Acts 19:
The History of Ephesus:
-Capital of proconsular Asia as such was the political and commercial center of this large region.
-The melting pot of nations and ethnic groups. Greek/ Roman/ Jew/ Gentile.
-Home of the largest Greek open-air Theaters. Held 25,000 spectators.
-Home of one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. Temple of the goddess Diana or Artemis 425 by 220 by 60 feet four times the size of the Parthenon.
-The temple became the great depository for huge amounts of treasure and thus became the bank of Asia.
Ephesians 1:1-2 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (NKJV)
The Greeting:
1. Paul wrote Ephesians with Power:
With the authority of an Apostle. (vs.1)
Apostlos:means "sent one"
-By the will of God. (vs.1)
1 Corinthians 2:13 "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." (NIV)
-Paul was bonded to be an apostle by the will of God.
2. Paul wrote Ephesians to the Saints:
-All Christians are Saints. (Vs.1)
Hagios:means most Holy thing, or saint to be set apart.
Christ makes all believers saints.
If we are truly Christ’s, we have a new nature, a new set of loyalties, and a new agenda. We belong to a different kingdom.
-All Christians are Faithful. (Vs.1)
Pistos: means be faithful by exercising faith and continuing in the Faith.
Matthew 10:22 "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." (NIV)
3. Paul wrote Ephesians to those who are in Christ:
-Christians are in Christ. (Vs.1)
Christos:in "Christ" or "in Him" occurs nine times just in Eph. 1:3-23. And occurs 164 times in Paul’s writings.
It means being joined in Christ in one spiritual body so that what is true for Christ is true for us.
John 15:1-17 The Vine and the Branches.
4. Paul wrote Ephesians so that Grace and Peace would abound: (Vs.2)
-charis: grace is the fountain of which- eirene:peace is the stream.
-Because we have grace from God we have peace with God and the peace of God. Philippians 4:7.
