5 Smooth Stones

(ekklesia) was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.” We must take note that the Holy Spirit intentionally did not call the about twelve disciples at the beginning of the chapter an ekklesia, but purposely did call this gathering of rabble rousers an ekklesia, a church assembly. Why? As a ma tt er of fact, as if to try to make an even greater impact on the reader, the Spirit through Luke referred to this group as a church assembly two more times before the end of the chapter (vs. 39, 41). It may be more di ffi cult to see in a translation, but is quite clear in the original language. What was it that this group of silversmiths had which quali fi ed them as a church, but not the group of disciples? The fi rst point which is quite obvious is that the disciples had no leader before the apostle Paul came and began to impact and organize them. Not so with the silversmiths, they clearly had a leader in Demetrius, and they followed his leadership. Secondly, there is no clear vison or direction that the disciples were following at the beginning of the record. The assembled silversmiths had a clear vison that they were implementing, to worship the goddess Dianna, and to thereby promote their trade. After the apostle Paul came to Ephesus, the group of disciples was transformed into a church. The e ff ect of this transformation was felt throughout the region and for centuries to come. While the transformation is recorded in this chapter, the fi rst time the word ekklesia is used concerning the saints in Ephesus is in the next chapter. Acts 20:17 “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church [ekklesia].” By carefully looking at what the Spirit has recorded for us we can see that there are a few elements which are necessary for a group or a gathering to be called a biblical ekklesia or church. From this record we can deduce that the required elements are simply recognized leadership which is followed, and a clear vison or plan to be carried out. Nothing more, nothing less. Through this simple transformation the saints in Ephesus became the mighty church of Ephesus whom Paul ordained elders over, and the apostle John later wrote to through the revelation received on the isle of Patmos. Understanding this seemingly simple principle has helped to transform many informal gatherings of churches around the world into corporate ekklesias which the Lord is using to extend His kingdom upon earth. While each Christian has a measure of authority to ful fi ll the calling and commissioning of God, there is a corporate anointing available which 51