The city of Ephesus was renowned throughout the Roman empire for the practice of magic and the worship of Diana, the goddess of the hunt, nature, and fertility. Her temple was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. As an idolatrous custom of this time, miniature models of the shrine or goddess were carried on military expeditions, displayed in processions, and even taken along on regular journeys. Sometimes these tiny objects were set up as household gods in private dwellings.
The Apostle Paul lived in Ephesus for two years. The results of his Christian preaching and healing were twofold: Many Ephesians burned their books on magic, and the lucrative business of manufacturing and selling the small images of Diana diminished, as well as the temple. The silversmiths were so concerned about their loss of income that at least on one occasion they incited a riot in the theater where 24,000 people shouted: "Great is Diana of the Ephesians" (Acts 19:34) for two hours. The town clerk reasoned with the crowd and convinced them that they had no basis for rioting. Eventually the people dispersed and calm was restored.
Christians of the first century were living in a culture of paganism, and Ephesus was no exception. A primary concern of the Christian was how to protect themselves mentally from the pervasive influence of idolatry. The last chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians gives a description of how they could arm themselves to defend their Christian values, defend the unity of their young church, and keep steadily on the path of pure spirituality that Christ Jesus had mapped out for them to follow. This section is a call to arms against the hostile powers facing the followers of Christ. To "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might," the letter recommends. "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph. 6:10, 11). It's an alert that Christians today can take seriously as a call to arm themselves daily against modern-day mental influences, temptations, or persecutions that threaten individuals and church unity.
