia. A long colonnaded street led to the city center with a civic theater that could hold 25,000 people. Ephesus was renowned as the cult center and guardian of Artemis, goddess of hunting, fertility, and patron deity of the city. The Temple of Artemis housed her multi-breasted image, which devotees claim to have fallen from heaven (Acts 19:36). The temple was the largest Greek building in the world at the time, more than twice the size of the Parthenon, with 127 columns each 60-feet high. The temple was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and employed a large number of priestesses known as “honey bees” and castrated priests called “drones.” Ephesus also had a reputation for magic and the occult. The phrase “Ephesian writings” was used in antiquity to describe documents that contain various incantations and spells. Despite such deep cultural barriers and imposing idolatry, Paul was most impressed in Ephesus by how Jesus had opened “a wide door for effective work” (1 Cor 16:9).
Following his usual pattern, Paul goes first to the synagogue and begins to reason from Scripture about the arrival of the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8). God does extraordinary work through Paul, who performs miracles and casts out demons in the name of the Lord Jesus. The spiritual authority of Jesus leads many to abandon their idolatry and occult practices. Luke describes a moving scene of genuine repentance as “many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:18-19). The gospel of Christ continues to confront idolatry and set the captives free. In fulfillment of God’s promise to fill the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord like the waters cover the sea, “the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily” (Acts 19:20; see also Isa 11:9).
A surprising venue is opened for the public proclamation of the gospel. Luke records that Paul began “reasoning daily” in the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9). The Latin term Tyrannus means Tyrant; it might have been a nickname given to the teacher by his students! Nevertheless, Jesus tames the heart of this tyrant to open his school for the cause of Christ. An early Greek manuscript variant records Paul’s daily hours of instruction as 11 AM to 4 PM. During the peak heat of the day, Paul taught five hours a day for two years, more than three thousand hours. Over these many hours of teaching, Paul set forth “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8). As a result, “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10). The Lord uses Paul’s daily lectures in the school of Tyrannus to establish a flourishing Christian community and a gospel movement in Ephesus that would even result in churches being planted in neighboring cities (Col 1:7).
Paul’s preaching about Jesus Christ comes as a frontal assault against the idolatrous worship of Artemis. Luke describes the resulting opposition as “no small disturbance concerning the Way” (Acts 19:23). Those who prosper through idolatry and the degradation of the image of God in humanity always resent the restoration of that image in Christ. A wave of opposition arises from the guild of silversmiths who benefited from selling images of Artemis. Their leader, Demetrius, rightly understood Paul’s preaching about Christ to claim that “gods made with hands are not gods” (Acts 19:26; cf. Isa 44:9-20; Acts 17:29). Demonic power can only parody the reality of God. The incarnation of Christ exposes the myth of Artemis’ descent from heaven. New birth through Christ reveals the misguided devotion to Artemis for protection at birth. The glory of Christ’s everlasting kingdom silences the petty civic pride that shouts: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:28). Alternative religious beliefs cannot compare to the truth of the gospel in Jesus Christ.
During Paul’s later imprisonment in Rome, he writes one of his most significant letters to the church at Ephesus. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a stirring statement of God’s eternal purpose in Christ and an exhortation to live out the unity of the church that is found in Christ. Paul begins by identifying himself as “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” and addresses the church at Ephesus as “saints” (lit. “holy ones”), who are faithful in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:1). Paul generously applies here and in other letters the language of Israel’s calling to the entire family of believers in Christ (Exod 19:6; Lev 19:2). He prays that they would experience God’s great power in their life together as the church, the body of Christ in the world (Eph 1:15-23). The unity of the church displays the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph 3:10). The church fulfills God’s eternal purpose “in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him” (Eph 3:11-12). Paul’s vision of God’s new humanity in Christ is overwhelming and leads him directly into worship, prayer, and praise:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19)Key site: Ephesus
Key Scripture Reference:
Acts 19-20; Paul’s letter to the Ephesians
Key Readings:
Peter Walker, In the Steps of Paul, chapter 10
Mark Wilson, Biblical Turkey, 202-228
David Palmer, CASKET EMPTY: God’s Plan of Redemption through History New Testament Study Guide, Pentecost part 2, Teaching part 2
Additional recommended resources:
Dr. Constantine Campbell, NT Professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, presents a series of onsite videos documenting Paul’s missionary journeys entitled: In Pursuit of Paul.
Videos:
Home Turkey video gallery (search on "Ephesus")
Rick Steves' Ephesus overview
Amazing Places on Our Planet: Ephesus
Archaeology Illustrated reconstruction drawings of Ephesus during Paul’s ministry
 |
| Library of Celsus at Ephesus |
Comments
Post a Comment
Comments are monitored and will be posted upon approval.