We hate conflict.  Just keep everybody happy and liking us and it is better.  More peaceful.

But that was not Paul’s life.  Wherever he preached the gospel, the gospel brought conflict.

Ephesus was known as a city of idolatry.  The temple of Artemis was there and people came from all over the world to worship at the temple.  It also was big business.  A good living was made selling silver shrines (19:24) as well as products for sorcery (19:17-20).

It was not something casual to be preaching the gospel in a place like this.  Paul loved places like this because it meant that the gospel was needed even more.

He started by finding some disciples.  Whether he searched for them or had a referral, we don’t know.  But he found 12 men and asked them how they had been baptized.  They had been baptized with John’s baptism and did not know the baptism into Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit.   They were open and received the baptism of Jesus.

From there he went to the synagogue.  This was the way he did things as guests and fellow Jews were allowed to speak.  Paul would use that as the way to get his foot into the door.

For three months he spoke about the kingdom and that’s when the conflict started getting dicey.  Some believed.  Some didn’t.  But those who didn’t believe publicly spoke against him.  So he took his disciples and used a rented hall to teach and train them.

It was conflict in the religious world.

The next battle was spiritual.  Paul was so effective and God was doing amazing things through him.  Miracles happened.  Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were brought to the sick and they were healed.  That was the power of God upon his life.

But then there was the opposite in the spirit.  Some were using the power of Jesus name to drive out demons.  Until one day the demons turned on the unbelievers and beat them soundly.  It wasn’t enough to use the name of Jesus.  These men were not disciples and the demons knew it.

So we see even conflict in the spirit world.

Then as the fear of God spread throughout the town, people threw out their items of sorcery.  Then those who made idols were fearful of their loss of income.  But they couldn’t proclaim that before the people.  Instead, they had to defend the honor of their goddess, Artemis, as the reason they were upset.  If they had said about money they would not have been believed.

It ended up in a riot and bringing Paul and his companions into the large theater.  It was a mess.  Paul wanted to speak but his disciples wouldn’t let him.  His disciples were getting roughed up.  And it wasn’t until the city clerk spoke with wisdom that he calmed the crowd and they dissipated.

There was conflict with economy and community.

Wherever the gospel is preached there will be conflict.

Wherever the gospel is preached and people are coming to the Lord, there will be persecution.

It’s part of what Jesus meant when he said his disciples must take up his cross and follow him.