Ephesus
The name Ephesus means “desirable”
Summary
Profile
Ephesus was at the crossroads of major trade routes, both north-south and east-west. It was famous as the "guardian" of the temple of Artemis (Acts 19:35). As guardian, Ephesus was officially recognized as the caretaker and protector of the temple. This was an important title that brought honor and economic benefits to the city.
Ionian Greeks founded Ephesus around 1044 BC on a natural harbor where the Cayster River flowed into a gulf of the Aegean Sea. Today, the ancient city's site is far inland. The city came under Roman rule in 41 BC. During the time of the apostles, Ephesus was wealthy, serving as a commercial and religious center. It was the most important city in the Roman province of Asia.
The worship of Artemis in Ephesus was almost as old as the city. The temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was crucial to Ephesus's wealth and trade. Pilgrims visiting for Artemis worship created many business opportunities for idol makers and other vendors.
When Paul arrived on his third missionary journey in AD 53, Ephesus had been a city for over a thousand years (Acts 19). The people were deeply devoted to their patron goddess and her temple. As more people accepted Paul's message, this reduced business for those who made and sold statues of Artemis. This made them angry, and they started a riot that almost killed Paul (Acts 19:24, 28–31).
The church of Ephesus grew strong under Paul's teaching and leadership. People who learned from Paul in Ephesus started churches in nearby communities, like Colossae (see Colossians Book Introduction, “Setting”). However, Paul warned the Ephesian church leaders about the threat of false teachers (Acts 20:29–31).
The apostle John likely settled in Ephesus around AD 70. From there, he was exiled to the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). John likely wrote Revelation while living on Patmos, probably in the AD 90s. By then, the Christian community's love and good works, praised in the letter to the Ephesians, had mostly faded (Revelation 2:4). IAccording to the early Christian writer Irenaeus, John came back to Ephesus after his time on Patmos. He lived there until his death, which happened during the time when Trajan was emperor from AD 98 to 117. Tradition says that Mary, the mother of Jesus, also spent her final days in Ephesus under John's care (see John 19:25–27).
The Goths burned the Temple of Artemis in AD 262. The Goths were people from northern Europe who fought against the Roman Empire. By the time of the third ecumenical council (also called the Council of Ephesus) in Ephesus in AD 431, Artemis was no longer influential among the Ephesians. This change supports Paul's message that "man-made gods" like Artemis "are no gods at all" (Acts 19:26).
Passages for Further Study
Location
- Certainty
- Widely agreed (100% of scholarship)
- Coordinates
- 37.939° N, 27.341° E
Events
Glossary entries
Alternative names
Mentions
- When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.
- But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
- Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.
- While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
- This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
- And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
- When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
- But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
- Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?
- Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
- From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
- For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
- If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
- But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
- Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
- Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
- As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines
- May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.
- Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
- The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
- …saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
- “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.