The City of EphesisPaul’s Day and NowEphesus: 3rd-largest city in the Roman Empire (after Rome and Alexandria)Major trading port on the Aegean.Founded by the Amazons—a tribe of female warriorsBelieved to be the birthplace of Artemis/Diana, goddess of fertility, youthfulness, female athleticism

Temple of ArtemisOne of the Seven Wonders of the WorldHuge stone temple was completed around 120 BCHeld treasure chamber, idols of Diana and Alexander the Great, priceless paintings

“’Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty” Acts 19.26-27

Above. A scale model of the Temple of Diana is found in a park in Istanbul, Turkey. Left. The sight of the temple today: a deserted, muddy field. Only 1 column stands today.

Artemis (the Romans called her Diana)A virgin goddess—cared for pregnant women and animals.Goddess of the hunt, of young, unmarried womenWhen she wasn’t hunting animals, she was protecting them from cruelty.The one man who saw her bathing, Actaeon, was turned into a deer and hunted to his death.Idols sold in Ephesus (they’re still sold there today) emphasized her many breasts!Young, unmarried Athenian girls would serve for a year at the temple as Arktoi or “little bears”

A Walk through EphesusMain streetIs it wide enough for a population of 300,000?

A Narrow AlleyOther New Testament figures to live in Ephesus•Apollos the Evangelist•The Apostle John•Mary the Mother of Jesus died here

Public RestroomsI think this one is for girls!

A Seller’s Stall off the Main StreetAquilla, Priscilla and Paul work out of one of these stalls with a tentmaking business. Paul sets up a series of home churches.

“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. “ Acts 20.20Whatever Ellie is selling—I’m buying!

The Library at Ephesus“[Paul] took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Gentiles who lives in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” Acts 19.9-10

The Theater in EphesusCan you hear me now? Yes.

“The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed them as one man into the theater. Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.” Acts 19.29-30

The Temple of EphesusSpeaker’s stage

“The city clerk quieted the crowd and said, ‘Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven…? You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess…. We are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today’s events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.’” Acts 19.35, 37, and 40

Leaving the City in Style