Paul left the great city of
Corinth and walked the 6 miles
00:01:37.52\00:01:40.95
back down here to
the harbor at Cenchraea.
00:01:40.98\00:01:44.76
While he was waiting for a
ship he cut his hair because
00:01:44.79\00:01:47.76
he intended to go to
Jerusalem and honor a vow.
00:01:47.79\00:01:52.14
He boarded a ship from
this port and sailed with
00:01:52.17\00:01:55.69
Aquila and Priscilla
across the Aegean to the
00:01:55.72\00:01:59.04
great city of Ephesus.
00:01:59.07\00:02:01.30
When they went into
that great city they found a
00:02:01.33\00:02:04.70
responsive
community amongst the Jews.
00:02:04.73\00:02:07.73
It was decided that Aquila
and Priscilla would stay there
00:02:07.76\00:02:10.35
and teach that community.
00:02:10.38\00:02:12.06
Paul continued his journey
toward Jerusalem by taking
00:02:12.09\00:02:16.26
a ship over to the coast
of Phoenicia and then down
00:02:16.29\00:02:19.54
Caesarea, then he
walked up to Jerusalem
00:02:19.57\00:02:22.69
and honored his vow.
00:02:22.72\00:02:25.38
He then returned
to the great city of
00:02:25.41\00:02:27.53
Antakya to give a thrilling
report of what God had done
00:02:27.56\00:02:30.60
in the province of
Macedonia and Aecia.
00:02:30.63\00:02:33.55
They were thrilled to hear
how the Gospel had made such
00:02:33.58\00:02:37.32
tremendous
advances among the Gentiles.
00:02:37.35\00:02:40.66
Here he stayed for
some time, but there was a
00:02:40.69\00:02:43.70
restlessness in his soul.
00:02:43.73\00:02:45.85
He kept thinking about
the openness of the Jews in
00:02:45.88\00:02:49.57
Ephesus, he kept thinking
about the synagogue that was
00:02:49.60\00:02:53.31
open and willing to
listen to the Gospel.
00:02:53.34\00:02:56.12
He kept thinking about that
large metropolitan area where
00:02:56.15\00:02:59.13
he had left
Aquila and Priscilla.
00:02:59.16\00:03:01.77
In his prayers the Holy Spirit
was moving upon his heart and
00:03:01.80\00:03:05.29
soon Paul decided
that he must return,
00:03:05.32\00:03:09.59
once again, to Asia.
00:03:09.62\00:03:12.63
Philip describes how
that Paul left Antioch on
00:03:12.66\00:03:17.43
his third missionary journey.
00:03:17.46\00:03:19.92
He would have walked
through the regions of Syria up
00:03:19.95\00:03:23.66
through Cilicia by his family
in Tarsus, to strengthen the
00:03:23.69\00:03:27.45
church that had
been planted there.
00:03:27.48\00:03:29.41
Then he would have walked
on this road, as he walked up
00:03:29.44\00:03:32.81
into the foothills
of the Taurus Mountains.
00:03:32.84\00:03:35.72
He walked this Roman road
through the Cilician Gates
00:03:35.75\00:03:39.48
into the Anatolian Plateau.
00:03:39.51\00:03:42.41
In those days the
region was known as Galatia.
00:03:42.44\00:03:46.62
He walked through Galatia
strengthening the churches that
00:03:46.65\00:03:50.22
he had planted, strengthening
the churches at Derbe and
00:03:50.25\00:03:54.98
Lystra,
Iconium, Pisidia Antioch.
00:03:55.01\00:03:58.41
But he did not tarry
because his heart was set on
00:03:58.44\00:04:01.15
going back to Ephesus.
00:04:01.18\00:04:03.60
Yes he had sailed across
from Corinth with his companions
00:04:03.63\00:04:07.06
Aquila and Priscilla
who were also tent makers.
00:04:07.09\00:04:10.95
He left them there and he
had been thinking and praying
00:04:10.98\00:04:16.21
about them knowing they were
preparing the ground for the
00:04:16.24\00:04:19.59
planting of the Gospel seed.
00:04:19.62\00:04:21.80
Paul was anxious to
see what had developed.
00:04:21.83\00:04:25.53
He had an open reception
in the city of Ephesus when he
00:04:25.56\00:04:30.14
preached in the
Jewish synagogues there.
00:04:30.17\00:04:32.62
So he was pressing on his
way to go back to the city
00:04:32.65\00:04:36.14
where he would find
fertile ground for the Gospel.
00:04:36.17\00:04:39.49
Paul would live in
residence for three years in the
00:04:39.52\00:04:42.87
city of Ephesus,
preaching the good news that
00:04:42.90\00:04:45.51
Jesus was the Christ.
00:04:45.54\00:04:47.58
We must press on our
journey following the footsteps
00:04:47.61\00:04:50.20
of Paul to the
great city of Ephesus.
00:04:50.23\00:04:53.48
Paul was on a mission
and his path was beating
00:04:55.32\00:04:58.67
to the city of Ephesus.
00:04:58.70\00:05:00.60
This was the greatest
city of Asia, know at this time
00:05:00.63\00:05:04.52
it was not the capital
of the province of Asia,
00:05:04.55\00:05:07.00
but it was
leading city commercially.
00:05:07.03\00:05:09.70
It had a commerce
because of the great port.
00:05:09.73\00:05:12.93
The capital of Asia was at
Pergamum, another of the seven
00:05:12.96\00:05:16.75
churches, that Jesus sent
a message, to from the Isle
00:05:16.78\00:05:20.36
of Patmos, when
John was exiled there.
00:05:20.39\00:05:23.47
But Ephesus was
leading city, the major city.
00:05:23.50\00:05:28.56
It had a population
of over 300,000 people.
00:05:28.59\00:05:32.60
It had fantastic public
buildings, it had the Odeon that
00:05:32.64\00:05:37.87
that would seat 1400 people.
00:05:37.90\00:05:40.30
Here the leaders of the
city, some 300 in number,
00:05:40.34\00:05:43.73
would come together, the
elected officials and decide
00:05:43.76\00:05:47.12
the course of the city.
00:05:47.15\00:05:48.87
In addition it had the
great theater where performances
00:05:48.90\00:05:52.26
would be held and where
the citizens of the city would
00:05:52.29\00:05:54.89
come together to discuss
the future of their city.
00:05:54.92\00:05:58.26
Yes Ephesus was a
magnificent city, Paul had
00:05:58.29\00:06:02.79
a desire to reach Ephesus.
00:06:02.82\00:06:04.68
As he walked mile
after mile, he was praying,
00:06:04.71\00:06:08.80
Lord prepare their
hearts for when I get there.
00:06:08.83\00:06:12.08
Help the cross of Jesus to
be exalted in this great pagan
00:06:12.11\00:06:16.50
city, this great center of
immorality and drunkenness.
00:06:16.53\00:06:20.27
Lord May you be
exalted, may Your name be
00:06:20.30\00:06:23.75
exalted here in this city.
00:06:23.78\00:06:25.56
This city was the
center of the cult
00:06:26.97\00:06:29.54
worship of Artemis.
00:06:29.57\00:06:31.73
Artemis was a Greek name by
which the goddess was known.
00:06:31.76\00:06:35.21
The mother Goddess, this
goddess was known throughout
00:06:35.24\00:06:38.92
the East, and in other
places she would be known as
00:06:38.95\00:06:41.96
the goddess of Astra.
00:06:41.99\00:06:44.03
The Romans called her
Diana, this was the center of
00:06:44.06\00:06:48.19
her cultic worship.
00:06:48.22\00:06:50.20
As Paul came closer to
the city he would have passed
00:06:50.23\00:06:53.34
by the great Temple of
Artemis which was one of the
00:06:53.37\00:06:57.25
seven wonders of
the ancient world.
00:06:57.28\00:06:59.95
Yes this was a fabulous
city with a fabulous Temple
00:06:59.98\00:07:03.94
reported to be the
finest of the seven wonders
00:07:03.97\00:07:06.51
of the ancient world.
00:07:06.54\00:07:07.91
Paul came though, not to
see the temple, he came to plant
00:07:07.94\00:07:12.34
the cross of Jesus
Christ in this city.
00:07:12.37\00:07:15.58
He entered in through
the gate to the north,
00:07:15.61\00:07:18.55
the Magnesian Gate and as
he proceeded into the city,
00:07:18.58\00:07:22.57
he would have walked
past the great Odeon where the
00:07:22.60\00:07:25.84
political leaders
would gather together
00:07:25.87\00:07:28.31
to make their decisions.
00:07:28.34\00:07:30.20
Only citizens were allowed
in this section of the city,
00:07:30.23\00:07:34.16
but Paul was a citizen of
Rome so he could walk proudly
00:07:34.19\00:07:37.40
here, Paul would have walked
past this state Agora where
00:07:37.43\00:07:41.28
the Temple of
Augustus was located.
00:07:41.31\00:07:44.02
Today we see the Temple of
Augustus in the museum here at
00:07:44.05\00:07:49.52
Ephesus, a mute testimony
to the grandeur of the past.
00:07:49.55\00:07:53.82
Then he would have walked
by the great Temple of Artemis
00:07:53.85\00:07:57.50
in this city, and also the
Temple to the spirit of Roma.
00:07:57.53\00:08:02.08
Ephesus was permitted to
build a temple to the deceased
00:08:02.11\00:08:06.22
Emperor, Augustus Caesar.
00:08:06.25\00:08:08.57
And to the spirit of Rome,
which was deified here in this
00:08:08.60\00:08:12.23
great metropolitan area.
00:08:12.26\00:08:14.98
Paul continued walking
down the road passing by various
00:08:15.01\00:08:19.03
Cultic establishments.
00:08:19.06\00:08:21.37
He came to the great Pedestrian
Way, lined on both sides
00:08:21.40\00:08:25.92
by the portico,
the covered mosaics.
00:08:25.95\00:08:30.51
He would have walked down
this great pedestrian Way and
00:08:30.54\00:08:33.96
noted shops of the age.
00:08:33.99\00:08:36.45
Here is Domitian Square, where
Paul had walked through the
00:08:36.48\00:08:41.28
city Domitian Square
had not already been built.
00:08:41.31\00:08:44.11
Ephesus had not yet permitted
to worship a living Emperor,
00:08:44.14\00:08:48.75
they had vied for
the permission to do this
00:08:48.78\00:08:51.48
and finally they received
permission and constructed
00:08:51.51\00:08:55.01
this great Temple to Domitian.
00:08:55.04\00:08:58.12
Domitian was an ego
maniac and he had a statue,
00:08:58.15\00:09:02.07
done 21 feet
tall, made of himself.
00:09:02.10\00:09:05.98
It was placed it on this
raised platform and required
00:09:06.01\00:09:10.03
all to come and
worship the spirit of Rome and
00:09:10.06\00:09:14.45
the living Emperor.
00:09:14.48\00:09:16.16
A generation later,
after Paul was here,
00:09:16.19\00:09:19.69
John refused to
burn incense to Caesar.
00:09:19.72\00:09:24.64
He would
acknowledge no other deity
00:09:24.67\00:09:27.16
then Jesus Christ alone.
00:09:27.19\00:09:29.31
Domitian compared himself
to be the Lord God and because
00:09:29.34\00:09:35.89
of John's obstinate attitude,
he banished him here to
00:09:35.92\00:09:40.30
the Rocky Penal colony
of Patmos about 20 miles
00:09:40.33\00:09:45.90
off the coast of Asia.
00:09:45.93\00:09:48.69
John separated from his
friends, no longer able to
00:09:48.72\00:09:53.46
encourage the church during
this great time of crises.
00:09:53.49\00:09:56.67
Rumors being spread about
the church that Christians
00:09:56.70\00:10:00.41
were atheist because
they would not burn incense to
00:10:00.44\00:10:02.75
the spirit of Caesar.
00:10:02.78\00:10:04.13
They would not
worship the Roman gods.
00:10:04.16\00:10:06.10
They have lost the
protection of being Jews,
00:10:06.13\00:10:09.08
they were now being viewed
as a separate entity because
00:10:09.11\00:10:12.76
they came from various
backgrounds, from other nations
00:10:12.79\00:10:16.84
and no longer
spoke Hebrew, or Aramaic.
00:10:16.88\00:10:20.93
John was exiled to the
island of Patmos for not
00:10:20.97\00:10:25.95
acknowledging Domitian,
the Caesar as the Lord God.
00:10:25.98\00:10:30.18
But while there Jesus
appeared to him in vision and
00:10:30.21\00:10:34.26
instructed him to send a
message back to the church
00:10:34.29\00:10:38.47
of Ephesus, don't be
afraid church, of what they may
00:10:38.51\00:10:42.65
do to you for I am
the one who was dead,
00:10:42.68\00:10:45.93
and am alive for evermore.
00:10:45.96\00:10:48.46
John had not seen Jesus
for 60 years, he had not seen
00:10:48.50\00:10:52.32
Jesus since he
ascended up into heaven from
00:10:52.36\00:10:54.10
the Mount of olives.
00:10:54.14\00:10:55.59
But now Jesus appears and
says, John don't be afraid,
00:10:55.63\00:10:58.33
I am the first and the
last, on the One that was dead
00:10:58.36\00:11:01.55
and came back to life, and
John, I am alive forevermore.
00:11:01.59\00:11:05.08
John sent this message
here to the church at Ephesus,
00:11:05.12\00:11:08.57
and encouraged the
church to remain faithful,
00:11:08.61\00:11:12.13
even during times of distress.
00:11:12.16\00:11:14.04
In vision, the 24 elders cast
down their crowns before the
00:11:14.08\00:11:20.17
throne, saying thou art
worthy O' Lord our God to
00:11:20.21\00:11:24.90
receive glory
and honor and power,
00:11:24.93\00:11:27.26
for Thou has created all things.
00:11:27.29\00:11:29.54
Yes the message from
Jesus, on the island of Patmos,
00:11:29.58\00:11:33.27
to his servant John
was, encourage the believers.
00:11:33.31\00:11:36.93
I am the Lord God, not this
imposter sitting on a throne
00:11:36.96\00:11:40.99
in Rome, not this imposter
who has put up a 21 foot
00:11:41.02\00:11:45.13
statue of himself
in the square of town.
00:11:45.16\00:11:47.92
I am the Lord God and I am
the only one worthy to receive
00:11:47.96\00:11:52.59
glory and honor and worship,
for I created all things.
00:11:52.63\00:11:56.54
Yes it was a tremendous
message of encouragement to the
00:11:56.58\00:12:00.18
church here at Ephesus to
remain faithful in spite of the
00:12:00.21\00:12:03.77
persecution of the Domitian's.
00:12:03.81\00:12:05.70
In spite of what the
enemy was trying to do,
00:12:05.74\00:12:07.50
and the Church remains faithful.
00:12:07.54\00:12:10.18
Paul continued down the
street and would have passed
00:12:10.21\00:12:13.54
this sign for the brothel.
00:12:13.57\00:12:16.12
Yes this was a city of
gambling, and drunkenness,
00:12:16.16\00:12:20.01
prostitution and immorality,
yet it was a city Paul had
00:12:20.05\00:12:24.46
a burden for, a city
that Jesus had died for.
00:12:24.49\00:12:27.62
This is a fantastic Celsus
Library where the patron who
00:12:35.78\00:12:40.61
dedicated and built this
building loved books and willed
00:12:40.64\00:12:45.09
that he would be buried inside
with the 12,000 scrolls so
00:12:45.12\00:12:49.53
he could be close to
the scrolls he loved.
00:12:49.57\00:12:52.79
This building was built
after the death of John, and yet
00:12:52.83\00:13:00.62
it is the most stunning
fa÷ade in all of Ephesus.
00:13:00.65\00:13:05.13
It has been
largely re-created in the
00:13:05.16\00:13:08.56
restoration that was done.
00:13:08.60\00:13:10.62
But the Celsus Library was
not here in Paul's day or in
00:13:13.42\00:13:16.87
John's, the street let
down to the commercial Agora.
00:13:16.90\00:13:20.32
This large area
where the commerce of
00:13:20.35\00:13:23.66
the city was conducted.
00:13:23.70\00:13:25.27
This massive gate had been
built by two freedmen in honor
00:13:25.30\00:13:30.99
of Caesar Augustus
who had granted them
00:13:31.03\00:13:33.03
their liberty as citizens.
00:13:33.07\00:13:34.76
Today we can still see the
mighty Caesars name inscribed
00:13:34.79\00:13:39.77
above two of the
arches going into the Agora.
00:13:39.81\00:13:43.33
Then the street turns
and goes down to the massive
00:13:43.37\00:13:49.45
theater, some 24,000+
seats in this theater.
00:13:49.49\00:13:55.56
When you stand in the theater,
there is a fantastic view
00:13:55.60\00:14:00.05
of the harbor, today the
harbor has silted up and is now
00:14:00.08\00:14:04.50
6 miles out to the beach.
00:14:04.54\00:14:06.94
It was a magnificent entrance
into a magnificent city.
00:14:06.97\00:14:11.30
Paul did not come
to go to the theater,
00:14:11.34\00:14:14.18
Paul came to share the gospel.
00:14:14.22\00:14:16.95
For three months he was invited
to teach in the synagogues,
00:14:47.00\00:14:49.69
he shared daily
there at the synagogue from
00:14:49.73\00:14:53.19
Sabbath to Sabbath
that Jesus was the Messiah.
00:14:53.23\00:14:56.37
People listened with
open ears and open hearts.
00:14:56.41\00:14:59.97
After three months of
opposition began to build.
00:15:00.00\00:15:03.72
Luke says they became
obstinate about the message.
00:15:03.75\00:15:07.29
Paul was no longer
welcomed to teach on the Sabbath
00:15:07.33\00:15:10.77
in the synagogue, and so
he moved to a rented hall,
00:15:10.80\00:15:14.26
the lecture hall of
Tyrannous and there he taught
00:15:14.30\00:15:17.88
every afternoon as
well as on the Sabbath that
00:15:17.92\00:15:21.47
Jesus was the Messiah.
00:15:21.51\00:15:23.47
He instructed the disciples,
the new believers in this
00:15:23.51\00:15:26.31
great city of Ephesus.
00:15:26.35\00:15:27.87
Yes the power of the
Gospel was alive and moving.
00:15:27.90\00:15:30.75
Paul would remain
here for 2 and 1/2 years.
00:15:30.78\00:15:33.74
He stayed at Corinth for
year and a half and now he
00:15:33.77\00:15:37.19
stretches it to 2 and 1/2
years and perhaps going out into
00:15:37.23\00:15:40.95
the surrounding
cities teaching them that
00:15:40.98\00:15:43.70
Jesus was the Messiah.
00:15:43.73\00:15:45.57
Luke said the whole province
of Asia heard the teachings
00:15:45.61\00:15:49.15
of Paul about
Jesus as the Christ.
00:15:49.19\00:15:52.23
Luke said that even a
handkerchief touched by Paul,
00:15:52.26\00:15:55.93
could be taken to a sick person
and they would be made well.
00:15:55.97\00:15:59.52
This caused the entire city
to take notice of the message
00:15:59.56\00:16:03.08
of Jesus, and many,
many people believed.
00:16:03.12\00:16:06.35
There is a curious
story found in Acts 19:13-17.
00:16:08.87\00:16:13.08
Of Jewish exorcists who
heard that Paul cast out demons
00:16:13.11\00:16:19.15
in the name of Jesus,
they thought this was a new
00:16:19.19\00:16:21.84
incantation, so Luke records
this curious story of how
00:16:21.88\00:16:25.91
they attempted to cast
out demons in the name of
00:16:25.94\00:16:28.72
Jesus, whom Paul preaches.
00:16:28.75\00:16:30.78
On one occasion, the
demon said, I know Paul, I know
00:16:30.81\00:16:34.88
Jesus whom Paul preaches,
but I don't know you and the
00:16:34.91\00:16:38.94
man leaped upon
them and beat them.
00:16:38.97\00:16:41.64
Luke gives this very interesting
and humorous insight, verse 16.
00:16:41.68\00:16:47.52
What an amazing
story happened here.
00:16:58.10\00:17:00.60
All of this caused
attention to the Gospel and the
00:17:00.63\00:17:04.13
power of God in transforming
human lives here in this
00:17:04.16\00:17:07.62
great city of Ephesus.
00:17:07.66\00:17:09.55
Luke goes on.
00:17:09.59\00:17:11.15
Paul's reputation was
growing, the power of Jesus was
00:17:42.93\00:17:46.45
growing here in the city.
00:17:46.48\00:17:48.24
They recognize they
could not fool around with evil
00:17:48.28\00:17:51.90
spirits, even the
believers were moved to a deeper
00:17:51.94\00:17:55.52
sense of
commitment after this happened
00:17:55.56\00:17:57.69
with the sons of Seva.
00:17:57.73\00:17:59.41
So they brought their
books on magic, incantations,
00:17:59.45\00:18:02.79
and potions, Ephesus was
riddled with this idea of magic.
00:18:02.82\00:18:07.41
They brought their scrolls
and publicly burned them.
00:18:07.45\00:18:11.10
Luke calculates the
value as 50,000 Drachmas.
00:18:11.13\00:18:14.85
A drachmas was a
silver coin representing an
00:18:14.89\00:18:18.58
average man's daily pay.
00:18:18.61\00:18:20.97
50,000 days of labor, that
was the value of the scrolls
00:18:21.00\00:18:26.64
that were burned publicly.
00:18:26.67\00:18:28.80
These scrolls about magic,
yes the Holy Spirit wanted
00:18:28.83\00:18:32.31
to emphasize these
miracles that were taking place,
00:18:32.35\00:18:35.76
were not taking place by
the power of magic, or the power
00:18:35.80\00:18:39.80
of incantations, no
there was a total difference
00:18:39.83\00:18:42.51
between Jesus and magic.
00:18:42.55\00:18:45.37
It was not magic but the
power, the blood of Jesus by
00:18:45.41\00:18:48.81
which people were being
restored by Paul's preaching.
00:18:48.85\00:18:51.73
The church continued to
grow and there was a mighty
00:18:51.77\00:18:54.67
movement happening, but as
we have seen in every place
00:18:54.71\00:18:57.58
that Paul had gone,
the devil was angry and
00:18:57.61\00:19:00.29
begins to stir up opposition.
00:19:00.33\00:19:02.17
Paul can sense the opposition
building, he's senses the
00:19:02.21\00:19:05.81
anger of the devil, the
Dragon was wroth with the woman
00:19:05.84\00:19:09.41
and wanted to
make war with her seed.
00:19:09.44\00:19:12.24
Paul recognize this and
he decided it was time to go.
00:19:12.28\00:19:16.81
We read what happens
next in Luke's account.
00:19:16.84\00:19:20.07
Yes Paul sensed there
was danger looming ahead.
00:19:37.87\00:19:40.81
He wrote to the church
of Corinth from this city
00:19:40.85\00:19:43.75
and said I am in
peril every hour, I'm
00:19:43.79\00:19:46.94
surrounded by problems here.
00:19:46.98\00:19:48.93
He sensed that something
was not right, that something
00:19:48.96\00:19:52.29
was afoot and so he sent
Timothy and Erastus over to
00:19:52.33\00:19:55.63
Macedonia to prepare the way and
00:19:55.66\00:19:58.10
he planned to follow them.
00:19:58.13\00:19:59.69
Before Paul could leave,
the devil tried to take Paul's
00:19:59.72\00:20:04.07
life one more time.
00:20:04.10\00:20:06.14
The devil stirred up a
man by the name of Demetrius
00:20:06.17\00:20:09.60
right here in this city.
00:20:09.64\00:20:10.88
Demetrius was a leader of
the metalworkers of the city
00:20:10.92\00:20:15.56
who manufactured little
silver statuettes of Artemis,
00:20:15.59\00:20:19.30
Goddess of the city, or
Diana as she was known by the
00:20:19.33\00:20:23.00
Roman name, the mother Goddess.
00:20:23.04\00:20:25.34
He stirred up Demetrius'
heart, and Demetrius stirred
00:20:25.38\00:20:29.98
up the metalworkers saying,
this guy Paul is preaching
00:20:30.01\00:20:34.58
there are no gods
made with human hands.
00:20:34.62\00:20:37.38
That there is only one
God, the invisible God, Jesus,
00:20:37.42\00:20:40.59
and if this continues,
it is impacting our business
00:20:40.62\00:20:43.91
and soon the very temple
of Artemis will fall into
00:20:43.95\00:20:47.20
disrepute and no one
will come here and our
00:20:47.24\00:20:49.19
great city will collapse.
00:20:49.23\00:20:51.07
Demetrius stirred
the metalworkers up.
00:20:51.10\00:20:53.47
They came down and stirred
the people of the city up.
00:20:53.51\00:20:57.09
They looked for Paul
and could not find him,
00:20:57.13\00:20:59.18
they found two of his
companions and dragged them
00:20:59.22\00:21:01.41
here into the theater.
00:21:01.44\00:21:02.95
Soon the theater was filled
with people from all through
00:21:02.98\00:21:06.32
the city, and they had
come in not knowing what it was
00:21:06.36\00:21:09.66
all about, some were
shouting one thing and some
00:21:09.70\00:21:11.76
were shouting another.
00:21:11.80\00:21:13.03
Great is Artemis, the God
of the Ephesians, great is
00:21:13.07\00:21:15.66
Diana, the God of the
Ephesians, away with these men
00:21:15.70\00:21:18.26
who are teaching
that she is nothing.
00:21:18.30\00:21:20.14
There was confusion and
total chaos here in the theater.
00:21:20.17\00:21:23.75
As the people were close to
rioting, most of them had no
00:21:23.79\00:21:27.33
idea what was going
on, but the crowd mentality
00:21:27.37\00:21:29.95
swept over them all.
00:21:29.98\00:21:31.94
When Alexander stepped forward
to try and quiet the crowd
00:21:31.98\00:21:35.75
and to clear the Jewish
name, he raised his hands to
00:21:35.78\00:21:39.24
try and say they were
not leading people away from
00:21:39.28\00:21:42.67
Artemis, they were minding
their own business in the city.
00:21:42.70\00:21:45.15
It was really Paul and the
others that were doing this,
00:21:45.18\00:21:47.61
but when they saw he was
a Jew they begin to shout,
00:21:47.64\00:21:50.03
he's a Jew, he's a
Jew, greatest Artemis of the
00:21:50.07\00:21:52.39
Ephesians, great is Diana,
and this riot continued on.
00:21:52.42\00:21:55.54
For over two hours here in
this stadium you could hear
00:21:55.57\00:21:58.66
their voices, even
now, echoing back and forth,
00:21:58.69\00:22:01.35
great is Artemis, great
is Artemis of the Ephesians.
00:22:01.38\00:22:04.64
Soon it seemed as the
whole place would be torn upside
00:22:04.68\00:22:07.92
down, Paul wanted to go in
and try to speak to the crowd,
00:22:07.95\00:22:11.16
but the disciples would
not allow him, nor with the
00:22:11.19\00:22:13.07
public officials,
they said Paul you are
00:22:13.11\00:22:14.74
crazy, they will kill you.
00:22:14.77\00:22:16.06
So they restrained
Paul from going in.
00:22:16.09\00:22:18.11
After about two hours the
crowd had went through many
00:22:18.15\00:22:21.83
of the emotions and the
city clerk address them.
00:22:21.87\00:22:24.44
Notice his wise
counsel in verse 35.
00:22:24.48\00:22:27.33
Yes this wise Roman official
stepped forward and said,
00:23:13.56\00:23:16.68
they have done nothing
wrong, they have not robbed the
00:23:16.71\00:23:20.94
city, they have not defamed
the Temple, therefore let them
00:23:20.98\00:23:24.85
Demetrius and his associates
bring the charges against
00:23:24.88\00:23:28.72
them in the civil
court before the proconsul.
00:23:28.75\00:23:31.59
The mob accepted
this, things quieted down,
00:23:31.62\00:23:34.42
but Paul knew it was time to go.
00:23:34.45\00:23:37.97
Paul knew that his time in
Ephesus had ran its course.
00:23:45.65\00:23:49.00
This would be the last
time he would visit the city.
00:23:49.03\00:23:52.31
He said goodbye to the brothers
and went out to the coast
00:23:52.34\00:23:57.07
to Assos and Troas and caught
a boat to Macedonia to join
00:23:57.11\00:24:01.81
Timothy and the
others, to go through and
00:24:01.84\00:24:04.96
encourage the churches.
00:24:05.00\00:24:06.52
Ultimately Paul returned
to the city of Jerusalem
00:24:06.56\00:24:09.75
with the offering
that he had collected in
00:24:09.79\00:24:12.45
Macedonia and in Aecia.
00:24:12.49\00:24:14.49
While he was worshiping in
the Temple he was arrested.
00:24:14.52\00:24:18.29
To achieve justice, he was
forced to exercise his right as
00:24:18.32\00:24:22.05
a Roman citizen by
appealing to Caesar.
00:24:22.09\00:24:24.27
After two years and many
difficulties, he finally arrived
00:24:24.30\00:24:28.44
here in the city of Rome.
00:24:28.47\00:24:30.06
It was not the grand
entrance that he had envisioned.
00:24:30.10\00:24:33.82
For he came into the
city bound with chains.
00:24:33.86\00:24:37.25
While he was here he remember
the church back in Ephesus
00:24:37.28\00:24:41.85
and he wrote them a
letter to encourage them.
00:24:41.89\00:24:45.06
He reminded them that God
had made them alive in Christ
00:24:45.09\00:24:49.26
while they were
still dead in their sins.
00:24:49.30\00:24:51.29
He reminded them that
they had been saved by grace
00:24:51.32\00:24:54.32
through faith, not by works
so that no one could boast.
00:24:54.36\00:24:57.83
He reminded them that God
called them now to live as
00:24:57.86\00:25:01.30
children of the light.
00:25:01.34\00:25:02.74
Whenever I read the letter
to the Ephesians, I remember
00:25:02.78\00:25:07.68
Paul being here
in the city of Rome.
00:25:07.71\00:25:10.29
He could not walk freely
among the people on the streets
00:25:10.32\00:25:14.78
of Rome for he was
under house arrest.
00:25:14.82\00:25:17.79
For two years he was
chained to a Roman soldier.
00:25:17.83\00:25:22.17
For two years he
closely studied and examined the
00:25:22.20\00:25:26.47
garments and the weapons
of a member of the praetorian
00:25:26.51\00:25:30.09
guard, one of the elite
soldiers charged with guarding
00:25:30.13\00:25:33.68
the interest of Caesar.
00:25:33.72\00:25:35.96
When Paul wrote his letter
to the Ephesians he concluded
00:25:35.99\00:25:40.73
by using the weapons and the
garments of that Roman soldier
00:25:40.76\00:25:45.47
as a spiritual analogy
to describe how they should
00:25:45.50\00:25:49.71
live the Christian life.
00:25:49.75\00:25:51.50
Let me read it to you,
it is found Ephesians 6:11.
00:25:51.54\00:25:56.69
Yes we are to where the
spiritual garments of faith.
00:26:59.10\00:27:03.12
The helmet of salvation, the
breast plate of righteousness,
00:27:03.15\00:27:06.29
the belt of truth.
00:27:06.32\00:27:07.88
We are to take the sword
of the spirit for our fight is
00:27:07.91\00:27:10.51
not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities
00:27:10.54\00:27:13.46
and powers, against spiritual
wickedness in dark places.
00:27:13.49\00:27:16.95
If we are to live a
successful Christian life today,
00:27:16.98\00:27:20.41
we too must put on
the whole armor of God.
00:27:20.44\00:27:24.05
Join me as we pray together.
00:27:24.09\00:27:26.65
Eternal God I thank You
so much for the privilege it
00:27:26.68\00:27:30.14
has been to go to the
great city of Ephesus and see
00:27:30.17\00:27:33.59
where Paul and
Aquila and Priscilla planted
00:27:33.63\00:27:35.56
the gospel long, long ago.
00:27:35.59\00:27:37.37
I thank You for how the
gospel took deep root in the
00:27:37.40\00:27:40.56
lives of people, the
revival that happened there.
00:27:40.60\00:27:43.69
In spite of the devil's
best efforts by causing a riot
00:27:43.73\00:27:47.03
in the city and the
imprisonment of Paul,
00:27:47.06\00:27:48.79
that the gospel triumphed.
00:27:48.83\00:27:50.73
I thank you that your faithful
servant sent a letter to
00:27:50.76\00:27:54.32
the Ephesians to encourage
not only them in the first
00:27:54.35\00:27:57.87
century, but us
in the 21st century.
00:27:57.91\00:27:59.99
Lord as we follow that
counsel I pray that we too might
00:28:00.03\00:28:03.87
be strong in You, to live
in a way that will bring glory
00:28:03.90\00:28:07.71
an honor to You
each and every day.
00:28:07.74\00:28:10.18
Thank you so much for hearing
our prayer and for blessing
00:28:10.21\00:28:13.22
us now, in Jesus
name we pray Amen!
00:28:13.25\00:28:16.38
Well in the next episode
of our series we are going to
00:28:16.41\00:28:20.09
travel east to the
region of Galatia to examine a
00:28:20.13\00:28:24.12
practice of the apostle Paul
that has been sadly neglected
00:28:24.16\00:28:27.79
in the 21st century.
00:28:27.82\00:28:29.21
Don't miss the return to
Galatia in our next episode.
00:28:29.25\00:28:33.70
From here in the city
of Rome we wish you God's
00:28:33.74\00:28:36.94
blessing and God speed.
00:28:36.97\00:28:39.61