The account of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus concludes Luke’s narrative of the uninhibited spread of the gospel. “The gospel’s confrontation with Hellenistic religions reaches a climax in Paul’s ministry in Ephesus.” (Johnson) In Ephesus, we see the gospel’s confrontation with the spiritual powers (vv. 11-20) and with economic idols (vv. 21-41).
“Magic promised control over the uncontrollable in private experience: romance, birth, illness, death, business, and travel…. To people crushed by oppressive, immutable fate, magic promised the possibility of gaining control of the unseen forces that impinged on one’s life.” (Dennis Johnson) In our day, we see all kinds of spiritual practices around us, revealing a hunger that people have for spiritual experience and power. The gospel answers our hunger for both spiritual experience and power, as it alone provides security in the face of all that comes at us in life, and calls us to dependent trust and faith in the One who holds all power. The gospel also confronts our religious and economic idols, which can often disrupt the lives of those who live for them.
