Welcome to Ephesus! This bustling seaport located in what's now Turkey, on the shores of the Aegean, was second to Rome itself as a city of influence and importance in the ancient world. The ancient city boasted 250,000 inhabitants, a library, a theatre and a temple dedicated to the goddess Diana. It was here in AD52 that the Apostle Paul visited and brought the good news of the gospel.
These days Ephesus tends to be associated with a handful of ancient ruins. It's hard to imagine that the city was the London of antiquity. Situated on the Aegean Sea in what is now Turkey, the seaport of Ephesus served as a major trade link between the west and the Asian interior.
Apart from being a leading commercial hub, the city boasted a theatre and a magnificent library, the façade of which can still be admired today. It was a religious centre too. The Ephesus Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis (or Diana, as the Romans called her).
No wonder the apostle Paul included Ephesus in his missionary journeys. Unsurprisingly, though, his message of monotheism – one God, revealed in his Son, Jesus Christ – clashed with Ephesian religion and culture. It even led to social unrest. The gospel was as polarising then as it is in our day.
The 1904–1905 Welsh Revival saw tens of thousands of people responding to the good news of Jesus and its effects were not just confined to the chapels. Despite previous legislative efforts, drunkenness and violent crime only fell when revival hit. The alarmingly high crime rate dropped by 12 per cent. On top of that even rugby (associated with drunkenness and violence) was suspended!
When you lodge and set off dynamite in a dam, you may not see much change immediately. From afar, the explosion may barely make a sound. Soon, however, cracks appear and the entire thing is brought down. The gospel, when it takes hold of a city or a nation, can break down barriers that seemed insurmountable.
In Ephesus, the gospel caused a ‘great disturbance’, turning the economic, social, and spiritual norms of the city on its head. Think about it: in just two years of Paul preaching the gospel the idol industry fell apart. The message of Jesus is true power (verse 20).
What are the things in your life or community that you’ve settled on that could never change? Today, don’t settle for the lies but believe and share the explosive gospel.
Read on, to find out more about Paul in Ephesus and the reception of his message:
Subscribe to our Youtube channel to be updated on the latest videos!
An eight-session course helping you explore the world’s bestseller.
The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life
What is the Bible and how is it relevant to me? This book is the perfect read for anyone asking those questions in the 21st century. The Bible: A Story That Makes Sense of Life helps readers see how the narratives and themes of the Bible connect to their own lives.
Read the Bible 
Processing...