Pulling Down Strongholds5 And he went into the synagogue, and SPAKE
BOLDLY for the space of three months,
disputing and persuading THE THINGS
CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
6 But when divers were hardened, and believed
not, but spake evil of that way before the
multitude, he departed from them, and
separated the disciples, disputing daily in the
school of one Tyrannus.
7 And this continued by the space of two years;
so that all they which dwelt in Asia HEARD THE
WORD OF THE LORD JESUS, both Jews and
Greeks ....
20 So mightily GREW THE WORD OF GOD and
PREVAILED.
The city of Ephesus was taken over by the temple
cult of Diana. Everywhere there were temples to Diana.
She was the "goddess" that prevailed over that city, and
there were other gods in other temples too. The city was
given over to idol worship.
But Paul dealt with those demonic strongholds by
preaching the Word! It took him about two years, but
the Bible says the Word grew and prevailed. So many
people believed the Word Paul preached that the Word
began to prevail in their lives. The Word of God
prevailed in that city as individual people accepted the
gospel and made Jesus Christ their Lord.
On the Day of Pentecost, the Early Church started
off with 120 people. Reading the Book of Acts, it's easy
to see that the devil tried to keep the Early Church
from growing. You talk about the devil's onslaught!
The devil attacked the Early Church on every side
with persecution, tests, and trials. Satan tried to
destroy the Church in its infancy, but the believers
overcame him with the Word. And because the Word