The Acts of the Apostles contains the most dramatic and familiar stories of the first generation of Christians. But despite its appeal, after this week's reading this book doesn't make another lectionary appearance until Eastertide, when Acts' stories of the early church replace the Old Testament text readings.

The single Acts text chosen to take us from Epiphany to Easter is a baptismal story, echoing this week's gospel text recounting Jesus' own baptism. Read at the beginning of the New Year, both texts themselves tell of new beginnings. Baptism is the first act in Jesus' public ministry, while the baptism of the twelve in Ephesus marks the start of a newly revitalized faith in that community.

Today's Acts text is the first in a series of three stories of Paul's definitive work in Ephesus…