Paul In Ephesus; Acts 19:1 – 22 Part 12

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

It is a blessed sight to see the word of God growing and prevailing mightily, as it did here. To see it grow extensively, by the addition of many to the church. When still more and more are transformed by the gospel, and brought into a conformity to it, then it grows; when those that were least likely to yield to it, and that had been most stiff in their opposition to it, are captivated and brought into obedience to it, then it may be said to grow mightily. To see it prevail extensively, by the advancement in knowledge and grace of those that are added to the church; when strong corruptions are mortified, vicious habits changed, evil customs of long standing broken off, and pleasant, gainful, fashionable sins are abandoned, then it prevails mightily; and Christ in it goes on conquering and to conquer.

Paul followed up on his plans of going to other places. He was a man of vast designs for God, and was for making his influences as widely diffusive as might be. Having spent more than two years at Ephesus, he planned a visit to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, especially of Philippi and Corinth, the chief cities of those provinces. There he had planted churches, and now was concerned about them and wanted to visit them. Whether it was by his own intentions or by the direction of the Holy Spirit who was guiding all his motions, and by whom he was being led, he was going to go and see how the work of God went on in those places. His intent was to rectify what was amiss and encourage what was good. After he was finished there he planned to go to Jerusalem, to visit the brethren there. He wanted to give an account to them of the prospering of the Gospel in Asia. After that he intended to go to Rome, to go and see Rome; not as if he desired only the gratifying of his curiosity with the sight of that ancient famous city, but because it was an expression people commonly used, that they would go and see Rome. His real intention for going there was to see the Christians there, and to be of service to them. (Romans 1:11). The good people at Rome were the glory of the city which he longed for a sight of. Dr. Lightfoot supposes that it was upon the death of the emperor Claudius, who died the second year of Paul's being at Ephesus, that Paul thought of going to Rome, because while he lived the Jews were forbidden Rome, (Acts 18:2). He sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, to tell them he was coming, and to get their collection ready for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Soon after he wrote the first epistle to the Corinthians, planning to follow it himself, as appears (1Corinthians 4:17, 19), I have sent to you Timothy; but I will come to you myself shortly, if it is the Lord’s will. For the present, he stayed in Asia, in the country about Ephesus, founding churches.

He was seconded in his purpose, and obliged to pursue it by the troubles he met with at Ephesus. It was strange that he had been quiet there so long; yet it seems as though he had met with trouble there not recorded in this story, for in his epistle written at this time he speaks of his having fought with beasts at Ephesus (1Corinthians 15:32), which seems mean that he was forced to fight with wild beasts in the theatre, according to the barbarous treatment they sometimes gave the Christians. And he speaks of the trouble which came to them in Asia, near Ephesus, when he despaired of life, and received a sentence of death within himself, (2Corinthians 1:8-9).