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BIBLE STUDY LESSON 10

SERIES V --- JOURNEYS FOR YESHUA

EPHESUS

THE SECOND AND THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEYS: CORINTH, ANTIOCH AND EPHESUS

From Acts 18:19-19:22

Leaving Corinth’s eastern harbour at Cenchrea, Paul sailed with Priscilla and Aquila toward Ephesus. When they arrived, Paul went to the synagogue to discuss the Gospel with the Jews. They asked him to stay longer, but he refused, for he felt it was important that he return to Jerusalem and Antioch without delay. [If the Adonai is willing, I will return,] he promised. Paul sailed from Ephesus, heading toward the seaport of Caesarea. He completed his second missionary journey there, went inland to Jerusalem, where he brought a report to the church, and then returned to the church at Antioch. Paul remained there at Antioch for some time before setting forth on another journey. The third missionary journey began when Paul left Antioch for Galatia and Phrygia, visiting the believers, and strengthening them in the faith. About this time, Apollos, an eloquent Jew from Alexandria, arrived at Ephesus. Apollos was a mighty preacher, presenting the Scriptures with power, but he had heard the Gospel story only as far as John the Baptist. Priscilla and Aquila happened to be in the synagogue at Ephesus one Sabbath when Apollos preached a powerful sermon about the coming Moshiach. After the service ended, they took him aside and told him that Yeshua the Moshiach had already come, and what wonderful things had happened since the days of John the Baptist. Soon after he became a believer, Apollos decided to go to the province of Achaia, in Greece. The Ephesian believers wrote a letter to those in Achaia, urging them to receive Apollos with a warm welcome. They did, and what a help he was, for in every public discussion, he clearly showed from the Scriptures that Yeshua was the Moshiach! While Apollos was in Corinth, the capital of Achaia, Paul arrived at Ephesus. [When you became believers, did you receive Ruach HaKodesh?] Paul asked about a dozen men there. The men were puzzled. [Who is Ruach HaKodesh?] they asked. [We haven’t heard about Him.] [What did you accept then when you were baptized?] Paul inquired. [The teachings of John the Baptist,] they answered. [But John taught the people to repent, to be sorry for their sins and turn to the coming Moshiach, who is Yeshua,] Paul told them. When these men heard what Paul taught, they asked to be baptized again, this time in the name of the Adonai Yeshua. When Paul placed his hands upon them, they received Ruach HaKodesh, and began to prophesy and speak in other languages. For the next three months, Paul preached boldly in the synagogue, discussing the Kingdom of YHVH with the people. However, some of the people in the synagogue stubbornly refused to believe, and even spoke evil of the Gospel, so Paul withdrew from the synagogue, taking the believers with him, and began daily discussion meetings in the school of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that in time people all over Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard YHVH’s Word. Through Paul, YHVH worked unusual miracles. Some people were healed, or evil spirits in them removed, when a handkerchief or apron which Paul had touched was placed upon them. But about this same time some Jewish exorcists travelled about, casting out demons. They decided that they would exorcise with the Name of Yeshua so they used this phrase, [I adjure you by Yeshua Whom Paul preaches.] Seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva tried this on a man who had a demon in him. [I know Yeshua and Paul, but who are you?] the demon responded. Then the man in whom the demon lived jumped on two of them, ripped off their clothing and wounded them, and they fled for their lives! Before long news reached both Jews and Greeks throughout Ephesus, bringing fear and a reverence for the Name of Yeshua upon them. Many believers who had practiced evil magic confessed what they had been doing, and publicly burned the books they had been using, worth about fifty thousand pieces of silver. This was but one evidence of the power of YHVH’s Word as it spread throughout that region. About this time, Paul felt certain that Ruach HaKodesh wanted him to return to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia on the way. [Then I must go on to Rome,] Paul said. Anticipating this journey, he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, while he stayed behind for a short time in Asia.

COMMENTARY

SHIPS OF THE ROMAN WORLD

In Old Testament times the ancient Hebrews were mostly farmers and herdsmen. Because the shores of the Promised Land did not have very good harbours, the Israelites built few ships to explore the sea. By New Testament times, Israel was a part of the Roman Empire. Caesar controlled not only the lands that surrounded the Mediterranean, but also the ships that sailed the sea. When Paul sailed on his missionary journeys, he travelled on ships quite different from those today, including grain ships that took passengers along only when there was room. There were no cabins for them to sleep in, so the travellers made their beds wherever they found a safe, dry place. These ships were powered by sails and depended on the winds to keep them moving on their route. Other vessels that sailed the seas in Roman times were war ships. In addition to sails like those on the merchant ships, these also had oars to give them greater ability to manoeuvre in a battle.