The New Testament book of Ephesians is one of the first prison letters written by the Apostle Paul. You might remember that Paul's successful preaching once caused a riot in Ephesus among the silversmiths who made their living selling images of their goddess Diana (Acts 19). Paul departed after that incident, but he later met with some of the Ephesian church leaders in the city of Miletus while making his way to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. It was in Jerusalem that Paul was arrested.
After appealing to Caesar, Paul was shuttled to Rome. This letter to the believers in the church at Ephesus was evidently written either during the lengthy journey to Rome, which includes stopovers in various prisons within the jurisdictions of Felix, Festus, and Agrippa, or in Rome itself. Estimates place the date of writing at AD 58-62.
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The other book that we began reading this week, II Samuel, is a continuation of the kingdom narrative. The first volume dealt primarily with the 40 years of Saul's reign. This second volume deals primarily with the 40 years of David's reign. Along with the books of I and II Kings they provide an historical journal of the years of the monarchy.
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Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:14 (KJV)