So far in our study of Paul, he has been on two of his missionary journeys. He’s been to Corinth, Thessalonia, and to Galatia and established churches all over the region.
We’ve studied his letters to Thessalonia and to Galatia. Soon after he wrote the letter of Galatians, about 53 AD, he began his third missionary journey. This journey involved a long ministry at Ephesus, a major port city on the western coast of Asia Minor, with a harbor on the shores of the Aegean Sea. It was a center of trade from the sea and the hub of the region’s road system, therefore, it was a thriving city.
It was an administrative center for the Romans, had religious shrines, a spacious theater, a stadium, and many elegant public buildings, giving Ephesus an integral place in the cultural life of the entire region.
Acts 18:24-28 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Paul worked for over two years at Ephesus, probably making tents again since Aquila and Priscilla were in Ephesus. This was the same tent maker Paul had worked for previously in Corinth. While living and working there, he taught the Gospel and his teachings were accepted by disciples of John the Baptist.
Acts 19:1-7 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit after you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in different languages and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
Some from the Jewish synagogue rejected what Paul was teaching and others wrongly believed the ability to heal was magic. So Paul had to contend with a lot of different mixed religious beliefs.
Acts 19:13-20 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.[a] 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
NOTE: a drachma was a silver coin that was worth a day’s wages. Today if someone makes $10/hr., their day’s wages would be $80 (so this is what a drachma would be worth today). So 50,000 of these would equal $4,500,000!
Artemis was the patron goddess of Ephesus. Some of the silversmiths who made silver shrines of the goddess became angry at the success of Paul’s preaching. They were afraid this new Christian faith Paul was teaching would diminish the widespread reverence for the goddess and this would cause a loss of income for them.
The temple of Artemis at Ephesus was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It stood outside the city and attracted visitors from all over the region. Artemus and her brother, Apollo, were said to be the children of Zeus and Leto. Artemis was also known as the virgin huntress, fearless in opposing her adversaries. She was believed to be a mother goddess, a provider of fertility, and an overseer of children.
The theater at Ephesus could seat 24,000 people for plays, music, and religious ceremonies. It was also used for public meetings to discuss issues, approve actions of the city council, and announce new laws. There was a demonstration against Paul held in this theater, but a city clerk was able to convince the crowd to disperse without incident.
Acts 19:23-41 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
During his time in Ephesus Paul wrote 1 and 2 Corinthians, about the year 54 AD. I will begin a study of Corinthians in my next blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment