What happen to the church in Ephesus?

Answer 1

Ephesus was the great city of Asia...it was TEEMING with a population of at least a quarter of a million and was one of the most outstanding cities of Asia in ancient times.

Blessed with a fine harbor and lying astride the main trade route from Rome to the east, Ephesus was constantly bustling with commercial activity. Two great roads headed east from the city, with one passing through Galatia to the northeast and the other passing through Iconium and through the Taurus Mountains to connect with roads to Syrian Antioch and to the Euphrates River. It also was joined to a coast road that headed north to Smyrna and south to Miletus.

The large population of Ephesus and the large flow of travelers passing through it made it a fine place for spreading the dynamic religion of Christianity.

Christ Jesus revealed himself to Paul in a flashing light and commissioned him to be an attendant and a witness of the things he had seen and would yet see.

With that in mind..the first sgnificant event in the forming of the congregation in Ephesus ..great city in Asia Minor dates back to Pentecost 33 C.E. when a crowd that spoke different languages made up of Jews and Jewish proselytes assembled in Jerusalem. Jesus apostles shared the 'good news' or the 'gospel' to these visitors. Various ones came from Cappadocia, Pontus, district of Asia ( where Ephesus was located), about 3,000 accepted what the heard..and were baptized. On their return home, they took their new faith with them -Acts 2: 5-11, 41.

The Apostle Paul's first trip, dated to about 47/48 C.E. he sailed with his companions from Cyprus to Asia Minor, landing in Perga in Pamphylia. As his tour preceded jealousy and opposition from the Jews..and even opposing Jews from Antioch & Iconium stoned Paul..leaving him for dead!

Afterwards, Paul and Barnabas went through the Roman province of Galatia where congregatioins were organized, and elders appointed. As you can thus see then , about 15 years after Pentecost 33C.E. Christianity was well- established in Asia Minor...as where Ephesus is located. - Acts. 13: 13-14:26.

On his Second missionary journey Paul and Barnabas thought about visiting the brothers in the cities where they had preached during their first missionary journey. But a dispute about whether to take along John Mark, in view of his having left them the first time, resulted in a split between Paul and Barnabas. Paul therefore chose Silas (Silvanus) and traveled through Syria and into Asia Minor (c. 49-52 C.E.).

The account in Acts 18: 22-21:19 ...shows Pauls travels...SYRIA.. Antioch (of Syria)...and of course EPHESUS ...is among those cities.

During Paul's third missionary tour, dated to about 52 to 56 C.E., he again move through Asia Minor, reaching Ephesus, that important port city of Aisa. He had already stopped there when he returned form his second journey. By then...a group of Christians were active in that city, and Paul and his companions joined them for some three years.

That interval was putcuated by a number of difficulities and dangers, not least of which was the uproar created by the Ephesian silversmiths in defense of their lucrative religious commerce. ..which was not the fledging congregation in Ephesus. Acts. 18:19-26; 19:1, 8-41; 20:31.

The Ephesus-based missionary work had far-reaching effects. Acts 19:10 states: "All those inhabiting the district of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks."

No doubt..near the end of his stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote to the Corintains: The congregation (church) of Asia send you their greetings." (1Corinthians 16:19)

When the apostle Peter wrote his first inspired letter some years later, about 62 to 63 C.E. he addressed it to the Christians in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, ASIA and Bithynia. - 1 Peter 1:1 His letter indicates more then likely Christian congregations (churches) were in these areas, because at 1Peter 5: 1-3 the elders were exhorted to "shepherd the flock."

Some of the areas in which the recipients of Peter's letters lived, such as Asia and Galatia, had been evangelized ...no doubt. by the apostle Paul.

The apostle paul?I belive it was the Apostle Paul, formerely Saul (Shaul in Hebrew) the Roman dirtbag, who turned on Christains everywhere he found them, even murdered innocent women and children, and murdered Stephen in his crazed but zealous zeal for the Jewish religion. Fortunately (Praise God), the apostle Paul turned (or was enlightened to turn) from his wicked ways, when his donkey was stopped by the blinding light and by the appearance of Christ Jesus, who asked Saul; "Saul, why do you persecute my people?" Paul's stunned response was to ask the Lord HOW he had done so, to which Christ responded that Saul was killing the Christians, Christ's faithful followers. Saul became heartbroken at his realization at his great sins. Saul was blinded for some time, after which, some time later, a great event of descaling occurred from Paul's eyes, and he regained his sight. But, now Paul, no longer called Saul, became the forerunner of church planting and growth of the Christian faith. Praise God. Needless to say, at first the Christians were still afraid of Paul, but soon realized God's hand in Paul's ministry. So, I BELIEVE (I COULD BE WRONG), it was Paul who started the church in Ephesus. Although it may have been in operation PRIOR to paul. God Bless everyone!

Answer 2

The church of Ephesus was abandoned after the huge earthquakes destroyed the area.