The Celsus Library in Ephesus is a World Heritage site from the second century AD and represents a centre for learning. The book of Acts (chapter 19) tell us that Paul worked here for two years, teaching and training the disciples, equipping them for mission at the Tyrannus Hall. From this location, people were taught and sent out to proclaim the gospel of Jesus, and to plant churches.
Ephesus was a centre of learning, philosophy and the arts. As yet, we do not know the location of Tyrannus’ lecture hall, where the apostle Paul discipled Christian believers, but archaeologists are still at work in the ancient city and have discovered inscriptions bearing the name Tyrannus.
On arrival, Paul had only found a handful of Jesus-followers. He subsequently won new converts and a church was founded. Yet Paul’s message also met with considerable resistance. No doubt, his reference to fighting wild beasts in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 15.32) is metaphorical, alluding both to his opponents and the ancient stadium of Ephesus.
The city quickly developed into a strategic mission hub of early Christianity. According to church tradition, it was here that John the Apostle ended his days and Paul’s disciple Timothy was appointed bishop. Inscriptions have been discovered which support the biblical witness to a Christian presence in Ephesus.
When a huge tree falls in the jungle, the open space immediately begins to fill with smaller plants, thin trees and vines. Then for a while, nothing happens, until out of nowhere a lone trunk bursts through, a gigantic, magnificent tree that could last for centuries. While the plants and vines fight for space, air and light the tree keeps growing and, deep beneath the surface, connects to unseen sources of water, nutrients, and life.
Richard Foster once said, ‘The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.’ Mark Sayers says that in a ‘culture built on superficiality’ we need to be finding deep sources of life.
When Paul was in Ephesus, he taught the disciples for two years. During this time ‘all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord’. Just like the giant tree trunks, learning from Paul the disciples went ‘underground’, and as they went deep the good news of Jesus went wide.
Where are you looking for sources of life? The desperate need today is for people to have gone deep into God and his word.
Read on, to find out more about Paul and the church in Ephesus:
The Church – the body of Christ Ephesians 1–6
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