How do you make a promise? Yesterday we saw Paul taking a personal or private vow, which in itself is a promise. In our passage today we see Luke writing that Paul “promised”. There is nothing wrong with making a promise … but there are conditions to making a promise. If you make a promise and it is your intention to fulfil the promise, and you can’t for some unexpected happening … that would be one thing, but another would be making a promise knowing you have no intention of fulfilling the promise. That would not be a promise but a lie! The owner of the house our son-in-law leases said he would bring a couple of containers of weed killer to the house so that we can spray the weeds to kill them. This was a few weeks ago. Did he have the intention of fulfilling his promise? Yes. Then why has he not brought it yet? This is his property and he wants to prevent paying for professionals to do the job and he has the chemicals available, paid for … why does he not bring it then? Although a difficult question to answer … it falls into the category where a person ought not to make a promise knowing they will be slow in fulfilling their commitment … or perhaps forget. We will be seeing how Paul deals with such a scenario soon. Please read:
Ac 18:19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. 23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
1) It is uncertain whether Priscilla and Aquila closed down their business in Corinth, sold it or had someone run it for them … but in relocating they would have opened a new business in Ephesus. Although nothing is said, we can piece together some thoughts. They most likely were integral to Paul’s ministry and could well have been his largest financial supporters. I might have mentioned it before … I know a few Christian men and women who have over many years supported missions. Some gave and still give to township and rural works, others to overseas (foreign) missions and some to assist other facets of the Lord’s work. Generally you never hear who they are. They operate in the background, yet without their support, the Lord’s Work would suffer and in some cases die off. Some people have the gift of living prudently, channeling their resources to Gospel Ministry.
2) Ephesus was the biggest commercial city in Asia Minor, north of the Taurus River.
Ac 18:19 They arrived at Ephesus.
The harbor was a busy port, situated at the mouth of the Cayster River. Loose clay, gravel, sand and silt were carried downstream and deposited where the river empties into the Aegean Sea resulting in necessary dredging on a regular basis. Ephesus was on the main route from Rome to the East, which was a natural channel for trade and tourism. She enjoyed political importance and was the seat of administration for the Province of Asia. As a “free Greek city”, she had her own senate and civic assembly. She further had her own judiciary and prided herself as a city of having the title “Temple Warden of Artemis”. Although rebuilt due to a fire a few hundred years before, the temple of Ephesian Artemis was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
3) Settlement of Jews. There was a huge number of Jews in the city who were granted privileges in 44 BC by Dolabella, whose real name was Publius Cornelius Dolabella, a Roman politician and general under Julius Caesar. This was later confirmed by the civic authorities meaning they could live out their religion in Ephesus without fear.
4) Religion in Ephesus. The citizens made full use of the Artemis cult. The patron god was called Diana by the Romans. It was believed that she performed miracles, cured the sick, regulated commerce, solved difficulties and did good. She was seen as a fertility goddess which drew pilgrims from all over the Roman world. She was supposed to assist women falling pregnant, cared for them during their pregnancy and aided them with giving birth.
5) The city had many artisans. They would manufacture coins with Diana depicted as a huntress. They also made statues and other trinkets and memorabilia that were sold to citizens and tourists. These artisans belonged to a guild … or if you like, a trade union.
6) The culture of Ephesus was a mixture between Greek and Roman lifestyles. Adolescents wore a “white colored toga”, which was like a dress. The age of puberty was 14 for boys and 12 for girls. Ephesian culture, religion and politics were mixed together as one entity! The population was about 300,000. The street were lined with marble. She enjoyed public baths and had a theatre holding upwards of 25,000 (some say as many as 50,000).
7) It is not surprising that Paul wanted to visit Ephesus, though the first thing he did on arrival was to leave Priscilla and Aquila and visit the synagogue.
Ac 18:19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.
Was this an about turn on his previous decision to leave the Jews and ministry to Gentiles only? Well, this was Ephesus and he made a quick visit, maybe to test the waters. It seems as though he was well received.
Ac 18:20 “When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”
They wanted him to say longer, yet he turned them down promising … “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Notice that this promise was based upon what God wanted him to do. If it pleased God … if God willed it so … he would return to them. This ought to be our approach. If we make a promise we need to mean it and place a condition to our promise … if it is God’s will. But let me add … we must not add … “God willing” if we have no desire to fulfil the promise in the first place. Then it is a lie!
Father, help us to be people of truth as we belong to the God of all Truth. Amen.