11-12-2006 - The Gospel in Ephesus 

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus. (Acts 19:1a)

At the beginning of this week’s reading we meet Paul again on his return into Asia to the city of Ephesus, where he had previously left Aquila and Priscilla. For reasons unknown to us, Luke (by inspiration) intentionally omits the events that occurred at the onset of Paul’s third missionary journey, summarizing with the statement that Paul had “passed through the upper coasts.” From this point the beloved physician begins to document some of the grand events which took place in this great Asian city.

It was during his time in Ephesus that Paul was greeted––either in person or by letter––“by them which are of the household of Chloe,” who informed the apostle of the divisions and problems in the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 1:11). It was at this time that Paul penned the first Corinthian letter, in which he corrected this erring church and informed the brethren that it had been his intention to come to them, but that the Holy Spirit’s direction was that he remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, at which time he intended to come through Macedonia and Achaia and to winter with the Corinthian brethren (16:5–8). Paul goes on to tell them that “a great door and effectual is opened unto me,” and yet he also shows them that “there are many adversaries” (v 9). While Paul does not afford many details in this letter (undoubtedly for the sake of his audience), he does tell them that he has “fought with beasts at Ephesus” (15:32).
Indeed Paul’s labor was fruitful in Ephesus, in part due to the fact that he was able to stay here longer than he had in any other city. When Paul addresses the Ephesian elders later, he reminds them that “by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31). During this time many of the people of Ephesus (and likely many who visited her ports) were converted from paganism to Christ, bringing even their books of “curious arts” together to be burned (19:19). Luke also reports that “God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul” (v 11) and that the Word of God “mightily grew…and prevailed” (v 20). Perhaps it is time again for someone to take up the banner of the Christian faith and return to this once-prosperous mission field, as the flame of her candlestick (cf. Rev. 2:1–7) has long since burned out. The gospel whose awesome power (Rom. 1:16) changed the Ephesians of the first century is still well able to save the Ephesians of the twenty-first century!

After reading the text listed below, see if you can answer the following questions.

Non-trivial Questions (Acts 19:1–41)
    1. With whose baptism had the Ephesian disciples been erroneously baptized?
    2. For how long did Paul preach in the synagogue in Ephesus?
    3. For how long did Paul preach in the school of Tyrannus?
    4. What was the estimated value of the books burned in Ephesus?
    5. Before Paul went into Macedonia himself, which two men did he send ahead?
    6. What was the name of the silversmith who started the riot in Ephesus?
    7. Who finally appeased the Ephesian mob and dismissed them?