Taking advantage of the Roman roads and shipping lanes, Paul traveled through what is today known as Greece and Turkey preaching the Gospel, establishing churches, and exhorting believers. In the coastal city of Troas, Paul poured himself into preaching the word, so much so, that Luke emphasizes this four times: encouraged them with many words … continued his message until midnight… Paul continued speaking … talked a long while, even till daybreak. At one point, a young man, overcome with sleep while listening while sitting in a window, fell three stories to his death. Paul revived him, then resumed preaching.

The apostle Paul intended to go to Jerusalem, but first went in the opposite direction to Greece. This was because he collected offerings for the Christians in Jerusalem who were suffering economic hardship for their faith. But before he left Ephesus, a riot broke out because of the victories over Satan in that city. Conversion of the Holy Spirit caused so many people to abandon idolatry that the idol fabricating industries suffered loss of profits. This caused an outcry by a man named Demetrius, which in turn led to an uproar in the city. Their protests became very confused and large enough to draw concern. It all pictures the world’s way of thinking about the Gospel as a misguided ball of confusion.

 

The battle for souls to be saved in the ancient city of Ephesus called for extraordinary measures. The Lord had in His apostle Paul just what He needed; to entrust a man with the ability to reach lost souls and strengthen saved souls in spite of spiritual opposition. This led to some being impressed with the miracles but not the message. They attempted to cast Satan out of a man but it backfired. The demon-possessed man physically beat up the seven men who attempted to use Jesus’ name without knowing Jesus. Still, as the Christians lived as Christians, many were saved, and upon conversion, brought their occultic books together and burned them. “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”

 

When we consider the New Testament names who played a role in the founding and development of the church at Ephesus, we realize that this church was very privileged and dear to many. The fact that one generation loved her, was not enough for the next generation to love her as much, for within about fifty years of her beginning her love drifted from the Lord, and He told them so. This section tells of her origin, and it includes a band of believers who lacked the Holy Spirit until Paul discerned their a lack, and they were filled.

Leaving the large city of Corinth, Paul arrives in another large city Ephesus. As usual, he preaches that Jesus is the Messiah in the synagogue. Then, with hopes of returning later, Paul leaves Ephesus and heads to Israel, where he is first welcomed in Caesarea. He then makes an uneventful visit to Jerusalem, and finally to his home church in Antioch Syria, and after some time off again on his third missionary journey. Meanwhile, Luke, the narrator, takes us back to Ephesus where Aquila and Priscilla explained the Gospel to a zealous preacher named Apollos.