Chapter Nineteen –
Third Journey of Paul
ACTS 19: Intro:
We actually began the third journey in
Chapter 18:23. Paul returned from the second journey to Antioch
of Syria and then went out again to the region of
Galatia
and
Phrygia
strengthening the brethren in these locations; Luke tells us.
Please use this map: http://www.plvcc.org/index.html?/page_charts_and_maps/CNM21-Pauls3rdJourney.gif
It is in
Acts
19:1 that Luke reveals to us that Paul will come next to Ephesus.
This lesson will focus on Ephesus, as Paul is going to stay here for 3 years
(his own words in
Acts
20:31).
So, before we look into the text, let’s take a look at this city.
Ephesus:
Under Roman rule and particularly during the time that Paul would visit this
city, and even later when he would have Timothy stay and work in this city;
Ephesus was large, rich, and a busy port for trade opening to the main body
of Asia Minor. It was designated the capital of Rome’s province of Asia (the
large province of Asia Minor on the south western edge that bordered the
Aegean Sea).
In addition, Ephesus was built near the shrine of Artemis, or Diana to the
Romans. This shrine had originally been an ancient temple dedicated to an
Anatolian (Anatolia - the original designation for Roman Asia Minor)
fertility goddess. As Hellenistic culture came to dominate these areas,
their religious practices did also, and the shrine was converted to the
Greek god Artemis.
Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto (the twin sister of Apollo).
She was the Hellenic goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness,
childbirth, virginity and protector of young girls, bringing and relieving
disease in women.
The Artemis of Ephesus, 1st century AD (Ephesus Archaeological Museum).
The temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and
would be the seat of her worship. It was not the original temple built to
Artemis; that one was burned by
Herostratus, in the summer of 356 BC, supposedly the same night that
Alexander the Great was born.
This
temple, when Paul would come to Ephesus, had been rebuilt. It was the size
of a football field and was supposed to be made of marble.
This model of the Temple of Artemis, at Miniatürk Park, Istanbul, Turkey,
attempts to recreate the probable appearance of the first temple.
Inside was
a bizarre statue of the "fertility" idol, the original of which was
apparently carved from a meteorite that had
"fallen from heaven" (Acts
19:35); as the city clerk would claim was known by all.
Here is an excerpt from - bibleencyclopedia.com
“At the head of her cult was a chief priest, originally a eunuch who bore
the name and later the title Megabyzos. Under him were priests known as
Essenes, appointed, perhaps from the city officials, for but a single year;
it was their duty to offer the sacrifices to the goddess in behalf of the
city. Other subordinate classes of priests known as Kouretes, Krobatai and
Hilroi performed duties which are now obscure. The priestesses were even
more numerous, and, probably from their great numbers, they were called
Melissai or bees; the Ephesian symbol therefore which appears commonly upon
the coins struck in the city, is a bee. The Melissai, which in the early
times were all virgins, were of three classes; it is no longer known just
what the special duties of each class were. The ritual of the temple
services consisted of sacrifices and of ceremonial prostitution, a practice
which was common to many of the religions of the ancient Orient, and which
still exists among some of the obscure tribes of Asia Minor.”
In this, the city of Ephesus shared a very similar kinship with Corinth and
the temple of Aphrodite found there, which weighed heavily on the morality
of these cities.
This temple brought pilgrims from all over the world to this center of
trade, adding to its allure. In addition, it created a vast business for
those who made and sold silver talismans and images for these pilgrims to
buy up.
Above is a
coin with the image engraved and a statue that would have been offered to
the pilgrims to purchase.
We will
additionally be introduced to the school of Tyrannus (Acts
19:9). Some have believed that it was a privately owned school of
Greek language and culture (probable); while others thought it may be a
privately owned synagogue (not very likely, as Paul would go there post the
rejection of his teaching by the Jews). The truth is that it cannot be
substantiated beyond a shadow of a doubt either way.
This will
give us a good mental picture of the city that Paul is going to spend a
great deal of time in. We will additionally have more written in the New
Testament about, or to the Body of Christ that will be established by the
Gospel of Jesus Christ here, than virtually any other Body of Christ, with
the exception of Jerusalem.
Next: “Disciples of John!”