“So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.” (Acts 19:9-10 NLT).
Ephesus was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire during the time of Paul. It was a seaport city with a population of over 250,000. It became the center of Paul’s missionary efforts in Asia Minor. Some gospel work had already been done in Ephesus, but now Paul lay a foundation for one of the greatest churches of the first and second centuries. The people of Ephesus and the surrounding province were so open to the gospel that Paul was able to rent the lecture hall of Tyrannus, where he preached and taught daily for over two years.
Our church rented school buildings for our meetings for 19 years before we purchased a property of our own. I’m not sure how long the church at Ephesus rented the school of Tyrannus, for Paul felt the call to head back out on his third missionary journey after two years. Perhaps they were still renting when Jesus had John send them a letter some years later, encouraging them not to forsake their first love (Rev. 2:1-7).
It was rare to have a regular place to hold church services in Paul’s day. The church usually met in people’s homes or in public spaces in the first century. Yet in the great city of Ephesus, the need for a large and more permanent meeting place was needed and the Lord provided. It’s important to remember that the church is not a place, but a people. However, the people need a place to gather and in Ephesus they found such a place.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that we are able to have a place where we can gather for worship. Thank You for this freedom. Help us to remember not to take it for granted. Strengthen us to be Your lighthouse in our city. In Jesus’ name, amen.