The Ephesians - Their Journey to Christianity

The Ephesians

For by grace you have been saved through faith

The Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus One of the 7 ancient wonders of the World

◦the temple's inner space featured a double row of at least 106 columns, each believed to be 40 to 60 feet high. ◦The foundation was approximately 200 feet by 400 feet.◦The original temple burned in 356 B.C.

Paul travels to Ephesusbut exits◦"Paul … sailed thence into Syria, and with

him Priscilla and Aquila; …  And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.” Act 18:18 

Imagine Paul getting off the ship and walking this very road with the message of Jesus that eventually converted many citizens.

Paul travels to Ephesusbut exits

◦Act 18:20  When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined.◦Act 18:21  But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.

Curetes Street(There were fountains, monuments, statues and shops on the sides of the street.)

Apollos travels to Ephesus◦Act 18:24  And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.◦Act 18:26  And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

Preached to the Jews First◦Act 18:28  For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

THE LIBRARY OF CELSUS

Paul re-enters (Apollos had moved to Corinth)◦There he found some disciples. (Act 19:1-10)◦And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?"

They said, "Into John's baptism.” And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.   And all the men were about

twelve.◦ And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the

space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

◦BUT

Paul rejected in the Synagogues

◦Act 19:9  But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him,

◦What Next?

To the Hall of Tyrannus [From 12 to 100s?]◦he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.◦Act 19:10  This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Debate and great miracles triggers Change◦"Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were

doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?"

◦And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ◦And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

◦Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices."  Acts 19:14-18 (ESV)

Act 19:12  so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

Act 19:19  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.

◦Act 19:20  So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

Downtown Area

A Riot at Ephesus – "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

◦Act 19:21-41 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.

◦These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.

◦Act 19:26  And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.

◦Act 19:27  And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship."

◦Act 19:28  When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" goddess Artemis

Act 19:29  So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into

the theater,

Estimations are that it could seat 24,000 people. Designed with such perfect acoustics that it was used as a concert venue almost 2,000 years later. Artists like Elton John and Pavarotti have performed here.

Act 19:32  Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

Act 19:33  Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.Act 19:34  But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

Act 19:35  And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is • temple keeper of the great

Artemis, and of • the sacred stone that fell from the

sky?Facade of the Library of Celsus

Paul’s Message to the New Converts

Act 20:17-38

Bath of Varius(2nd century A.D)It is built of cut blocks of marble. It has three sections, frigidarium (cold water), tepidarium (warm water) and caldarium (hot water).

"even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,"  Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV)

The ordinary Ephesian was Chosen even

before Adam was created.

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders – Churches established!◦Act 20:16  For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.◦Act 20:17  Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Personal testimony ofa Good Life◦  And when they came to him, he said to them:

"You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,

◦serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; Ionic style?

column

Preached In public &in Houses◦Act 20:20  how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house◦Act 20:21  testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

What ‘constrained’ Paul to Keep moving?◦And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,  except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. Domitian Square

Domitian Temple gave this area its name. It was the first temple to be built in the name of an emperor (81 - 96A.D.)

“I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself”

◦if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.◦I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,◦I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Odeon (Bouleuterion)

2nd CE

“Affliction we experienced in Asia.”◦2Co 1:8  For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

◦2Co 1:9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

◦2Co 1:10  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

“I fought with beasts at Ephesus”◦1Co 15:30  Why are we in danger every hour?◦1Co 15:31  I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!◦1Co 15:32  What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

Doctrinal Division/Denomination prophesied

◦Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.◦I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;◦and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Arete, (personification of virtue)

Dedication in preaching

◦Act 20:31  Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

Dedication in preaching

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

Paul worked & Preached at Ephesus – Love and kindness core Christian principles◦ I coveted no one's silver or gold or

apparel.◦ You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.

◦  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and ◦remember the words of the Lord

Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Shop Signs? Olive Oil merchant, etc?

Awesome Fellowship

◦Act 20:36  And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

◦Act 20:37  And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,

◦Act 20:38  being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Dedication in preaching

Acts 20:32

Ephesus Conquered by Paul (and his associates)

• God’s desire and support• Power of the Spirit & Miracles• Fearless Preaching• Selfless service & Humility• Persecutions, Difficulties, Hard Work• Three Years but Not accumulating wealth• Grace, Love & Tears

• Not by laying siege, No brutality• No Inquisition, Not forcibly• By the Sword of the WORD of God

To the Church in Ephesus - Jesus◦Rev 2:2  "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

◦Rev 2:3  I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.

◦Rev 2:4  But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Love Grows ColdLove the greatest emotion in the universe even above faith

◦Rev 2:4  But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.◦Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

“To the Church in Ephesus” - Jesus But the Wrong outweighed the Right

(How are YOU doing?)◦ Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.◦ I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have

not grown weary.◦ I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, ◦ and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call

themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

◦ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.◦ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at

first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

◦Solution: “Do the works you did at first.” – They had Experience! They knew how to achieve ‘perfection’ in Jesus’ eyes and had achieved it previously!

Some Pics from the Excavated Ruins of Ephesus

Behind The Fountain of Laecainus Bassus(Hydrekdocheion)

Public Toilets for business meetings

Stone carving of the goddess Nike at the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus

A Wedding

Commercial agora in Ephesus

Fountain of Trajan

Temple of Hadrian