Background

Act 19

• Temple of Artemis
  • Goddess Diana is the Roman equivalent
• Paul baptizes 12 who were only baptized into the baptism of John
• Paul preached and reasoned the gospel in the Jews' sinagogue for 3 months. But when they refused he relocated in school of Tyrannus
• His preaching continued for 2 years until the gospel was heard in all of Asia
• Unusual Miracles from the handkerchief's of Paul
• Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to use the Name of Jesus. But they were overpowered by possessed man: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?
• A man named Demetrius created a commotion about the Way because many were leaving idolatory and going into Christianity and that represented a threat against their livelihood.
• Ephesus was a "melting pot" of people. There were many diverse people there

Epistle to the Ephesians Outline

• 1:1,2. The greeting, from Paul to the church of Ephesus.
• 1:3–2:10. A general account of the blessings that the gospel reveals. This includes the source of these blessings, the means by which they are attained, the reason why they are given, and their final result. The whole of the section 1:3–23 consists in the original Greek of just two lengthy and complex sentences (1:3–14, 15–23). It ends with a fervent prayer for the further spiritual enrichment of the Ephesians.
• 2:11–3:21. A description of the change in the spiritual position of Gentiles as a result of the work of Christ. It ends with an account of how Paul was selected and qualified to be an apostle to the Gentiles, in the hope that this will keep them from being dispirited and lead him to pray for them.
• 4:1–16. A chapter on unity in the midst of the diversity of gifts among believers.
• 4:17–6:9. Instructions about ordinary life and different relationships.
• 6:10–24. The imagery of spiritual warfare (including the metaphor of the Armor of God), the mission of Tychicus, and valedictory blessings.

Chapter Outline

• Chapter 1: Christ Blesses and Fills His Church
  • He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love
  • In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
  • He might gather together in one all things in Christ, ^[c]both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him
  • you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who^[d] is the ^[e]guarantee of our inheritance
• Chapter 2: Christ Unites Humanity in His Church
  • even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
• Chapter 3: The Great Love of God in the Salvation of the Gentiles
• Chapter 4: Renewal and the Christian Behavior
• Chapter 5: Christian Behavior in the World
• Chapter 6: The Armor of God

Christ Our Cornerstone

¹⁹ Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.