Revelation 2:1 Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; "Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, write," etc.. This first epistle written to the Ephesian Church (and all the other six epistles to the other six churches), doth contain three general parts; viz. First, a preface. Secondly, The narrative of the matter either commended or reproved. Thirdly, the conclusion of the epistle. "Ephesus" Ephesus was the chief city in Asia the less, situated toward the Ionian Sea, where the Apostle Paul preached the gospel with great success (though not without some opposition; Acts 19:9-10; Acts 19:18-20). So mighty grew the word of God and prevailed, that there this church was planted by Paul, and watered by Apollo, Timotheus and Arastus, ministers of Jesus Christ, \ unto which church the Apostle Paul afterwards wrote that epistle, entitled, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians. What is said in general touching this and all other gospel churches, you may read in the exposition of Rev 1:11. This Ephesian Church, at the first planting thereof, was a particular congregation consisting of a few baptized believers, who were separated from the profane idolatrous gentiles and their idol temples; also from the formal superstitious Jews and their synagogues, by the ministers of Christ, and congregated together to worship God in spirit and in truth visibly, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of God blamelessly, according to the order of the gospel. \ The angel of this church, and the angels of the other six Asian Churches, were not of the holy elect celestial angels of God, those ministering spirits, \ nor was this angel any one of the apostles of Christ, though there were some in this church at that time, who said they were apostles, but were not, as appears from Revelation 2:2. Nor was this angel any one individual man or minister, that had the superintendence over, or precedence above all the other ministers in this church, as being the Apostle John’ s delegate or substitute in his absence; for we read not of any such in this prophecy of the Revelation. "Angel," But by Angel in this and all the other epistles written to the seven churches in Asia, we are to understand the episcopacy, presbytery, and ministry in each particular church, unto whom the charge, oversight, care and government thereof was committed by the Holy Spirit, whom the Apostle Paul called touv presbuterouv, Acts 20:17 and episkopouv, Acts 20:28; elders and bishops, among whom none were lords over God’ s heritage, \ mhd wv katakurieuontev twn klhrwn, not as them that over-rule the clergy; Arias Mont. Neg; ut dominantes cleris. So the word "Angel" in all these seven epistles, is a noun collective, comprehending all the bishops and presbyters, called elders, \ in this Church of Ephesus, so in all other churches of Christ in Asia, and elsewhere. "These things saith be, that holdeth the Seven Stars in his right hand," etc. By holding ministers "in his right hand" is signifying Christ’ s powerful and gracious protection over them for their safety and preservation: \ Did not Christ by his Almighty power, hold up and keep safe his faithful ministers, the powers of this world would soon cast down those stars from the ecclesiastical heaven, silence the ministers of the gospel, and exile them, and persecute them even unto death; as the Roman, pagan emperors did, and as the Roman powers and prelates did, when God suffered then so to do, but Christ hath these "Stars in his right hand" and none can pull them out of his hand: And when Christ sets before his faithful ministers an open door, none can shut it. \ "Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks". Christ’ s walking "in the midst of the Candlesticks" implies, first, his special and spiritual presence in the Christian saints, according to his gracious promise. \ Secondly, his inspection into the church’ s condition, administrations, gifts, operations, and ordinances; seeing and observing their order and the steadfastness of their faith; also beholding their decent and reverent behavior and gesture in the public worship of God; and especially looking into and taking notice of the holy, spiritual, and heavenly frame of the hearts of his ministers and members. \ Thirdly, his protection and preservation of his churches in their liberties, privileges and administrations. \ Fourthly, his observation of what disorders, corrupt opinions, false doctrines, male-administrations, and what formality, contentions, divisions, schisms, or sinful separations are among his churches; as appears by what he commanded his servant John to write unto these seven churches, in the second and third chapters. \ There is a special and spiritual presence of Christ with his churches of saints, and his peculiar providence and protection is towards them for their preservation in all his ways. \