Bible Thoughts

May 23, 1999

The city of Ephesus was under the influence of those who worshipped the heathen goddess Diana. Into this city, Paul came with the gospel, accompanied by others who would stand up for truth. It was Paul's aim to point out to the citizens the difference between what was acceptable to the God who made them versus their worship of nothing more than stone images. Many were persuaded to renounce their heathenism and to seek Jehovah. Hence, "So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed"(Acts 19:20). At a later date, Paul would send for the elders at Ephesus to meet him at Miletus where he would instruct them in regard to their responsibilities as bishops. This would be the last time they would see the apostle Paul.

Paul's success in teaching, however, was not without opposition. A civil riot took place in Ephesus, as the idolators set the city in an uproar shouting, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians" for two hours. The town clerk quieted the rioters and dismissed the assembly, sparing Paul of further harm.

What would it have been like to have traveled with the apostle Paul? Our opening verse pointed out that he had with him "Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel." At the time of this verse, it certainly was not pleasant. To be seized by a mob places one in immediate danger of being killed. Only through intervention of a civil ruler were they spared. It was dangerous to travel with the apostle: would you have traveled with him?

Before you answer the last question, consider what would have been the real benefits of accompanying this apostle to the Gentiles. In the midst of the opposition, the persecution, the disappointment, and the weariness, to stand with Paul in Ephesus or on Mars Hill, would have been a blessing indeed. Perhaps this could only be surpassed by being able to have walked with Jesus while he was upon earth.(Paul did not walk with him fleshly, but would walk with him in his heart and soul from the day he was converted, constantly looking forward to being with him in eternity). To hear; Paul preach(though he admitted to having a "speech" problem), to discuss with him spiritual matters, to view him as he healed people, encouraged the saints, spoke to rulers, yea, even as he opposed and exposed false teachers, could carry one to the heights of spiritual joy.

As we read of the journeys of Paul, his shipwrecks, his imprisonments, his sufferings, his fastings, ad infinitum, one envisions a being that could not possibly be mortal. Oh, but he was mortal. He suffered every time the lash touched his back, every time the pangs of hunger were felt, every time he was smitten for Christ's sake, every time he was fatigued from his journeys, and every time he was physically mistreated because he was a disciple.

Besides those things that were without, Paul suffered when false accusers lied, when a brother turned from the faith to walk the ways of the world, when an apostle had to be rebuked, when people would not accept the truth, and when those he had loved turned against him. Had he not been a faithful disciple of Christ, the conflict of his emotions could well have driven him away from the gospel.

Let Paul himself tell you about his life, "Are they ministers of Christ?(I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in labors and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness"(II Corinthians 11:23-27). Would I really like to have walked the path that Paul walked?

The companions of Paul were "seized." To our knowledge, they were released. If one was with Paul, the dangers were constantly present. To escape being taken by a heathen governor in Damascus, he was let down through a window and escaped(II Corinthians 11:32). To have been with Paul would have placed one in constant danger. Would I still desire to be a companion on his journeys?

Paul was constantly in danger from the outside forces that would seek to keep him from teaching the gospel; he had problems from within. "Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches"(II Corinthians 11:28). Even when disciples suffered, Paul felt their suffering. When they were weak, Paul was weak. When they stumbled, he burned. If one was with Paul, the companion would learn to empathize with others when it was needed. How understanding of others am I in my daily walk? What could I have learned from Paul?

In a world basically free of persecution; citizens of the richest nation that ever existed; in a society that offers more free time to its members than any before, we have very little to complain about--do we not? Maybe our "journey" has not cost us enough; perhaps we should have walked with Paul through his life. Could we have stood the test as did those early companions of the apostle?