Asia · City
Ephesus
- Ancient name
- Ephesus
- Modern location
- Ruins of Ephesus, near Selçuk · Turkey
- Region
- Asia
- Location
- Identified site
Editorial summary
Paul visited briefly at the end of his second journey, then returned for a long ministry that ended after a riot stirred up by the city’s silversmiths.
What happened here
9A brief first visit to Ephesus
Paul left Priscilla and Aquila at Ephesus and reasoned in the synagogue. Asked to stay longer, he declined but promised to return if God willed.
Apollos at Ephesus
Apollos, an Alexandrian Jew who was eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately.
About twelve disciples at Ephesus
Paul found about twelve disciples who knew only John’s baptism. They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when Paul laid his hands on them the Holy Spirit came on them.
Two years in the school of Tyrannus
After three months in the synagogue, Paul taught daily in the school of Tyrannus for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word. Many who had practiced magic burned their books publicly.
Timothy and Erastus are sent to Macedonia
Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying that afterward he must also see Rome. He sent two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, while he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Acts says Paul stayed “in Asia”; the surrounding narrative places him at Ephesus (Acts 19:1, 19:17). Acts names only the region Timothy and Erastus were sent to.
The silversmiths’ riot
Demetrius, a silversmith who made shrines of Artemis, stirred up the craftsmen against Paul. The city filled with confusion, and the crowd seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s Macedonian companions in travel, and rushed into the theater, shouting for about two hours until the town clerk quieted them.
Timothy sent to Corinth
Writing to the assembly at Corinth, Paul said he had sent Timothy, his beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind them of his ways in Christ, as he taught everywhere in every assembly.
1 Corinthians is addressed to the assembly at Corinth (1:2), and Paul writes that he will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost (16:8). The letter does not say that Timothy had arrived: “if Timothy comes” (16:10).
Timothy asked to stay at Ephesus
Paul reminded Timothy that, when Paul was going into Macedonia, he had urged him to stay at Ephesus and command certain men not to teach a different doctrine.
1 Timothy places Timothy at Ephesus but does not say where Paul was when he urged him, or when this happened.
Tychicus sent to Ephesus
Paul told Timothy that he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
2 Timothy names only where Tychicus was sent.
People here
10From here
On these journeys
Scripture
Location certainty
Scholarly consensus identifies this site.
- Coordinates
- 37.9391° N, 27.3407° E