I know, I said Monday. This is not an introduction, just some random notes so that I have a place to write them down.

It seems that the churches in Asia have a natural connnection. Paul started the church is Ephesus and stayed there for about three years. While there, Epaphras became a Christian (Acts 19:10) and subsequently took the message to Colosse (Col 1:7-8). At some point, through Paul, Epaphras, or others, churches started in Laodicea (Col 4:15) and Hierapolis.

Paul wrote four letters while imprisoned in Rome, Ephesians being one of them. (Ephesians was written at the same time as Colossians and Philemon. Philippians was written later.) It seems likely, that letter to the Ephesians was meant to be circulated around Asia. Tychus was sent to the area to bring the letters, so it doesn’t seem like much of a stretch.

Paul went twice to Ephesus. Once briefly from Corinth, then more deliberately from Ceasarea. On his second visit, Paul preached in the Tyranus Hall in Ephesus for quite some time. He also ran afoul of silversmiths. He encounters disciples that only know the baptism of John (Acts 18:1-7). It’s no surprise since Apollos had been teaching there for some time before Priscilla and Aquilla taught him the baptism of Jesus (Acts 17:24-26). Apollos went to Corinth, I guess, before setting everyone else straight.

Paul saw the repentance of many that practiced witchcraft. He also encountered the Seven Sons of Sceva. All in all, it seems the message was quite successful here, allowing ‘everyone in the province of Asia’ to receive the message.

Acts doesn’t tell the story in chronological order in this part, so I’m still working through some things. On his first visit, he had just cut his hair in Cenchrea as part of a Nazarite vow. This would have meant that he would grow out his hair until he could visit the temple in Jerusalem. He made have completed his vow before he returned to Ephesus or not. I think he did, but I’m not certain.

Interesting stuff thus far.