Ephesus

City / town · Modern: Selçuk, Turkey · Asia Minor

A leading city of Roman Asia, home of the great temple of Artemis, where Paul ministered for over two years and to which the letter to the Ephesians was addressed.

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Archaeology — physical evidence · 2

Life, role & deeds

BibleThe great city where Paul taught two years and a riot rose for Artemis; later the home of the apostle John.

Acts 19:1–41; Revelation 2:1

↳ Paul the Apostle · Demetrius

Roy Egloff — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyEphesus preserves its Great Theatre (that held the riot), the site of the Artemision — a Wonder of the World — and the Basilica of St John.

Ephesus (Austrian Archaeological Institute excavations since 1895): the Great Theatre; the Temple of Artemis (Artemision), site located by J.T. Wood, 'Discoveries at Ephesus' (London: Longmans, Green, 1877), with sculptures in the British Museum; the Basilica of St John on Ayasuluk hill, Selcuk.

ArchaeologyOne of the largest excavated cities of the Roman East: the Austrian Archaeological Institute has exposed the 25,000-seat theatre where the silversmiths' riot against Paul erupted (Acts 19), the Library of Celsus, and the site of the temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders.

Austrian Archaeological Institute, Ephesus excavations (from 1895); J. T. Wood, 'Discoveries at Ephesus' (Longmans, 1877).