Before we reach Ephesus, we must briefly visit Corinth in Greece. The date is about A.D. 50; nearly twenty years have passed since Jesus was crucified and then returned alive from the grave. The Romans, who once destroyed Corinth, have rebuilt it as a capital for the province of Achaia. Corinth sits on the narrow bridge of land that connects northern and southern Greece. Ships bring trading goods across the Adriatic Sea from Italy and Western Europe. Ships from Eastern Europe and Asia – notably from the city of Ephesus – bring trade across the Aegean Sea. Corinth becomes rich again, and as wicked as ever.
The wickedness of Corinth is evident to any first century visitor. There are idols and temples to match every human lust. Just look up: high on Corinth’s mountain is the temple of their sex goddess, Aphrodite. Her temple, which once housed a thousand prostitutes, still sells immorality as ‘worship.’
Into this wicked city come three strangers. The two refugees from Rome are Aquila and Priscilla.1 The single traveler is the apostle Paul.2 These three meet and go into business together. They also win others to their faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. For the story of how God’s family enters Ephesus we must turn to Luke’s book called Acts of the Apostles.
The Book Of Acts
Luke is a Christian doctor that often travels with Paul. Luke writes a two-volume history about Jesus Christ. (“History” at its best is “His story.”) The first volume, called Luke, introduces us to Jesus as the Savior of all humanity. In the second volume, Acts, Jesus continues what He began.3 His Spirit leads His followers to spread the “Good News” of salvation for all nations.4 The work begins in Jerusalem and moves step by step to the world’s leading city, Rome. Along the way, God’s workers arrive in Corinth and Ephesus. Now let’s visit Corinth. Let’s pick up the story where the three strangers meet.
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:1-4).
Paul later devotes all his time to preaching and teaching.
“And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
Eventually, after many struggles in Corinth, Paul returns to his adopted home, Antioch in Syria. He returns by way of Ephesus.
After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila…. And they came to Ephesus…(Acts 18:18-19).
Paul, Aquila and Priscilla walk the broad, marble pavements of Ephesus (as sightseers do today). They meet people in the open squares and markets called “agoras.” They gaze at the stately buildings, the monuments, the stadium, the aqueducts and the open-air theatre. This theatre will later become a part of their own story.5 (You can still visit this theatre made to seat 25,000 people.) Not far from the city, the giant temple of Artemis displays its gleaming glory. (Its site has been discovered, but little remains to be seen today.) Worshippers pour into the city, making the priests and the idol-makers rich.
Hardly anyone recognizes the three travelers for what they are: two princes and a princess. They are the royal family arriving in Ephesus. Through their teaching others also become children of God. Yes, finally, the family of God settles in Ephesus.
Priscilla and Aquila stay there for many years. Paul must go on to Syria, but later he returns to teach in Ephesus for more than two years. He reflects on his work in this way:
And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ….. I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom…. I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:18-21,25,27).
Paul teaches in the Jewish synagogue, then teaches daily in the School of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8-9). Paul trains his converts to share the Gospel as he does. Thus, during Paul’s work in Ephesus,
“all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10).
1. Research subject – Priscilla, Aquila: Acts 18:2,18-19,26; Romans 16:3-4; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19
2. Research subject – Paul: early life – Philippians 3:4-6; Acts 7:58; 8:1-3; new life – 1 Timothy 1:12-16; Acts 9:1-30; 11:25-30; 22:1-21; 26:1-29; missions – Acts 13:1-21:19; Romans 1:10-15; 15:15-29; trials – Acts 21:27-28:31; Philippians 1:12-26; 2 Timothy 1:15; 4:16-18; ministry as an apostle Romans 1:1-5; 1 Corinthians 15:8-10; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 11:22-33; 12:7-15; Galatians 1:11-2:14; Philippians 3:7-14; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20; 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 4:6-8.