When Paul
arrives in Ephesus, he meets 12 disciples of John the Baptist. This is recorded
in acts 19:1I. Ephesus is a free Greek city located at the mouth of
the Cayster River, which flows into the Aegean Sea. Ephesus exists as the
largest city in Asia Minor. The population of Ephesus is 225,000. The Holy
Spirit does marry many miracles in the apostle Paul's ministry in Ephesus.
The
community of Christians in Ephesus is meeting from house to house while Paul
conducts the work from the Hall of Tyrannus. One of the homes where the church
gathers is in the house of Priscilla and Aquila. Paul has received widespread
door to preach the gospel in Ephesus; however, he encounters many adversaries.
The 12 disciples
of John the Baptist, Paul brings to Christ and baptizes them in the Holy Spirit
falls on each one. And just as in the day of Pentecost many years ago the 12
begin to speak in tongues and prophesy. These 12 men, along with Priscilla and
Aquila and Epaenetus, form the nuclear us of the Ephesian Church.
For three
months, Paul preaches Christ with great power in the Ephesian synagogue. The
Jews reject and malign his message, so Paul moves his ministry center to the
Hall of Tyrannus – which is a lecture hall that he rents. Every day from 11 AM
to 4 PM, Paul preaches Christ, trains the eight apprentices that are with him,
and lays the foundation for the Ephesian church. (Tyrannus probably lectured in
the morning, all Paul used the hall in the afternoon. In the great co-– Roman
world, the business day ended at 11 AM when most of the city ate a meal
followed by Siesta.)
Paul will
preach and teach in the hall of Tyrannus for two years. During that time, he
will unfold the whole will of God. He will also counsel believers on a regular
basis, admonishing them with tears.
At the end
of two years, Paul will send is eight apprentices companions throughout the
region. These men will plant new churches all over Asia Minor. Some of these
churches are listed in revelations chapters to and three. As a result of Paul's
ministry in Ephesus and is sending out of these men to the neighboring cities,
the whole of Asia Minor will hear the word of God. The body of Christ--the
community who expresses God's nature--is growing in Ephesus as well as
throughout all of the Asia Minor area. The apostle Paul will spend a total of
three years laboring in Ephesus, and this will be his longest church teaching
visit. (Taken from Frank Viola's book THE UNTOLD STORY of the New Testament
church)
