📖 Biblical Definition
Ephesus was the leading commercial and religious city of Roman Asia, on the western coast of modern Turkey — home of the great temple of Artemis (Diana of the Ephesians), one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Paul ministered there for three years (Acts 19; 20:31), preaching daily in the hall of Tyrannus, performing extraordinary miracles, and seeing the cult of Artemis so threatened that the silversmiths rioted (Acts 19:23-41). The city later received Paul’s great cosmic-Christology letter (the Epistle to the Ephesians), and is the first of the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2:1-7, commended for orthodoxy but rebuked for having "left thy first love." The lampstand of Ephesus has long since been removed.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Asia's leading city; Paul's three-year base.
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The leading commercial and religious city of Roman Asia Minor; home of the great temple of Artemis (Diana), one of the seven wonders; site of Paul's three-year ministry and the eventual home of the apostle John; recipient of the Ephesian epistle and the first of the seven letters of Revelation.
📖 Key Scripture
Acts 19:10 — "And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus."
Ephesians 1:3 — "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
Revelation 2:4 — "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Read as a backdrop rather than as the case study in long-haul gospel impact (a city's idol-economy shaken).
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Acts 19 is a study in how the gospel can shake a city's economy. The silversmiths of Artemis lost business as Christians stopped buying idols. Three years of teaching reshaped a region. Be patient with three-year ministries.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek Ephesos.
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['Greek', 'G2181', 'Ephesos', 'Ephesus']
['Greek', 'G735', 'Artemis', 'Artemis, Diana']
Usage
"Three years in Ephesus reshaped a region."
"First-love must not be left."