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Ephesus


Ef´uh-suhs

A port city of western Asia Minor that lay between Smyrna and Miletus. According to (Acts 18:19-21), Paul sailed from Corinth to Ephesus with Priscilla (Prisca) and Aquila for his first visit there. The latter couple instructed Apollos in Ephesus (Acts 18:24-26). Paul returned on his “third” missionary journey (Acts 19:1-20:1) to stay for more than two years. The silversmiths in the commercial agora (marketplace) finally rioted at the threat of Paul’s monotheism against their income (connected to worship of Artemis, whose temple in Ephesus was regarded as a wonder of the ancient world). Later, on his way back to Jerusalem, Paul met with the elders of Ephesus at Miletus (Acts 20:16-38). In 1Cor 15:32, Paul writes that he “fought with wild animals at Ephesus,” but whether this is meant figuratively or literally is uncertain. (1Tim 1:3) charges Timothy to remain at Ephesus. (2Tim 1:18) refers to service rendered by Onesiphorus at Ephesus, and (2Tim 4:12) to the sending there of Tychicus. The church of Ephesus is the first of the seven churches of Revelation (Rev 1:11, Rev 2:1-7). Most (but not all) biblical manuscripts indicate that the NT book titled Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians was addressed to people “in Ephesus” (Eph 1:1).

  • Powell, Mark Allan, ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Abridged Edition. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009.