OPPOSITION

When Paul was in Ephesus, he not only encountered a pagan culture that worshiped the goddess, Artemis, but also faced political opposition from the silversmiths. They were livid over their financial loss of income due to former pagans turning to faith in Christ. That meant they were not buying silver shrines of their goddess. These tradesman worked the crowds up into a riot that spilled out into the  outdoor theater. Companions of Paul were dragged into the theater with threats to their lives. Today the Christian message still meets with opposition and persecution from many angles. Paul's prayer in the first chapter of Ephesians asks God to open our eyes to know the "incomparably great power for us who believe". That power was revealed in Paul's ministry and is available to us as we face opposition. Here is the theater in Ephesus: