Welcome to Ephesus!

A letter arrives in an amazing city

Before we read the letter, let's visit the city it was sent to! Ephesus was one of the most exciting cities in the world — a giant harbour, a theatre with 25,000 seats, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the world! But it was also a city drowning in sin and magic: people wore lucky charms and paid for spells, thinking those things could help them. When Paul came preaching that Jesus alone saves, heals and sets free, the silversmiths who sold Artemis statues started a riot! But God's Word is more powerful than any magic or idol. Many people repented — turned completely away from their sins — and burned their expensive magic scrolls in a great bonfire. Paul stayed three whole years, teaching the Bible day and night. He knew that the Word of God is our final authority — not traditions, not feelings, not any human idea. Years later, from prison in Rome, chained to a soldier, Paul wrote them this letter — and it overflows with JOY, because Paul knew his God was greater than any prison, any power, any enemy.