Road to Rome: Starting at Ephesus

 

Luke, the physician, wrote in detail the works of Paul. As an eyewitness of Paul’s journey, he did not leave out any detail. From the start of Paul’s ministry in chapter thirteen of Acts, I have gone back to read again Luke’s recording of Paul’s journey several times. I admire the detail and do not want to miss any message Luke has for the reader. As I go back and search for Luke’s message, I find Paul’s journey back to Jerusalem starts at Ephesus in Acts 19.

Already, Paul had been in Ephesus two years. The ministry’s growth results with many joining the church. People repent and believe in God. The converts turn away from worshipping gods of stone, and it hurt the businesses of the stone carvers who were losing their wealth. So, the stone carvers use a scare tactic to rouse the people to riot. The threat of losing the temple of the great goddess Diana with her magnificence brings anger to the crowd leading them to yell out together “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:28) This leads the crowd to rush into the theatre. Paul wanted to enter the theatre with the crowd but was held back by those who feared for Paul’s life. Inside the theatre, there was confusion and anger mingled with the desire for revenge. This is not what Paul wanted for the church.

In the theatre filled with wild confusion, the Jews appoint Alexander to make a defense for the Jews. Not all Jews believed that Jesus was the son of God and understood that many people in Ephesus hated the Jews. However, when the crowd saw that Alexander was a Jew, they shout out again, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” The confusion continues to grow leaving the local government with the challenging task of calming the crowd before rioting and destruction takes the city.

Ephesus was part of the Roman Empire. The local government leaders would lose their positions if they could not protect the city. They may have been concerned with the Roman authorities taking over and placing the city under martial law. Now, they had to act fast to end this confrontation before it became a wild riot harming people and the city.

The town leader stood up and the people did listen as he proclaimed, “Men of Ephesus! Listen to me! Who of you do not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana and is the image which fell from Jupiter? Not anyone can speak against this fact. You ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. These men you accuse are not robbers of churches, not blasphemers of your goddess. Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen have a matter against any man, the law is open and there are deputies. Do things in a lawful assembly, because we are in danger of being questioned for today’s riot and may have to suffer consequences.” (Acts 19:35-41)

This speech brought reason to the mob. They listened. The town clerk dismissed the assembly. This ended the threat to the Christians for the moment. Afterwards, Paul gathers his disciples and depart. They go to Macedonia and Troas. As they leave Troas and board a ship, Paul decides to walk. After such a time, Paul may have needed a time away from the crowd. A time to pray. A time to rest mentally. A time to draw near to God and listen in the quietness of the sweet hour of prayer.

Paul met his disciples in Assos. They continued their journey. Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost. Yet, he wanted to speak with the elders of Ephesus before making his way to Jerusalem. He encouraged them to “feed the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of grace, which can build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all of them which are sanctified.” (Acts 20:28-32)

Paul loved the church he built at Ephesus. He continued with instructions through verse thirty-eight. He had to depart from them. He wanted to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost. He had to continue his travels to reach his goal. He knew that he would be arrested in Jerusalem. In Caesarea, Agabus, a prophet of Judaea warned Paul to not go to Jerusalem. Paul responded to the warning, “Why do you weep and break my heart? I am ready to not only be bound, but to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13) Paul’s greatest love was God. Once saved by the grace of God, Paul preached, and churches grew. It was not easy to leave a church like Ephesus behind. However, he had a mission follow God’s will.

Departing Ephesus was the beginning of Paul’s Road to Rome. He has suffered much. He knew more suffering was to come, even death. He chose to continue in obedience to God’s Will. God had a plan. I learned from this portion of Acts that Paul lived to preach. And, not only to preach but to give and teach how a disciple of Jesus lives. Paul never backed from confrontation nor danger. Note that his traveling companions had to hold him back from entering the theatre. Then, he is available to be alone with God. Life is filled with chaos and noise. We all need time alone to search the scriptures and pray daily. Paul did and his traveling companions did not argue against it. In the end, Paul followed God’s call to serve even when he knew that more suffering was to come.

“None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24