In the meantime, Paul had arrived at Ephesus and found some believers there who hadn't yet been baptized (Acts 19:1-3). So, Paul baptized them, placed his hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:4-7). For the next three months, Paul preached about Jesus in the local synagogue. Nevertheless, when opposition to his message began to break out, he and the other believers withdrew from that place and began meeting in the Hall of Tyrannus on a daily basis. This continued for two years, and by the time that Paul was finished, that entire region had heard about Jesus Christ. (Acts 19:8-10)
Moreover, during this period, God used Paul to perform many miracles of healing among the people there. Indeed, his ministry was so spectacularly successful that the sons of the local priest began invoking Christ's name to cast out demons from those possessed by them. However, one spirit acknowledged Jesus and Paul, but it did not acknowledge them and attacked them instead of leaving! As a consequence, news of what had happened to the priest's sons spread throughout that region, and Christ's name and Paul's message spread like wildfire. (Acts 19:11-20)
Even so, some of the craftsmen of that region, whose business of making and selling pagan images had been negatively impacted by the impact of the gospel, incited a mob against the new religion. Indeed, the crowd became so worked up that they began chanting how great the goddess Artemis was (Ephesus was known for their worship of her). Fortunately, a local official was able to quiet the crowd and warned them that they were in danger of being charged with rioting, and the crowd dispersed. (Acts 19:21-41)
Unfortunately, at about the same time, Paul was experiencing difficulties with the congregations that he had established in Corinth and in Galatia. At Corinth, Paul had to confront other folks preaching a different theology from the one that he had presented to them. These folks apparently felt like they were wiser and more polished in the message which they presented to the believers there. Apparently, they also downplayed the role that Jesus played in the salvation of believers, and they emphasized their own background in Judaism and the Hebrew Scriptures. Indeed, Paul had to remind the Corinthians of his own background in Judaism and expertise in matters related to Torah. (See II Corinthians 11)
In fact, it became clear to Paul that a group of Jewish Christians had ignored the decision of the leadership in Jerusalem and continued to insist that ALL Christians were obligated to observe the commandments of Torah. To the saints of Galatia, he wrote: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8) Paul then went on to remind them about what had happened at the Council of Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1-10).
For Paul, the message was clear and simple, and many of the Galatian Christians had allowed others to pervert and twist it. He continued: "We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:15-16) For Paul, this wasn't just academics - his message was about the salvation of their souls! He wrote: "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham 'believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness?'" (Galatians 3:1-6)
Paul couldn't be there to personally correct this error which had crept back into the Church. As a consequence, he wrote this letter, and it was circulated among the various congregations in that region. He concluded: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love." (Galatians 5:1-6) Paul believed that the issue of Gentiles observing Torah had been settled. For him, there wasn't any room for a different view of the matter. This was basic and fundamental theology!
Now, after the danger had passed at Ephesus, Paul encouraged all of the believers there and departed for Philippi and Troas (Acts 20:1-6). Now, while at Troas, the disciples had all gathered together on the Sunday before Paul was scheduled to leave. The apostle continued speaking with the believers there into the night and a young man who had been listening to Paul while sitting in a window grew sleepy and fell out of the window! Unfortunately, they were meeting on the third floor of the building, and the fall killed him. Paul, however, scooped the young man up in his arms and life returned into his body. Then, Paul resumed speaking until daylight and departed when he was finished. (Acts 20:7-12)
Paul and his companions sailed to Miletus on their way to Jerusalem, and the apostle summoned the leaders of the Church in Ephesus to meet with him there. We are informed by the author of Acts, that Paul told 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. And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." (Acts 20:17-32) Little did they know then just how prophetic Paul's remarks would prove to be.
After leaving there, Paul and his companions sailed on across the Mediterranean Sea and came at last to Tyre. They remained there for about a week - fellowshipping with the believers from that region. When it was time to board the ship and continue on their way, the disciples followed them out of the city. Then, they all knelt down on the beach and said a prayer together before boarding the ship. From there, they traveled to Ptolemais and then on to Caesarea. (Acts 21:1-8)
At Caesarea, they disembarked and stayed at Philip's house (one of the seven). While there, a prophet named Agabus predicted that the Jews would arrest Paul and turn him over to the Gentiles if he proceeded on to Jerusalem. When they heard this, Paul's companions and the believers at Caesarea urged Paul not to go there. Paul, however, would have none of it and asked them not to make his decision to return to Jerusalem more difficult. (Acts 21:8-14) Thus, the brethren acceded to his wishes and sent him on his way.
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, it is interesting to note that Paul went to see James (Acts 21:17-18). Once again, we are told that he gave James and the Jerusalem elders a detailed summary of the work which God had accomplished through him among the Gentiles. After hearing his report, the Jewish leadership once again rejoiced. Nevertheless, they also appeared to be worried for Paul's sake because of the group of Jewish Christians who insisted on keeping the Law. They pointed out that Paul himself was a Torah-observant Jew, and that he should demonstrate his Jewishness at the Temple for all to see. However, they also reminded Paul of the decision of the Jerusalem Council and reassured him that they did NOT expect Gentile Christians to observe the Law. Thus, Paul was happy to take their advice and observed the ritual of purification in anticipation of a visit to the Temple. (Acts 21:19-26) What happened next would prove to be the beginning of the end of Paul's ministry!
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