The marketplace of Ephesus buzzed with activity. Merchants shouted, coins clinked, and the towering temple of Artemis loomed as the pride of the city. For generations, silversmiths had grown wealthy crafting small idols of the goddess, selling them to pilgrims who poured in from all over Asia. It was their livelihood, their culture, and their pride.
Then Paul started preaching. His message was simple but devastating to their business: “The gods made with hands are not gods at all.” With those words, he struck at the very heart of their economy and their religion. Conviction would not let him stay silent.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Rethinking Leadership to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.