Daily Thoughts from Acts: Church Birthing (Acts 19:8-10)

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.  (Acts 19:8-10 ESV)

As Paul had found a lengthy and fruitful ministry in Corinth, so now he finds the same kind of ministry in Ephesus.  He starts with the synagogue, seeking to reach his fellow Jews, but when they become hardened against the gospel he moves on to other fields.  Did those Jews who believe continue attending synagogue or did they separate themselves from their synagogue way of life and meet only with the new community, the church?

Paul found someone willing to let his hall be used as a place of instruction and a preaching platform where Paul could “reason” with both Jews and Gentiles.  The result of this lengthy ministry is that the gospel spreads from Ephesus to all the residents of Asia.  We see from Paul’s letters that evangelists took the gospel from Ephesus to the cities of Hieropolis, Laodicea, and Colosse.  Churches were planted there.  Ephesus became a hub for church planting.

We aren’t told that Paul helped start these churches in person.  The closing remarks in the letter to the Colossians reveals that Paul knew people in Colosse (and the letter to Philemon also) and also suggests that the person most responsible for the new churches is Epaphras, whom Paul describes as “one of you” who has “worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hieropolis” (Colossians 4:12,13).  Perhaps Epaphras was the chief evangelist but Paul either worked with him or ministered to the churches once they were born.

Interestingly, the letter to the Ephesians has no personal remarks, moving many to consider it a general letter, a teaching letter, to the churches of Ephesus, Laodicea, Hieropolis and Colosse. Paul mentions at the end of Colossians that when this letter is read in Colosse they are to share it and have it read in Laodicea, and they are to read the one the Laodiceans have (our Ephesians?).

Jesus gave the church his Great Commission to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations.  Acts shows us how it is working.  As the gospel births a church in one location believers from that location branch out to other locations where Christ is not named.  The church spreads relationally and through especially gifted men and women who fill the roles of evangelists.  Pastors and teachers are given who strengthen and equip the believers for the ministry (Ephesians 4:11,12) and the church multiplies.

Has God shown you a place where the gospel needs to go?