Day 5: Priene, Miletus, and Didyma

At 9:00am we arrived at our first destination called Priene. Built on the side of a mountain, we had a steep climb to reach the archeological ruins. When we finally got to Priene's streets our guide instructed us how this was a Hellenistic town that the Romans unusually decided not to alter in any way. We too also find ourselves in places in our lives that seem perfect and we don't want to change. But we know the God that we serve has plans for our lives that involve change, doing it for our own good. One biblical character that embraced change was Paul.  In Priene’s Bouleuterion, a small theater used by the city elites as a gathering place to discuss politics and city planning and have entertainment, Pastor Hugo discussed how in Acts 20 Paul sent for the Elders of Ephesus who probably passed through here on the way to Miletus to see Paul one last time before he set sail to far off destinations and eventually his martyr’s death. In addition to the Bouleuterion, we visited a home that Alexander the Great stayed in, a temple to Athena that lay in ruins due to an earthquake, and a synagogue along one of Priene's high end avenues. We reflected on how Paul may have been here teaching the truth of salvation through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. After a lingering backward glance at Priene's majestic views across the valley below we got on our bus on the way to Miletus.  

In Miletus you are first greeted by a massive theater where entertainment such as plays and gladiator fights kept the masses occupied. In the theater Pastor Hugo, gave a sermon on Acts 20 when Paul met with the Ephesian Elders at Miletus. He discussed how Paul says to the Elders, “I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20: 27).  Pastor Hugo asked us to reflect if we have a friend in our lives who does not hesitate to tell you God's Word. Someone like Paul who does not hesitate to call you out like a holy fire that burns the impurity to reveal the gold within us. We are reminded as Christians to live in community.  

The community of Miletus, once a harbor town but now landlocked because of the silting up of the Meander river, still has the remains of the port that Paul set sail from. We also saw the remains of a Roman bath that still have remnants of stucco on its walls. The baths also contain impressive Roman arches still standing after 1,800 years. We pondered how our lives in Jesus are like an arch whose keystone is Jesus. Yet no arch can stand if one stone is taken away.  We all in Christ have an important place in God's construction as He builds the church.  

From Miletus we travelled 30 minutes by bus to Didyma. People would walk this sacred path as a pilgrimage ending at the impressive temple to Apollo. One hundred twenty massive columns, each weighing about 60 ton, lined the temple complex showing the “glory due Apollo”. It also boasted a center of “prophecy”, but it was all a deception orchestrated by Apollo’s priests. We were challenged to think about who we go to for direction and guidance? Do we go to our friends or family first to ask what we should do when we are confused? Or do we go to the Source? John 10:27 says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT.‬‬ May we always seek Jesus first!

Thanks to Bryon Stone for his contribution to the blog post today!