Paul in Ephesus

Acts 19:8-10; Ephesians 2:4-10; 3:14-19

GOLDEN TEXT: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”—Ephesians 2:10

EPHESUS was the capital of the Roman province of Asia, and an illustrious city in the district of Ionia, nearly opposite the island of Samos. The occasion of today’s lesson from the book of Acts is that of Paul’s second visit to this notable city. He first went to Ephesus accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla, who remained there after the apostle left. Not much is recorded of this visit except that as usual, when visiting a new city, he entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews concerning Christ. He apparently made some impression on those who heard him in the Ephesian synagogue for he was invited to remain longer.

After Paul left Ephesus on this first occasion, Apollos of Alexandria came to the city. Aquila and Priscilla, who had remained there, and who had long been under the tutorship of Paul, noted that Apollos, while an able orator, was immature in his knowledge of the truth. They invited him to their home and did what they could to help him. The subject of baptism was one on which he was not clear, as he was teaching and practicing the baptism of John unto repentance and washing away of sins.

Apollos moved on to Corinth, and later, as shown in our lesson, Paul came back to Ephesus, where he remained and ministered for more than two years. Finally his service there came to a dramatic end in connection with the uproar caused in the city by those who made trinkets which were sold to the worshipers of Diana, the goddess of the Ephesians. On this second visit, as on the first, Paul apparently went first to the Jewish synagogue, where he spent three months witnessing to the Jews. When the inevitable opposition arose against him he withdrew and took up quarters in “the school of one Tyrannus.”

In addition to his witness work among the Jews, and later in the school of Tyrannus; the apostle also made contact with the brethren, a small group comprising about a dozen men. These apparently had become interested in the truth through the preaching of Apollos, and knew no more about it than he was able to teach them. They had been baptized with John’s baptism as Apollos taught it, and hadn’t learned anything about the Holy Spirit. Paul pointed out the way of the Lord more perfectly to them, and they were baptized in the name of Christ and received the Holy Spirit.

There is an interesting contrast in Paul’s work of following up Apollos at Ephesus, with that which occurred in Corinth when Apollos followed up Paul’s work there. In the latter case, Paul had instructed the brethren in the pure truth, at least to the extent that it was possible in the time that he remained in Corinth. Then Apollos came, but instead of strengthening the brethren and leading them on to still higher attainments of grace and knowledge, his own immature knowledge and example tended toward division in the church. But in Ephesus, Paul, the mature Christian and pastor, developed the interest awakened by Apollos.

Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus was written during his first imprisonment at Rome. The contents of the epistle indicate that in Paul’s opinion the Ephesian brethren had developed to the point where they could grasp the deeper truths of the divine plan. They evidently had studiously applied themselves to what he had taught them.

Paul suffered in his Roman prison, but he rejoiced as he reflected upon the fact that it was because of his faithfulness in ministering the truth in Ephesus and elsewhere in order that his brethren might be reached and blessed, that this opportunity to suffer had been given to him. “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 3:14) That is, in humble prayer Paul acknowledged the wisdom of God’s way in permitting Christ’s followers to fill up that which was behind of the afflictions of Christ, “for His body’s sake.”—Col. 1:24

And in this prayer he asked God to grant that the Ephesian church might be “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” (Eph. 3:16) He prayed also that they be given the spirit of understanding which would enable them to “comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge”—also that they “might be filled with all the fulness of God.”—Eph. 3:18,19

QUESTIONS:

How long did Paul remain in Ephesus on the occasion of his second visit, and to what three classes did he minister?

Explain the manner in which Christians are God’s workmanship.

Is there anything Christians can do to contribute to the salvation of others?

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