Ephesus

Ephesus was a prominent city in the Roman province of Asia Minor and a major center of trade and pagan worship dedicated to the goddess Artemis. During his third missionary journey, the apostle Paul ministered there for more than two years, preaching in the synagogue and lecture hall of Tyrannus, performing miracles, and establishing a thriving church amid strong opposition that culminated in a citywide riot described in Acts 19. This account illustrates the transformative impact of the gospel on entrenched idolatry and economic interests. Paul later wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians from prison, a letter emphasizing the unity of the church as Christ’s body, spiritual blessings in Christ, and practical Christian living, while the city also appears among the seven churches addressed in Revelation.

0:00

Auto Play

Details

Region: Asia Minor
Modern Location: Selçuk, İzmir Province, Turkey

Strongest connections in Scripture

Acts 19 Revelation 2

Journey Paths

Apollos's Journey

Ephesus → Corinth

Paul's Journey

Damascus → Tarsus → Antioch → Corinth → Rome → Ephesus → Malta

Priscilla and Aquila's Journey

Corinth → Ephesus → Rome

Tychicus's Journey

Ephesus → Colossae

Priscilla's Journey

Corinth → Ephesus

Aquila's Journey

Corinth → Ephesus → Rome

Key Passages

Paul in Ephesus

Acts 19:1-10

Paul spends over two years in Ephesus, and the gospel spreads throughout the entire province of Asia - demonstrating the power of strategic, sustained ministry in key cities.

A¹nd it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

² He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. ³ And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. ⁴ Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. ⁷ And all the men were about twelve. ⁸ And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. ¹⁰ And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7

Revelation's letter to Ephesus commends their doctrine but warns they have lost their first love - orthodoxy without passion is ultimately unacceptable to Christ.

U¹nto 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;

² I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: ³ And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. ⁴ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. ⁶ But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. ⁷ He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Did You Know?

The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was four times larger than the Parthenon in Athens.

Paul spent more time in Ephesus (3 years) than any other city on his journeys.

The riot in Ephesus lasted two hours with the crowd chanting 'Great is Artemis!'