Ephesus was a prosperous port city on the west coast of Asia Minor, famous throughout the Roman empire for the temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. A crossroads of trade and religious routes, the city drew crowds of pilgrims, merchants and curious onlookers.
It was there that the apostle Paul spent about three years teaching, the longest period he devoted to any single city in his travels. The book of Acts records disciples who knew only the baptism of John being instructed in the faith, extraordinary healings and a public burning of books of magic.
The preaching of the gospel shook the trade tied to the temple of Artemis, sparking a riot led by the silversmith Demetrius. The scene shows how the gospel, when received with the heart, transforms entire cities, including their economy and customs.
Ephesus left lasting marks on Scripture: it received the letter to the Ephesians, is the addressee of one of the seven letters in Revelation, and ancient traditions link the city to the apostle John’s final years.
Christ’s letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelation is a solemn warning: a church doctrinally sound, yet one that had abandoned its first love. Ephesus reminds us that orthodoxy without love is not enough, and that God watches the heart behind religious activity.
