1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love, 5having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, 6to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved. 7In him we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him 10to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him. 11We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will, 12to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ. 13In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
15For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and the love which you have toward all the saints, 16don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. 22He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
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.