A warm reception in Ephesus for Paul.

Acts 18:19-23

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“And he came to Ephesus, and left them there…” Acts 18:19a

The “them” in this verse refers to Priscilla and Aquila, and the one who left them there was Paul. When Paul decided to sail for Syria, he brought Priscilla and Aquila with him from Corinth, as described in the post on Acts 18:18. On the way to Syria, they stopped in Ephesus, and that is where Paul would leave them. While Priscilla and Aquila stayed in Ephesus, Paul went to Caesarea, Antioch at Syria, and the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, as described in the coming verses of this post [Acts 18:22-23].

On the map below, Corinth can be seen to the far west of the image and about halfway up. Paul, his companions, with Aquila and Priscilla sailed from Corinth with the main destination being Syria. Syria is seen to the far east of the image and about halfway up. On the way to Syria, they sailed to and stopped at Ephesus, underlined in yellow and east of Corinth. Aquila and Priscilla would remain in Ephesus as Paul sailed for Caesarea, [underlined in yellow to the bottom of the image to the far right, and west of Jerusalem]. From Caesarea, Paul finally reached Syria where he went to Antioch [known as Antioch at Syria]. Antioch at Syria is due north of Jerusalem and underlined in yellow. There is another Antioch, which is called Antioch at Pisidia, in the region of Phrygia [not shown on the map]. After visiting Antioch at Syria, Paul went to the regions of Galatia and Phrygia. Galatia is northwest of Antioch at Syria and Phrygia is west and a little south of Galatia.

“…but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.” Acts 18:19b-21

While Aquila and Priscilla were left somewhere in Ephesus, Paul went to a synagogue somewhere else in Ephesus. The work of the Holy Spirit is to make known the testimony of Jesus Christ and He is who was motivating Paul to speak to the Jewish people. The Jewish people there were receptive to the message of Jesus as being the Christ and Son of God. As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is He who opens the door to share our born-again testimony, which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart.

There is a difference between being persuaded by the kindness, goodwill, and love of human sentiments and being guided by the will of the Holy Spirit. The warmth of the people in Ephesus towards Paul wanted him to stay longer with them, but the Holy Spirit was guiding Paul towards Jerusalem.

I’ve heard some people say that love is love, and peace is peace no matter the source, whether from the human heart or from the Holy Spirit. Not so. The “hippies” of the 60’s era were huge, very huge, on promoting love and peace, but we all know how much different that is from the love and peace that God offers us through Jesus Christ. One love comes through emotions and physical sexual relations, but God’s love reaches into the spirit and soul. One peace comes by a worldly definition of peace, which caused the “hippies” to protest and riot against war. Jesus gives us peace that is not the peace of this world but is a peace with God and within the spirit and soul. God calls us to peace, not to riots and protests. One movement for peace and love exists through a generational movement and passes away with the coming of an “evolved” generation, but the love and peace of God is eternal through Jesus Christ.

Paul promised the Ephesians that he would return, God willing, and he did return to Ephesus as described in the posts on Acts 19:1-22.

“And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch. After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.” Acts 18:22-23

Paul went on to Caesarea and left Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus. He greeted the Church in Caesarea in the name of Jesus Christ then went to Antioch at Syria. He stayed there for a while in the fellowship of Jesus Christ. Then Paul went to the regions of Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen the Believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. These places can be seen on the map at the beginning of this post.

As followers of Jesus Christ, our desire is for fellowship in the name of Jesus Christ and to help one another to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1