February 2, 2025
Evening Service

Ephesus is an ancient city in Turkey that was a major center of commerce, religion, and culture in the Roman Empire. It's located on the western coast of Turkey, near the modern city of Selçuk. History: Ephesus was founded in the 10th century BC by Greek colonists  It was a member of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era  It was a key city in the expansion of Christianity  It was the provincial seat of Roman government in Asia.  

 

Significance:

- It was a major port city in the Mediterranean. 

- It was home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 

- It was the recipient city of one of the Pauline epistles. 

- It was the site of several 5th-century Christian Councils. 

- It was a major place of Christian pilgrimage due to the House of the Virgin Mary.

 

Temple of Artemis:

The Temple of Artemis, also known as the Artemision or the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to an ancient, localized form of the goddess Artemis.

 

Paul Returns to Ephesus

 

Act 18:18 So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow. Act 18:19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. Act 18:20 When they asked him to stay a longer time with them, he did not consent, 

 

 Act 19:7 Now the men were about twelve in all. Act 19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. Act 19:9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. Act 19:10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 

 

To the Church in Ephesus

 

Rev 2:1  "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: Rev 2:2  "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; Rev 2:3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 

 

 That Jesus is the Christ deliverer from the law and sin and death. 

 

 Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Rev 2:6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

 

What was the sin of the Nicolaitans in the Bible? They lead lives of unrestrained indulgence. The character of these men is very plainly pointed out in the Apocalypse of John, [when they are represented] as teaching that it is a matter of indifference to practice adultery, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 

 

 Rev 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ' 

 

 Rev 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. 

 

 What is the city of Ephesus called today? Ephesus has retained its name and is still called Ephesus today, though it is a collection of ruins and is no longer inhabited as a city. The closest inhabited town is called Selçuk and the nearest big city is Izmir.