He thought they would die. The suffering was so bad that Paul and his companions said it was unbearable, “far beyond our ability to endure” (2 Cor 1:8). What was happening?
Paul was in Ephesus, and we do know some things. Ephesus profited heavily from the temple of Artemis. People came from around the world to worship and buy trinkets. The Scriptures record the sellers saying, “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business” (Acts 19:25). A modern equivalent would be the city of Mecca.
We know in Acts 19 that Paul preached to people and they were getting saved. This was cutting into their income. Although they enveloped that in the context of worship so as to make it seem more righteous. That’s how persecution works. It’s rarely about a person’s faith alone, but rather an encroachment on some other thing that makes the persecution appear justified and righteous. We see that here. The root was money. The excuse was worship.
“And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty” (Acts 19:26-27).
Because of many people coming to Christ and Paul’s very bold preaching that man-made gods are not gods, a riot broke out. They wanted to kill him.
That’s one possibility for Paul’s suffering in Ephesus.
Later in 2 Corinthians 11:23–28, Paul gives a broader list of sufferings:
- imprisonments
- countless beatings
- near-death experiences
- five Jewish lashings (39 lashes)
- three Roman beatings with rods
- stoning
- shipwrecks
- dangers from enemies
- hunger, cold, exhaustion
- daily anxiety for the churches
The point, though, is not his suffering, but what God gave him in his suffering, and that was comfort. Because of their deep suffering, and abundant provision of comfort by the Lord, they were able to comfort others. This comfort from the Lord wasn’t the end, it was given by God and ultimately produces three things –
1) Patient endurance (v. 6)
2) Reliance upon God (v. 9)
3) The authority and ability to comfort others in their distress (v. 6)
Deep distress can often lead to deep revelations, encounters, and understanding in the Lord. This forms character through fire.
There’s another component to this though. And that is the praying church.
“On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many” (2 Cor 1:10-11).
People were praying. That prayer was key to Paul as he was doing ministry in a hostile environment. Through their prayers, God delivered Paul and Timothy.
We can never underestimate the importance of those who stay to pray and those who are on the front lines for the gospel.