•Legend says Ephesus was founded by the Amazons: Women Warriors!•The cult of Artemis/Diana (goddess of the hunt and fertility) was a blend of the Greek goddess Artemis and the Hittite goddess Kybele.•The Temple of Artemis was burned down on the day Alexander the Great was born. •When Alexander wanted to help in the reconstruction years later, the citizens politely refused by saying, “Should one god build a temple to another god?”•Ephesus became the capital city of Asia Minor after Pergamum lost prominence.•Only 15% of the ancient city has been excavated to date.

•How did they live?

•What did they value?

1. Odeon

http://www.followtherabbi.com/ttwmk2/images/ttw-templeofdomitian.jpg

5. Curetes Way

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8. CommercialAgora

11. Stadium

12a. Temple of Artemis

12b. Brothel

1. Odeon

2. State Agora

3. Domitian’s Temple

6. Terrace Houses

5. Curetes Way

4. Polio’s Fountain

7. Celsus Library

8. CommercialAgora

9. Great Theater

10. Gymnasium

11. Stadium 12. Temple of Artemis

12b. Brothel

•Politics•Engineering•Business•Nice Homes•Learning & Education•Commerce & Shopping•Entertainment•The Body & Fitness•Sports•Religion•Sensuality/Sex

No one believes in Jesus.Everyone in the city is steeped in this culture around them. This has been their way of life for…a very long time!

Twelve people hear about their need to repent and believe in Jesus for salvation.

What do you do now to take them from their first faith to being a mature believer?

Philosophy was an important part of their learning, but in their daily lives they valued having Power. For this reason the occult held unusual fascination for the people of Ephesus. There was an “Ephesiagrammatica” that was considered an especially powerful incantation particular to Ephesus. Even the Jewish synagogue leaders had gotten into wielding spiritual power.

1. Twelve men had repented and believed Jesus was the Savior, probably under the preaching of Apollos.

2. When Paul came, they received the Holy Spirit. The external signs were tongues and prophesying.

3. They are being trained in knowledge: 3 months in the synagogue; daily in the school of Tyrannus for almost 3 years.

4. God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.

Seven sons of the Jewish chief priest were performing exorcisms. They tried to use the name of Jesus. “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”

The demon answers them, jumps on them and leaves them all beaten, naked and bleeding.

This becomes known to both Jews and Greeks.

FEAR

1. Confess2. Disclose practices3. Burn magic books

$2,040,000

The one who repents and comes to Jesus by faith, is transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit so that they have a new desire to please Him as a dear child.

They are to put off their old way, even at great cost,in order to love God and do the good things for which they were created.