Ephesus

Where is Ephesus today? The ancient city at Selçuk, İzmir, where Paul taught for about three years; first of Revelation's seven churches, with its chapters.

Today
Selçuk, İzmir
Country
Türkiye
Status
Archaeological site: Ancient Ephesus (UNESCO World Heritage)
Identification
Certain

Ephesus was one of the largest cities of the Roman province of Asia and is mentioned often in the New Testament. Paul stayed here for about three years proclaiming the gospel (Acts 20:31), so that people throughout Asia heard the word of the Lord. Silversmiths who profited from models of the temple of Artemis stirred up a crowd that rushed into the city's theatre. Later, at Miletus, Paul said farewell to the elders of the Ephesian church; the letter to the Ephesians was addressed to this church, and Timothy was asked to stay on there. In Revelation, Ephesus is the first of the seven churches addressed: praised for its labour and endurance, yet told it had abandoned its first love (Revelation 2:4).

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Where is Ephesus today?

Ephesus is in Türkiye today, in the Selçuk district of İzmir province; its ruins form the archaeological site of Ancient Ephesus about 3 km southwest of the town centre. The city where Paul taught for about three years, and the first of the seven churches in Revelation (Revelation 2:1), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors see the Great Theatre, the Library of Celsus and the Church of Mary; the Basilica of St John in Selçuk and the House of the Virgin Mary on Bülbüldağı are pilgrimage sites of church tradition.

How long did Paul stay in Ephesus?

Paul stayed in Ephesus for about three years (Acts 20:31). He first spoke boldly in the synagogue for three months, then reasoned daily for two years in the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Acts 19:8-10). During that time both Jews and Greeks living in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus.

What are the seven churches of Revelation, and where are they today?

The seven churches of Revelation are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea (Revelation 1:11). All lie in the Aegean region of modern Türkiye: Ephesus, Smyrna (İzmir) and Pergamum (Bergama) in İzmir province; Thyatira (Akhisar), Sardis (near Salihli) and Philadelphia (Alaşehir) in Manisa; and Laodicea in Denizli. Revelation 2 and 3 contain a separate letter to each.

Did John and Mary live in Ephesus?

The Bible does not say so directly; this is church tradition. On the cross Jesus entrusted his mother to the disciple he loved (John 19:26-27), whom church tradition identifies as the apostle John. Early church writers report that John spent his last years in Ephesus, and the Basilica of St John in Selçuk was built over what was held to be his tomb. The House of the Virgin Mary on Bülbüldağı rests on a later tradition that came to prominence in the 19th century, and it is visited by Christians and Muslims alike.