A seaport in the western part of the Roman province of Asia; one of the seven cities addressed in Revelation. The letter of Ephesians was addressed to the church there.
About Ephesus
This was the most important city of the Roman province of Asia. It was located on the western shore of Asia Minor in modern Turkey. Ephesus was built on a natural harbor. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder said that the waves “used to wash up to the temple of Diana.” The early Greek geographer Strabo described Ephesus as the largest commercial center west of the Taurus Mountains. Ephesus was also well-known as the “guardian” of the temple of the goddess Artemis, also referred to as Diana by the Romans (Acts 19:34).
Christianity threatened that pagan temple and the commerce it produced for those who made idols. It caused a riot where the apostle Paul was almost killed (Acts 19:24, 30–31). Priscilla and Aquila were associated with the early preaching of the Gospel in Ephesus (18:18–19). The same was true for Timothy (1 Timothy 1:3) and the helper of Paul named Erastus (Acts 19:22). The early Christian writer Irenaeus said that after the apostle John was exiled on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9), he returned to live in Ephesus until the time of the emperor Trajan (AD 98–117). In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul describes how the Christian community of Ephesus lived well. By the time the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation, the Ephesian church had abandoned how much they first loved God (Revelation 2:4).
Key References
saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
“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.
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.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
All Scripture References (24)
Acts (14)
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.
When Apollos resolved to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On his arrival, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
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.
About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
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.
1 Corinthians (2)
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,
Ephesians (2)
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.
1 Timothy (1)
As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines
2 Timothy (3)
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.
Revelation (2)
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.