Day 07 - Western Coast : Ephesus, Ephesus Museum, Weaving Center, Boat Ride

Ephesus and the Call to Fruitfulness

We started the day with a devotional from Tim and June on fruitfulness. They reminded us that the fruit of our faith is using our freedom in Christ to serve others. Drawing from 1 Peter 4:10–11, they encouraged us to faithfully steward the gifts God has given us—using them not for self-gain, but to build up others and glorify Him.

Exploring Ephesus: Ancient Wonder and Gospel Opportunity
Next, we made our way to Ephesus, one of the most well-known cities of the ancient world. It’s believed to have been home to up to 250,000 people, making it the fourth-largest city globally during its time. Interestingly, there is a real connection to Amazonian women warriors (I thought they were only mythological).

Today, the ruins of Ephesus were bustling with tourists—many arriving from cruise ships—so navigating the site and reflecting was a bit more challenging than usual. Still, the richness of the history and the biblical context made it incredibly impactful.

Acts 19 in Context
We began at a small council theater, where Ty and Jack introduced Acts 19, the chapter that recounts Paul’s extended time in Ephesus. Paul spent more time here than in any other city during his ministry, recognizing its strategic and spiritual significance. Ephesus was affluent, highly intellectual, and home to the most powerful Greco-Roman gods.

Jack explained the prominence of the Temple of Artemis, which had stood for nearly 400 years before Paul’s arrival. Artemis was one of the most widely worshiped goddesses in the ancient world. Jack challenged us to consider how Paul would have engaged with such entrenched cultural beliefs.

“How do you change someone’s mind?” Jack asked.
His answer: by living a life that visually reflects the character of God and sharing clear, personal Gospel truth—Jesus, risen from the dead, as the only way to be made right with God.

He also encouraged us to pray for the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of those who are resistant to the Gospel. At some point, each person must respond to this truth personally.

Layers of History: From Cleopatra to Central Heating
As we continued, we learned that Marc Antony and Cleopatra spent nine months of their honeymoon here. We also discovered that Ephesus was the site where a cure for malaria was developed.

We toured a series of wealthy Roman homes, including a 12,000-square-foot residence that once belonged to a high priest of Dionysus. The house featured finely cut marble walls from Rome, central heating systems and primitive air conditioning, and beautiful, well-preserved mosaic floors.

Business, Idolatry, and Gospel Conflict
Jack brought us back to the reality of what Paul faced in Ephesus. The worship of Artemis wasn’t just a religion—it was big business. Her influence reached far beyond temples; it affected politics, economy, and identity. So when Paul and his companions challenged this, the city erupted.

We walked passed the massive theater where the riot of Acts 19 likely took place (couldn't go in due to renovations). With a seating capacity of at least 25,000 (we could estimate that up to 100,000 people attended the riots), it was a daunting scene—three Gospel messengers against a raging crowd.

Jack reminded us that when we face personal crises, we often focus on the how instead of the Who. Sometimes, we need to pause, step back, and look to Jesus, trusting Him with the outcome.

Museum Moments & A Sobering Reminder
After leaving the ruins, we toured the Ephesus Archaeology Museum, where we saw many interesting artifacts such as: Bronze swords dating back to 1000–3000 BC, glass vases from around 300 BC, a statue of Marcus Aurelius, ancient gemstones used for rings.

At the museum, Ty posed a reflective question:

“What is your most prized possession?”
Then he reminded us: Everything we treasure will one day be buried in ruins. We are only stewards of these things for a season.

Wrapping Up the Day: From Carpets to Coastlines
We ended our full day with a visit to a Turkish carpet shop, where we learned about the craftsmanship behind the country’s famous rugs. After that, we enjoyed a relaxing boat ride on the Aegean Sea—a perfect close to a powerful day of history, Scripture, and personal reflection.