Asia Minor · NT
Ephesus
The leading city of Roman Asia, home to a major Pauline mission and the recipient of one of his richest letters.
Today: Selçuk, Turkey
Ephesus was the largest city of the Roman province of Asia, a thriving port at the mouth of the Cayster River on the western coast of Asia Minor. It was famous throughout the empire for its temple of Artemis (Diana) — one of the seven wonders of the ancient world — and for its trade, theater, and magic.
Paul spent more than two years in Ephesus, lecturing daily in the hall of Tyrannus until 'all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord' (Acts 19:10). The ministry shook the silversmiths' idol-making trade so badly it triggered the riot in the great theater. Timothy later pastored the church here; John is said to have lived out his last years here with Mary; and Revelation 2 addresses Ephesus as the first of the seven churches.
Key verses
"And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks."
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"And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed."
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"Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ:"
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"As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,"
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"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:"
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