Ephesus
City · Ephesus → near Selçuk, Turkey
The chief city of the province of Asia, proud of its great temple of Artemis. Paul taught here for years, until the silversmiths who made the idols started a riot.
People
- Paul
- Priscilla
- Aquila
- Apollos
- Timothy
- Demetrius
At a glance
- Realm
- Roman province of Asia
- Role
- Capital of Asia, temple of Artemis
- Peoples
- Greeks, Romans, and Jews
- First mention
- Acts 18 (Paul’s first visit)
The story
Ephesus was the greatest city of the province of Asia, a busy port and the seat of the Roman governor, and pilgrims came from far away to its temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Its great theatre, cut into the hillside, could hold some twenty-five thousand people. Priscilla and Aquila settled here and taught the eloquent Apollos the way of God more accurately, and here Paul came and stayed longer than in any other city.
For about two years Paul taught daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, so that all who lived in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord, and many who had practised magic burned their books before everyone. But Demetrius the silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, saw his trade in danger and stirred up the city, until the crowd rushed into the theatre and shouted for about two hours, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians. Long after, the risen Jesus sent word to the church at Ephesus, praising its labour and patience, yet calling it back, for it had left its first love.