Reference: Ephesians, Epistle to
Easton
was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that to the Colossians, which in many points it resembles.
Contents of. The Epistle to the Colossians is mainly polemical, designed to refute certain theosophic errors that had crept into the church there. That to the Ephesians does not seem to have originated in any special circumstances, but is simply a letter springing from Paul's love to the church there, and indicative of his earnest desire that they should be fully instructed in the profound doctrines of the gospel. It contains (1) the salutation (Eph 1:1-2); (2) a general description of the blessings the gospel reveals, as to their source, means by which they are attained, purpose for which they are bestowed, and their final result, with a fervent prayer for the further spiritual enrichment of the Ephesians (Eph 1:3-2:10); (3) "a record of that marked change in spiritual position which the Gentile believers now possessed, ending with an account of the writer's selection to and qualification for the apostolate of heathendom, a fact so considered as to keep them from being dispirited, and to lead him to pray for enlarged spiritual benefactions on his absent sympathizers" (Eph 2:12-3:21); (4) a chapter on unity as undisturbed by diversity of gifts (Eph 4:1-16); (5) special injunctions bearing on ordinary life (Eph 4:17-6:10); (6) the imagery of a spiritual warfare, mission of Tychicus, and valedictory blessing (Eph 6:11-24).
Planting of the church at Ephesus. Paul's first and hurried visit for the space of three months to Ephesus is recorded in Ac 18:19-21. The work he began on this occasion was carried forward by Apollos (Ac 18:24-26) and Aquila and Priscilla. On his second visit, early in the following year, he remained at Ephesus "three years," for he found it was the key to the western provinces of Asia Minor. Here "a great door and effectual" was opened to him (1Co 16:9), and the church was established and strengthened by his assiduous labours there (Ac 20:20,31). From Ephesus as a centre the gospel spread abroad "almost throughout all Asia" (Ac 19:26). The word "mightily grew and prevailed" despite all the opposition and persecution he encountered.
On his last journey to Jerusalem the apostle landed at Miletus, and summoning together the elders of the church from Ephesus, delivered to them his remarkable farewell charge (Ac 20:18-35), expecting to see them no more.
The following parallels between this epistle and the Milesian charge may be traced:
(1.) Ac 20:19 = Eph 4:2. The phrase "lowliness of mind" occurs nowhere else.
(2.) Ac 20:27 = Eph 1:11. The word "counsel," as denoting the divine plan, occurs only here and Heb 6:17.
(3.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 3:20. The divine ability.
(4.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 2:20. The building upon the foundation.
(5.) Ac 20:32 = Eph 1:14,18. "The inheritance of the saints."
Place and date of the writing of the letter. It was evidently written from Rome during Paul's first imprisonment (Eph 3:1; 4:1; 6:20), and probably soon after his arrival there, about the year 62, four years after he had parted with the Ephesian elders at Miletus. The subscription of this epistle is correct.
There seems to have been no special occasion for the writing of this letter, as already noted. Paul's object was plainly not polemical. No errors had sprung up in the church which he sought to point out and refute. The object of the apostle is "to set forth the ground, the cause, and the aim and end of the church of the faithful in Christ. He speaks to the Ephesians as a type or sample of the church universal." The church's foundations, its course, and its end, are his theme. "Everywhere the foundation of the church is the will of the Father; the course of the church is by the satisfaction of the Son; the end of the church is the life in the Holy Spirit." In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul writes from the point of view of justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ; here he writes from the point of view specially of union to the Redeemer, and hence of the oneness of the true church of Christ. "This is perhaps the profoundest book in existence." It is a book "which sounds the lowest depths of Christian doctrine, and scales the loftiest heights of Christian experience;" and the fact that the apostle evidently expected the Ephesians to understand it is an evidence of the "proficiency which Paul's converts had attained under his preaching at Ephesus."
Relation between this epistle and that to the Colossians (q.v.). "The letters of the apostle are the fervent outburst of pastoral zeal and attachment, written without reserve and in unaffected simplicity; sentiments come warm from the heart, without the shaping out, pruning, and punctilious arrangement of a formal discourse. There is such a fresh and familiar transcription of feeling, so frequent an introduction of coloquial idiom, and so much of conversational frankness and vivacity, that the reader associates the image of the writer with every paragraph, and the ear seems to catch and recognize the very tones of living address." "Is it then any matter of amazement that one letter should resemble another, or that two written about the same time should have so much in common and so much that is peculiar? The close relation as to style and subject between the epistles to Colosse and Ephesus must strike every reader. Their precise relation to each other has given rise to much discussion. The great probability is that the epistle to Colosse was first written; the parallel passages in Ephesians, which amount to about forty-two in number, having the appearance of being expansions from the epistle to Colosse. Compare:
The style of this epistle is exceedingly animated, and corresponds with the state of the apostle's mind at the time of writing. Overjoyed with the account which their messenger had brought him of their faith and holiness (Eph 1:15), and transported with the consideration of the unsearchable wisdom of God displayed in the work of man's redemption, and of his astonishing love towards the Gentiles in making them partakers through faith of all the benefits of Christ's death, he soars high in his sentiments on those grand subjects, and gives his thoughts utterance in sublime and copious expression.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, and entering himself into the synagogue reasoned with the Jews. And they asking him to stay a longer time with them he did not consent, read more. but taking leave of them and saying, I will return to you again, if God will, he sailed from, Ephesus,
AND a certain Jew by the name of Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, being powerful in the Scriptures. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit spoke and taught correctly the doctrines concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John; read more. and this man began to speak boldly in the synagogue, and Priscilla and Aquila hearing him took him and taught him more accurately the way.
and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but in almost all Asia, this Paul has led away a great multitude by persuasion, saying that things which are made by hands are not gods.
And when they had come to him, he said to them, You know from the first day that I came into Asia, how I was with you at all times, serving the Lord with all humility, and tears and trials that befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews,
serving the Lord with all humility, and tears and trials that befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews, how I kept not back from declaring to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house any thing that was profitable,
how I kept not back from declaring to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house any thing that was profitable, testifying both to Jews and Greeks the change of mind to God, and the faith in our Lord Jesus. read more. And behold now, I go constrained by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things which shall befall me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions await me. But life precious to myself, I make of no account that I may finish my course and the service which I received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that you all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom shall see my face no more. Wherefore I call you to witness this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not kept back from declaring to you all the counsel of God.
for I have not kept back from declaring to you all the counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves, therefore, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he has purchased with his blood. read more. For I know that after my departure grievous wolves will come among you, not sparing the flock, and of yourselves men will arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Wherefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not to admonish every one of you with tears.
Wherefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I ceased not to admonish every one of you with tears. And now I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance with all the sanctified.
And now I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance with all the sanctified.
And now I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance with all the sanctified.
And now I commend you to God, and the word of his grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance with all the sanctified. I have coveted no man's silver or gold or clothing; read more. you yourselves know that these hands have served my necessities and those with me. I have showed you all things, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
for a great and effectual door is opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in [Ephesus] and the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
in whom we have the redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace,
in respect to the dispensation of the fullness of times, to bring all things into one in Christ, the things which are in heaven and the things which are on earth, in him in whom also we have been called, having been predestinated according to the purpose of him who works out all things according to the counsel of his will,
which is a pledge of our inheritance for the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory. Therefore, I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints,
the eyes of your minds being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his call, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone,
For this cause I Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ for you gentiles, if indeed you heard of the dispensation of the grace of God given to me for you,
To him that is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, by the power which operates in us,
I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the call with which you were called,
I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the call with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love,
with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love,
with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, using diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
using diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, as you also are called in one hope of your call;
There is one body, and one spirit, as you also are called in one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; read more. one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. And to each one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he says, When he ascended on high, he took captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. But this, that he ascended, what is it but that he first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended above all heavens, that he might fill all [places]. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we may be no longer children, driven about like waves and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the art of men, and the craftiness of deceitful wiles, but speaking the truth with love we may grow to him in all things, who is the head, Christ; by whom all the body being joined together and compacted by the supply of every joint, according to the proportionate operation of every part, makes increase of the body to the edification of itself in love.
by whom all the body being joined together and compacted by the supply of every joint, according to the proportionate operation of every part, makes increase of the body to the edification of itself in love.
that you should lay aside your former mode of life the old man destroyed by deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, read more. and put on the new man, created after God in righteousness and true holiness.
But be kind one to another, merciful, giving one to another, as God also in Christ gave to you.
Let no man deceive you with vain words; for on account of these comes the wrath of God on the children of disobedience. Be not therefore partakers with them. read more. For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,??9 for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,??10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord,
See then that you walk discreetly, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,
Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; for our conflict is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the potentates of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual [hosts] of evil in the heavenly [worlds]. read more. Take therefore the whole armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, girded about your loins with truth, and having put on the cuirass of righteousness, and bound your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; over all, taking the shield of the faith, with which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of evil. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying with all prayer and supplication on every occasion with the spirit, and watching in the same with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that a word may be given me at the opening of my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
and for me, that a word may be given me at the opening of my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, in behalf of which I perform an embassy in bonds, that I may speak boldly in them, as I ought to speak.
in behalf of which I perform an embassy in bonds, that I may speak boldly in them, as I ought to speak.
in behalf of which I perform an embassy in bonds, that I may speak boldly in them, as I ought to speak. But that you may also know the things concerning me, how I do, Tichycus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will inform you of all things; read more. whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that you may know the things concerning us and that he may comfort your hearts.
whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that you may know the things concerning us and that he may comfort your hearts. Peace and love be to the brothers with faith, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. read more. The grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with constancy.
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins,
and through him to reconcile all things to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens.
of which I was made a minister according to the dispensation of God given me for you, to complete the word of God,
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you have also been raised together through the effectual faith of God who raised him from the dead; and you being dead in sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has made you alive with him, having forgiven us all sins,
and not holding the head, from which all the body being supplied and compacted by means of joints and tendons grows with an increase of God.
for which comes the wrath of God. In which also you walked formerly when you lived in them; read more. but now do you put away also all these, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, vile conversation out of your mouth; lie not one to another; put off the old man with his doings, and put on the new man, renewed in knowledge in the likeness of him that created him,
Put on, therefore, as elect and beloved saints of God, hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if any one has a charge against any, as Christ forgave you, so [do] you also,
forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if any one has a charge against any, as Christ forgave you, so [do] you also, and in addition to all these [put on] love, which is the bond of perfection. read more. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for which you have been called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching with all wisdom, and admonishing one another, with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God,
praying also at the same time for us, that God will open to us a door of utterance to declare the mystery of Christ, for which also I am bound, that I may declare it plainly, as I ought to speak. read more. Walk in wisdom towards those without, redeeming the time.
whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that he may know your affairs and comfort your hearts,
for which cause, God wishing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of his purpose, interposed with an oath,
Hastings
This Epistle belongs to the group of Epistles of the Captivity, and was almost certainly, if genuine, written from Rome, and sent by Tychicus at the same time as the Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (see Colossians).
1. Destination.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
that in every thing you are enriched in him, in all speech and all knowledge,
but we speak a wisdom of God hid in mystery, which God appointed from eternity for our glory, which none of the rulers of this life knew, for if they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; read more. but as it is written, An eye has not seen, an ear has not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those that love him; but God has revealed them to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
but God has revealed them to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who knows the [things] of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? So also no one knows the [things] of God except the Spirit of God.
For we are God's co-laborers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given me as a wise architect I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one see how he builds on it. read more. For no one can lay another foundation besides that laid, which is Christ Jesus.
Know you not that you are a temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you?
For we, being many, are one bread, one body; for we all partake of the one bread.
And there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit;
And there are diversities of gifts but the same Spirit; and there are diversities of services and the same Lord; read more. and there are diversities of operations and the same God, who performs all things in all.
For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body being many are one body, so also is Christ; for we have all been baptized with one Spirit in one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and have all been made to drink one Spirit. read more. For the body also is not one member but many. If the foot says, Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body? and if the ear says, Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then powers, then gifts of performing cures, aids, governments, different tongues.
then is the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when he will destroy every principality and every authority and power. For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. read more. The last enemy, death, shall be destroyed, for he put all things under his feet. But when he says that all things are put under him, it is clear that he is excepted who puts all things under him; and when all things have been put under him, then will the Son also himself be subject to him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in [Ephesus] and the faithful in Christ Jesus.
in respect to the dispensation of the fullness of times, to bring all things into one in Christ, the things which are in heaven and the things which are on earth, in him
in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also you having believed were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is a pledge of our inheritance for the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory. read more. Therefore, I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
which he performed in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly [worlds],
which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all things in all.
that he might show in the ages to come the transcendent riches of his grace in goodness to us by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore, remember that you were formerly gentiles by birth, called uncircumcision by that called circumcision made in the flesh by the hand, that at that time you were without Christ, alienated from the polity of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world;
and reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having destroyed the enmity by it.
for through him we both have access by one spirit to the Father.
for through him we both have access by one spirit to the Father. Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow-citizens of the saints and of the family of God, read more. being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone,
being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, by which all the building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
by which all the building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in which you also are built up together for a spiritual habitation of God.
that the gentiles are co-heirs and of the same body and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
that now to the principalities and powers in the heavenly [worlds] should be made known, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Wherefore I desire you not to faint on account of my afflictions for you, which are your glory.
that he would grant to you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man,
I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, exhort you to walk worthily of the call with which you were called, with all humility and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love, read more. using diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
using diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
using diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one spirit, as you also are called in one hope of your call; read more. one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. And to each one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ, read more. till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
by whom all the body being joined together and compacted by the supply of every joint, according to the proportionate operation of every part, makes increase of the body to the edification of itself in love.
Wherefore, laying aside lying let every one speak the truth to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and sin not; let not the sun go down on your wrath, read more. neither give place to the devil. Let him that has stolen steal no more, but rather let him labor, doing that which is good with his hands, that he may have to give to him that needs. Let no evil word proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for useful edification, that it may afford benefit to those that hear. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by which you were sealed to the day of redemption.
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by which you were sealed to the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and blasphemy, be banished from among you, with all malice. read more. But be kind one to another, merciful, giving one to another, as God also in Christ gave to you.
and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God of good odor.
and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God of good odor.
Let wives [be subject] to their husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; he is the savior of the body. read more. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also let wives be subject to husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it,
Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify it, purifying it with the washing of water with the word,
that he might sanctify it, purifying it with the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any thing of the kind, but that it should be holy and blameless.
that he might present the church to himself glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any thing of the kind, but that it should be holy and blameless.
And, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatening, knowing also that their master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. read more. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil; for our conflict is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the potentates of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual [hosts] of evil in the heavenly [worlds]. Take therefore the whole armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all to stand.
Take therefore the whole armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, girded about your loins with truth, and having put on the cuirass of righteousness, read more. and bound your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; over all, taking the shield of the faith, with which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of evil. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying with all prayer and supplication on every occasion with the spirit, and watching in the same with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
praying with all prayer and supplication on every occasion with the spirit, and watching in the same with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,
But that you may also know the things concerning me, how I do, Tichycus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will inform you of all things; whom I have sent to you for this purpose, that you may know the things concerning us and that he may comfort your hearts.
Only conduct yourselves as citizens worthily of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
Only conduct yourselves as citizens worthily of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
Wherefore God also highly exalted him, and gave him a name which is above every name,
We are the circumcision, who serve God in spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and trust not in the flesh,
But our kingdom is in heaven, from which also we expect the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Be anxious for nothing, but with all prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
But I have all things and abound, I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the things from you, a perfume of good odor, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
And when this letter has been read with you, cause that it be also read by the church of the Laodiceans; and do you also read that from Laodicea.
as also in all his epistles speaking of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest as they also do the other Scriptures to their destruction.
And all who dwell on the earth shall worship him, [every one] whose name is not enrolled in the Lamb's book of life who was killed from the foundation of the world.
Let us rejoice and be glad, and give glory to him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and his wife has prepared herself,
And he bore me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.