31. Efese

Amanxowa endlu yokubukela yamaGrike e-Efese, apho uMpostile uPawulos washumayela khona. Ngethuba lamaxesha eTestamente eNtsha, iEfese yayibalulekile kulo lonke ilizwe elaziwayo ngenxa yetempile entle kakhulu eyakhiwa ukunika imbeko uArtemis osisithixekazi sobuhedeni samaRoma. Ngoku ingamanxowa, iEfese yakha yaba likomkhulu lephondo laseRoma laseAsiya nombindi omkhulu wezorhwebo. Abakhandi besilivere besixeko baphuhlisa urhwebo oluphumeleleyo bathengisa imifanekiso ka-Artemis.

Izehlo eziBalulekileyo: UMpostile uPawulos watyelela e-Efese kufutshane nekuphela kohambo lwakhe lwesibini lobufundisi (Izenzo 18:18–19). Kuhambo lwakhe lwesithathu wahlala esixekweni iminyaka emibini. Wanyanzeleka emke ngenxa yesiphithiphithi esabangelwa ngabakhandi besilivere ababelahlekelwa lushishino njengokuba uPawulos wayeshumayela ngokuchasene nonqulo lwesithixokazi sobuxoki uArtemis (Izenzo 19:1, 10, 23–41; 20:1). Indawo yokubonela yayiyeyona inkulu eyakha yakhiwa ngamaGrike kwaye isiza apho amaqabane kaPawulos ayejongene neqela lezaphuli-mthetho (Izenzo 19:29–31). UPawulos wabhalela incwadi amalungu eBandla lase-Efese ngethuba esekuthinjweni kwakhe eRoma. Elinye lamasebe asixhenxe eBandla eAsiya ekubhekiswa kuwo yincwadi yeSityhilelo lalifunyanwa e-Efese. (Isityh. 1:10–11; 2:1).