Paul's Three-Month Sermon in the Ephesian Synagogue
Paul's ministry in Ephesus included a significant period of three months during which he preached in the Jewish synagogue [7, 11]. This initial phase of his work in Ephesus is recorded in Acts 19:8, where it states that Paul "entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God." This approach was characteristic of Paul's missionary strategy, as he typically began his evangelistic efforts in the local synagogue, offering the gospel first to the Jewish community [9].
During these three months, Paul engaged in public worship within the synagogue, seeking to overcome prejudices and connect with the Jewish people [9]. His preaching focused on "the kingdom of God," a central theme in his ministry. The goal was to persuade his Jewish hearers about the truths of the gospel [7]. However, this period of synagogue ministry eventually met with resistance. As was often the case in Paul's travels, some in the synagogue became hardened and disobedient, publicly reviling "the Way" before the congregation [11].
Because of this opposition, Paul withdrew from the synagogue. He separated the disciples who had responded positively to his message and continued his teaching daily in the school of Tyrannus [11]. This shift marked a new phase of his ministry in Ephesus, which extended for two years [7, 11]. This extended period allowed Paul to establish a strong Christian community in Ephesus, a city where he would later address the elders with a farewell speech, reflecting on his integrity and pastoral care during his time there [10].
The Epistle to the Ephesians, written by Paul later from Rome, reflects the profound doctrines he likely taught during his extensive ministry in the city [2, 12]. This letter emphasizes themes such as God's blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) [4], the unity of believers, and practical instructions for Christian living, including warnings against immorality (Ephesians 5:3) [3] and corrupt speech (Ephesians 4:29) [5]. It also speaks to the spiritual warfare believers face, urging them to put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) [6]. Calvin notes that Paul describes the Ephesians as being "without God" (Ephesians 2:12) before they learned to worship the true God through the Gospel [8]. The letter also highlights the mystery of Christ, particularly the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan, a theme Paul explicitly mentions as a "prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles" (Ephesians 3:1) [1]. This theological depth suggests the comprehensive instruction Paul provided during his time in Ephesus, building upon the initial three months of synagogue teaching.
Sources
- Ephesians “For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, -- Ephesians 3:1”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ephesians, Epistle to — Was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that to the Colossians, which in many points it resembles. Contents of. The Epistle to the Colossians is mainly polemical, designed to refute certain theosophic errors that had crept into the church there. That to the Ephesians does not seem to have originated in any special circumstances, but is simply a letter springing from Paul's love to the church there, and indicative of his earnest desire that they should be fully instructed in the profound doctrines of the gospel. It contains (1) the s”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 5:3 cross-references: Exodus 18:21, Exodus 20:17, Exodus 23:13, Leviticus 15:18, Numbers 25:1, Deuteronomy 23:17, Joshua 7:21, 1 Samuel 8:3, Psalms 10:3, Psalms 119:36, Proverbs 28:16, Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10, Jeremiah 22:17, Ezekiel 33:31, Micah 2:2, Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21, Luke 12:15, Luke 16:14, Acts 15:20, Acts 20:33, Romans 1:29, Romans 6:13, Romans 16:2, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 6:13, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Corinthians 10:8, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 4:19, Ephesians 5:5, Ephesians 5:12, Philippians 1:27, ”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 1:3 cross-references: Genesis 12:2, Genesis 14:20, Genesis 22:18, 1 Chronicles 4:10, 1 Chronicles 29:20, 2 Chronicles 31:8, Nehemiah 9:5, Psalms 72:17, Psalms 72:19, Psalms 134:3, Isaiah 61:9, Daniel 4:34, Luke 2:28, John 10:29, John 14:20, John 15:2, John 17:21, John 20:17, Romans 12:5, Romans 15:6, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 2 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 2 Corinthians 11:31, Galatians 3:9, Ephesians 1:10, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 1:20, Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians 3:10, Ephesians 6:12, Philippians 2:11, Hebrews 8:5, Hebrews 9:23, 1 Peter 1:3,”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 4:29 cross-references: Deuteronomy 6:6, Psalms 5:9, Psalms 37:30, Psalms 45:2, Psalms 52:2, Psalms 71:17, Psalms 71:24, Psalms 73:7, Psalms 78:4, Proverbs 10:31, Proverbs 12:13, Proverbs 15:2, Proverbs 15:7, Proverbs 15:23, Proverbs 16:21, Proverbs 25:11, Ecclesiastes 10:12, Isaiah 50:4, Malachi 3:16, Matthew 5:16, Matthew 12:34, Luke 4:22, John 1:37, Romans 3:13, 1 Corinthians 14:19, 1 Corinthians 15:32, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 4:16, Ephesians 5:3, Colossians 3:8, Colossians 3:16, Colossians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, James 3:2, 1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 3:1, 2 Peter 2:18, Jude 1:13, ”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 6:11 cross-references: Judges 3:2, Nehemiah 4:13, Mark 13:22, Luke 14:29, Romans 13:12, Romans 13:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Corinthians 11:13, Ephesians 4:14, Ephesians 4:24, Ephesians 6:13, Colossians 3:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, Hebrews 7:25, 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Peter 2:1, Jude 1:24, Revelation 2:24, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:11, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:7”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 19 (introduction): We left Paul in his circuit visiting the churches (Act 18:23), but we have not forgotten, nor has he, the promise he made to his friends at Ephesus, to return to them, and make some stay there; now this chapter shows us his performance of that promise, his coming to Ephesus, and his continuance there two years; we are here told, I. How he laboured there in the word and doctrine, how he taught some weak believers that had gone no further than John's baptism (Act 19:1-7), how he taught three months in the synagogue of the Jews (Act 19:8), and, when he was”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 21: be apostates, who, in the blindness of their minds, substitute demons in the place of God. For this reason Paul declares that the Ephesians were “without God,” ( Eph. 2:12 ), until they had learned from the Gospel what it is to worship the true God. Nor must this be restricted to one people only, since, in another place, he declares in general, that all men “became vain in their imaginations,” after the majesty of the Creator was manifested to them in the structure of the world. Accordingly, in order to make way for the only true G”
- Acts (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Acts 19:8: Paul is here very busy at Ephesus to do good. I. He begins, as usual, in the Jews' synagogue, and makes the first offer of the gospel to them, that he might gather in the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who were now scattered upon the mountains. Observe, 1. Where he preached to them: in their synagogue (Act 19:8), as Christ used to do. He went and joined them in their synagogue-worship, to take off their prejudices against him, and to ingratiate himself with them, while there was any hope of winning upon them. Thus he would bear his testimony to public worship on”
- Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 20:18: 20:18-38 Paul’s address to the elders of the church of Ephesus is a testimony regarding his life and ministry in Ephesus, calling for similar dedication from the leaders who would carry on the ministry. The sermon highlights Paul’s integrity and pastoral care (20:18-21, 26, 31), speaks about the future (20:22-23, 25, 29-30), warns against false teachers (20:29-30), and exhorts the elders to be watchful and faithful (20:28, 31). Paul modeled sacrificial, conscientious, servant leadership.”
- Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 19 (introduction): Paul, coming to Ephesus, finds certain disciples who had not received the gift of the Holy Ghost, knowing only the baptism of John, but receive it through the imposition of his hands, Act 19:1-7. He preaches for three months in the synagogues, Act 19:8. Many being hardened, he leaves the synagogues, and teaches daily in the school of Tyrannus for two years, Act 19:9, Act 19:10. He works many miracles, Act 19:11, Act 19:12. Account of the vagabond exorcist Jews, and the seven sons of Sceva, Act 19:13-17. Many are converted, and burn their magical books, Ac”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:1: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ,.... Not actively, whom Christ had apprehended by his grace, and made a prisoner of hope; but passively, who was made a prisoner for Christ, on account of preaching Christ, and his Gospel: he was not a prisoner for any capital crime, as theft, murder, &c. and therefore be was not ashamed of his bonds, but rather glories in them; and a prison has often been the portion of the best of men in this world: from hence we learn, that this epistle was written when the apostle was a prisoner at Rome; and the consideration o”