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3 Did You know?  Ephesus is considered one of the great outdoor museums of Turkey?  Before the rich people used the toilets their slaves sat and heated toilets’ stone for their masters?  The first church dedicated to Virgin Mary is in Ephesus?  Ephesus which was once a seaport is now 6 miles away from the sea?

4 Did You know?  That Christians would identify themselves to one another with the sign of the fish which is iktus in Greek and Christians used the sign of the fish as a short hand for a phrase in which each word represented one letter of iktus ‘Jesus Christ God's Son Savior’ ?  The first advertisement of the antiquity, which shows the way to the brothel, is on the Marbel Street in Ephesus?

5 Did You know?  It was in the reign of Domitian that an emperor gave permission to built an Emperor Temple; that is the permission to be the 'neocoros' for the first time, which was a great honor for a city.  In Ephesus, there was a circular structure which was described as the grave of St Luke because of the bull carved into the door. It is said by some historians, Luke was 84 years old when the wicked idolaters tortured him for the sake of Christ and hanged him from an olive tree in the town of Thebes, in Boethia.

6 About Ephesus Most important trade center west of Tarsus, seaport town on Cayster river Today because of the silting of the river, the old city lies in a swamp and the new city is 6 miles inland Population in Bible times was as high as 300,000 which was largest city in Asia at the time It was a cultural center with 25,000 seat theatre and baths and columns to the sea

7 About Ephesus The Temple of Artemis (or Diana, according to her Roman name) at Ephesus ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World As the twin sister of Apollo and the daughter of Zeus, Artemis was known variously as the moon goddess, the goddess of hunting, and the patroness of young girls. The temple of Artemis in Paul's day was supported by 127 columns, each of them 60 meters (197 feet) high.

8 Christianity at Ephesus Could have resulted from Aquila and Priscilla Acts 18:18-19 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.19 And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

9 Paul came to Ephesus in about A.D. 52 Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

10 Paul came to Ephesus in about A.D. 52 Acts 20:21-22 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

11 During his time at Ephesus He wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians 1 Cor 16:7-8 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. 8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost All who dwelt in Asia heard the word of Lord 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, both Jews and Greeks.

12 God Wrought Special Miracles Acts 19:11-12 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Evil spirits were confronted Acts 19:14-17 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

14 Many lives were changed … Acts 19:18-20 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

15 So influential in fact that … Acts 19:26-27 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

16 Great Opportunities Vs Great Dangers He baptized believers who apparently came to know the gospel through disciples of John the Baptist Acts 19:1-5 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17 Great Opportunities Vs Great Dangers He countered the strong influence of magic in Ephesus (Acts 19:11-20). Acts 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

18 After Paul left Ephesus … Timothy stayed to help teach in Ephesus 1 Tim 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

19 It is thought John may have spent time there before going to Patmos Patmos is on an island close to Asia Minor near where Ephesus is located In John’s vision, 7 churches of Asia are described and discussed Ephesus is noted in Rev 2:1-7 It describes them as a church that lost their first love which is a sad note for the people of Ephesus after hearing such great teachings from Paul and others