The Apostle Paul’s ministry among the Ephesian Christians is mentioned in the book of Acts as well as in his letter to the Ephesians. There are some Bible Scholars who are not convinced that Paul composed the epistle to the Ephesians because he doesn’t mention anything about the Philippian jailer, Lydia from the city of Thyatira or the mistreatment by Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen who made silver crafts in honor of the goddess Diana [Artemis]. Be that as it may, the narrative seems to be composed of at least two separate letters that are combined into a single one [1: 1 thru 3: 21 and then 4: 1 thru 6: 26].The recipients of this message are Gentiles (Cp. Ephesians 2: 11-13; 3: 1, 6, 8) whom Paul doesn’t seem to have met in person (Cp. 1: 15), whereas in the Book of Acts he primarily engages in contact with Jewish brethren in the synagogues. In order to better understand his correspondence with the believers in Ephesus it is necessary to read both the epistle to the Ephesians and the book of Acts. Some of the more significant themes in Ephesians are as follows:
Ephesians 1: 3b
-Heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 2: 6
-And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1: 5
-Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself.
Ephesians 1: 11b
-Being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.
Ephesians 1: 9a
-Having made known to us the mystery of His will.
Ephesians 3: 3-4.
-How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).
Ephesians 3: 9a
-And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery.
Ephesians 6: 19b
-That I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.
Ephesians 2: 1
-And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Ephesians 2: 5
-Even when we were dead in trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
Ephesians 2: 2b
-The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience.
Ephesians 3: 10b
-To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6: 12
-For we do not wrestle [fight/struggle] against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 2: 11a, 12-13
-Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh. . .That at that time you were without Christ [Moshiach], being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus [Moshiach Yeshua] you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ [Moshiach].
Ephesians 2: 17-18
-And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off [Gentiles] and to those who were near [Jews]. Now, therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Ephesians 4: 15a
-Speaking the truth in love.
Ephesians 4: 25a
-Therefore, putting all lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.”
Ephesians 4: 29
-Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.
Ephesians 4: 28
-Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his own hands what is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.
Ephesians 4: 31
-Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, loud quarreling, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Ephesians 4: 32a
-And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another.
Ephesians 5: 3-4a
-But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for the saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting [joking].
Ephesians 5: 8a
-For you [all] were once darkness. . .
Ephesians 5: 11
-And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [reprove] them.
Ephesians 6: 13-17
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,(1) having girded your waist with truth, having (2) put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, (3) taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And (4) take the helmet of salvation, and (5) the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 5: 8
But let us who are of the day be sober; putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
Acts 19: 1, 8-10
And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions [of “Galatia;” Cp. 18: 23b], came to Ephesus. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the ‘Way’ [“ha-Derekh”] before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus [“rabbinical or philosophical” school??]. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia [Minor??] heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 19: 23-28
And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way [ha-Derekh]. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana [Artemis], bought no small profit to the craftsmen. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. “Moreover you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. “So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana [Artemis] may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.” Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana [Artemis] of the Ephesians!”
Acts 19: 29, 35-36
So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s traveling companions. And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of Ephesus is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana [“Artemis”], and of the image which fell down from heaven.” “Therefore, since these things [are facts which] cannot be denied. . .”
NOTE: Diana is associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, who was the patron deity of wild animals as well as a fertility goddess. Her temple in Ephesus was one of the "Seven Wonders" of the ancient world. On May 25, miniature statues of the goddess were carried to the Ephesian amphitheatre for a celebration of music, dancing and drama plays.
Acts 20: 17-21, 27-33
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church [assembly/congregation]. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, “serving the LORD with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, “testifying to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our LORD Jesus Christ. “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. “Therefore take heed to yourself and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of the LORD and of God which He has purchased with His own blood. “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
June 11, 2011
robertrandle51@yahoo.com
