The city of Ephesus was a major city in Asia Minor (the modern country of Turkey). During New Testament times it was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire, with perhaps as many as 250,000 residents. It was located on a good harbor and was on a busy trade route as well.

During the first century A.D. Ephesus was the fourth largest city of the Roman Empire with an estimated population of over 250,000 residents.  It was an important port city and commercial center. After the Romans created the province of Asia in 129 B.C., Ephesus became an important administrative center. The city was an assize center, and the Greek term for courts (agoraioi) in Acts 19:38 refers to this.

As evidenced in Acts 19:21-41, as well as in archaeological remains, Ephesus was the center of Diana/Artemis worship, and the headquarters of the evangelization of the Roman Empire for the goddess. The  city was also renowned as a center for magical practices. Foremost among these are the so-called “Ephesian letters.” These were written magical spells thought to contain apotropaic power to ward off of evil spirits. Acts 19:19 describes how new Christians involved in sorcery renounced such practices by burning these scrolls valued at 50,000 days' wages.

Archaeologists have discovered that Ephesus experienced an explosion of construction activity during the first century A.D. At this time Ephesus got a new stadium, a greatly expanded agora (public square), a center for the Olympic games, a large temple for emperor worship, the famous Celsus Library, and a new 25,000 seat theater.

Although no synagogue has yet been found, evidence has been discovered of a Jewish presence in the city. Archaeologists found a funerary monument “prepared by the Jews,”  pottery and glass featuring menorahs in the Cemetery of the Seven Sleepers and a menorah was found carved into a step at the library.

There is a church tradition that the Apostle John lived and died in Ephesus, although no physical evidence of his residence has been discovered. However, three miles from the ancient city there is a tomb said to be John’s grave. A church was built over the tomb, perhaps as early as the second century, and replaced by a basilica in the fourth century.

Ephesus continued to grow until around A.D. 262 when an earthquake destroyed much of the city, and Goths sacked it the next year. It was not rebuilt until the middle of the fourth century, and for a time regained importance, peaking with the Third Ecumenical Council of the church in A.D. 431. In the early seventh century the whole city burned, and in the ninth century the harbor silted up. These events led to the city being largely abandoned, except for Christian pilgrims visiting the site, which continues to this day.