Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. Paul had brought the church and elders in Ephesus to a place of maturity where he could move on to his missionary endeavors. Yet Paul was felt a sense of responsibility for all the church of Christ’s body. So Paul purposed in his “spirit” to go to Jerusalem.

2. His purpose for going through Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem was to collect monetary support for the suffering church in Jerusalem (Ac 11:28-30 cf. Ro 15:25-27; 1Co 16:1-3).

3. Afterwards Paul desired to go to Rome, then Spain in order to establish churches in main cities and to preach the gospel in areas where Christ had not been named (Ro 15:20 cf. Ro 15:28).

B. Timothy and Erastus (Ac 19:22)

1. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus ahead of him to Macedonia. Timothy had been with Paul since the second missionary journey (Ac 16:1-3). Erastus is mentioned for the first time and may be the same man that is mentioned again in Ro 16:23 and 2Ti 4:20.

2. Paul stayed to write to the Corinthians and because there was still a great door of opportunity for him at Ephesus. However, he would also have many adversaries (1Co 16:8-9).

III. CULTURE OF EPHESUS (Ac 19:23-34)

A. Anti-Christian (Ac 19:23)

1. It is here in Ac 19:23-34 that we are informed about some of Paul’s adversaries.

2. We also learn about the culture of Ephesus. Though Christianity (the Way) made headway in Ephesus, there was an anti-Christian culture that would clash with Christianity.

3. We learn that true Christianity will make an impact. True Christianity will clash with culture. When it does, a major disturbance is made in culture. Therefore we should expect it (Lk 12:49-53).

4. Today Christianity should seek to make an impact, clash, and a disturbance on culture, especially when the culture of Ephesus is very similar to our culture today.

B. Temple of Artemis (Ac 19:24)

1. Artemis was the “great” Greek female goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, virginity, fertility, and childbirth. She was the same as the Roman Diana. The worship of Artemis was most notable among the Ephesians because of the myth that her image fell down from heaven, making them the guardians of the temple (Ac 19:35). The temple took over 200 years to build. It was built of shining marble. In the center behind a curtain was image of the goddess. Behind the shrine was a treasury for nations and kings and was was called the “safest bank in Asia.”

C. Paganism

1. It was a culture saturated with paganism, the worship and love of false gods. While Athens loved all the gods, Ephesus jealously loved Artemis (Ac 19:28, 34). Actual paganism not only exists today (New Age, Goddess Movement, Wicca), but it has infiltrated the church (Christian Mysticism, Labyrinths, Contemplative Prayer etc.)

D. Immorality (Ep 5:3)

1. While almost all Greek cities had temple prostitution, it was especially true of Ephesus. Multitudes of young virgin (unmarried) girls dedicated themselves to the temple of Artemis. Today, there is immorality of every fashion worse than Ephesus.

E. Occult (Ac 19:12-13, 18-19)

1. Ephesus was full of magic, spells, incantations, superstitions, and the occult (Ac 19:18-19). Ephesus experienced demon possession and would-be exorcists who attempted to exorcise them (Ac 19:13-16). Our country has been filled with New Age and occultic practices. In recent years, we have seen such practices, including channeling and spirit guides, come under the name of Christianity (Sarah Young, Bob Jones).

F. Greed (Ac 19:24-26)

1. Demetrius the silversmith (not necessarily that same person in 3Jn 1:2), was enraged because Christianity was affecting his business. Today, the prosperity gospel is nothing more than moneymaking schemes of televangelists and health and wealth churches. They also are driven by greed.

G. Religiosity (Ac 19:27)

1. Demetrius’ first argument revealed his heart. His second argument revealed his shrewdness. He feigned religious motives and intentions. Today many claim to be religious (Christian) but show that their motives and lives are unchanged. Evangelicals recently met with the Pope, calling for unity and donations (Kenneth Copeland).

H. Carnal Emotions (Ac 19:28-32)

1. Among the list of the deeds of the flesh in Gal 5:19-21are “outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions.” When the Ephesians went into their mob mentality, they were exercising carnal and fleshly emotions (confusion and ignorance, vs. 32). The mob mentality never goes away, not even today, because it’s in the heart of man.

I. Carnal Actions (Ac 19:33-34)

1. The carnal emotions of the flesh soon turned into carnal actions (1Co 15:32). They grabbed anyone they could (Gaius and Aristarchus) including a Jewish official. Such was not the method of the early church nor should it be of present day Christianity.

IV. CHRISTIANITY AFFECTED CULTURE

A. Word prevailed (Ac 19:20)

1. Ac 19:20 is the key verse to chapter 19. Whether speaking in the Synagogue or teaching in the school of Tyrannus, it was the Word that was being preached (Ac 19:8-9). Whether it was magic books, exorcists, or demon possession, it was the Word of God that prevailed. Culture met the Word of God, but that did not keep keep many from believing and a major church being established in Ephesus. The Word of God was the sword of the Spirit for the early church and must be for us today. If the Word was preached accurately many false teachings would disappear.

B. Word changed their hearts (Ac 19:10)

1. The preaching, teaching, and reasoning of the Word changed the hearts of many in Asia. It was not the clever programs, videos, amusements, social events that changed hearts; clearly, it was the Word of God. All Asia had heard about Christianity from either Paul’s teaching or those who had come to Christ through Paul. But all heard about Christianity from the biblical teaching of the Word of God.

C. Word changed their business - Ac 19:25

1. When there is a change in the pocketbook, there has been a true change in the heart. Ungodly and unbiblical businesses will clash with biblical Christianity. Not every business is a good business. Like Ephesus, the Word will be the conscience of the business world.

D. Word changed their worship - Ac 19:26

1. True biblical teaching will clash with false religion and worship. Most false religions have a problem with Christianity because it claims to be the only way. Those who seek the truth will allow the Word of God to change their belief and their worship.

E. Word changed their lifestyle - Ac 19:37

1. The Word clashes with the lifestyles of individuals. After coming to Christ, a true believer desires to conform his life to the teaching of the Bible. Both believers and unbelievers who do not want to conform to Christianity will clash with the Word.

F. Word changed their culture for a time (Ep 6:24 cf. Re 2:4)

1. The Word had clashed and changed the culture of Ephesus. A major church was established. But in time culture changed the church. The church at Ephesus was one of the churches that were warned by Jesus (Re 2:4 cf. Ep 6:24).

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516