Lives of Scripture
Ephesus
A major port city in the Roman province of Asia, home to the temple of Artemis, one of the ancient world's Seven Wonders. Paul first visited briefly (Acts 18:19-21) then returned and spent about three years establishing a church there, teaching daily in the hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8-10) — long enough that a riot broke out among silversmiths whose idol-making trade his preaching threatened (Acts 19:23-41). He later wrote Ephesians, likely a circular letter to churches in the region, and gave Timothy responsibility for the Ephesian church (1 Timothy 1:3). It is also the first of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, commended for perseverance but warned for having "left your first love" (Revelation 2:1-7).
References: Acts 18:19; Acts 18:19-21; Acts 19; Ephesians 1:1; Revelation 2:1-7
People connected to Ephesus
- Achaicus (M) — of Corinth, who visited Paul during his long stay in this city
1 Corinthians 16:8; 1 Corinthians 16:17
- Alexander (M) — the Jew pushed forward by the crowd during the silversmiths' riot here
Acts 19:33
- Alexander the Coppersmith (M) — the coppersmith who did Paul great harm and strongly opposed his message
2 Timothy 4:14-15
- Apollos (M) — taught boldly in the synagogue here before Priscilla and Aquila corrected him
Acts 18:24-26
- Aquila (M) — settled here with Paul and instructed Apollos more accurately
Acts 18:19; Acts 18:26
- Aristarchus (M) — seized by the mob and dragged into the theater here during the riot
Acts 19:29
- Demetrius (M) — the silversmith who stirred this city to riot against Paul
Acts 19:24-29
- Erastus (M) — sent ahead from here to Macedonia while Paul stayed on in Asia
Acts 19:22
- Forunatus (M) — of Corinth, who visited Paul during his stay in this city
1 Corinthians 16:8; 1 Corinthians 16:17
- Hymenaeus (M) — handed over to Satan for the ruin of his faith, and later denied here
1 Timothy 1:19-20
- Onesiphorus (M) — of this city, who often refreshed Paul and searched him out in Rome
2 Timothy 1:16-18
- Philetus (M) — who taught here that the resurrection had already happened
2 Timothy 2:17-18
- Priscilla (F) — settled here with Aquila and instructed Apollos more accurately
Acts 18:19; Acts 18:26
- Timothy (M) — left here by Paul to correct the false teaching spreading in the church
1 Timothy 1:3
- Trophimus (M) — of this city, whose presence with Paul in Jerusalem sparked the temple riot
Acts 21:29
Also named in Scripture at Ephesus: John (M).