Study Desk

So Paul stuck around there for about eighteen months teaching and preaching about Jesus.

Paul hung around Corinth for a little while longer and then said his goodbyes as he headed out for Cenchreae. While there, he shaved his head according to Jewish custom when a vow you have made has been completed. Then he grabbed his saddle and other tack, got on a boat with Aquila and Priscilla, and sailed for Syria.

After spending some time with the cowboys in Antioch, Paul saddled up and went back down the trail through Galatia and Phrygia. He stopped and visited with every cowboy he came across who was a believer and urged them to keep riding hard for the brand.

He was really good at gathering folks to ride for the brand of Jesus. But he only went as far as the baptism of John because that's all he knew.

He stood up to the Jews lofty arguments in public meetings. He used the Good Book to prove Jesus was the Top Hand who would save all those who rode for him.

While Apollos was working in Corinth, Paul left Antioch in Syria and made his way through the mountains. His westerly travel finally brought him to Ephesus on the coast of the Aegean Sea. There he found some cowboys riding for the Lord and

he asked them, "Did y'all boys get the Holy Spirit when you started riding for the Lord?"They said, "We've never even heard about a Holy Spirit."

"I see," said Paul. "John was baptizing folks to get 'em ready to ride for the Top Hand. John's baptism taught folks to turn away from their wicked ways and be ready to saddle up for the Boss."

There were around twelve cowboys who saddled up for the Lord that day.

While in Ephesus, Paul once again went to the Jewish church and talked convincingly to them about God's outfit for about three months.

Despite his great arguments, some of the folks there spurned his message and spoke out publicly against Paul and the cowboy he rode for. So, Paul washed his hands of the Jewish church there and left, taking the believers with him. They moved their talks to a big room at Tyrannus.

Paul taught there for about two years. Everyone in the province of Asia (Greeks and Jews) who wanted to hear about God's outfit had an opportunity to hear what Paul had to say.

The Holy Spirit then told Paul to head off for Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "That's where I'm headed," Paul said, "and then I'm off to Rome."

About this time, tempers began to flare about the cowboys who rode for the Way.

A blacksmith who made silver idols of the Greek goddess Artemis had hired a bunch of craftsmen and Paul's message had been bad for business.

The Jews pushed Alexander to the stage and he got everyone quieted down for just a second.

But when they realized Alexander was a Jew, the Greeks started their chant up again. "Artemis! Artemis! Artemis!" This went on for nearly two hours.

Finally, the mayor of Ephesus was able to get them under control for just a second as he spoke, "Good folks of Ephesus," he said. "Everyone knows Ephesus is the home of the great goddess Artemis. Her image came down to us from heaven itself.

When the dust had settled, Paul said his goodbyes and struck a long trot for Macedonia.

He stayed there about three months doing what God had called him to do for so long. He was about to board a ship for Syria when he heard of a plot by some Jews. So, Paul doubled back and gave them the slip as we went back the way he'd come through Macedonia.