Ephesus, site of the Apostle Paul’s great speech

Jeff has been talking about Ephesus ever since we began planning the trip. I was prepared to be disappointed because these things tend not to live up to the hype. I was wrong. After an easy car ride, we arrived at the site. I rented earphones for an instant history lesson. We strolled around the remains of this magnificent, ancient city and we were awed by the palpable way we could experience history.

We could easily imagine the wonder and excitement of an ancient visitor upon encountering such a city. Marble and beautifully carved stones were evident everywhere. There was a gigantic theater, where the Apostle Paul delivered his great speech against worshiping idols. There was an impressive library. There were public baths and fountains. There was the Agora (market) as well as other public gathering places.

For me the most impressive aspect was the size of the area. You could stroll for almost a mile of time-warn ruins indicating the city’s past. The Turks are not doing as good a job as the Greeks in presenting their historical sites to visitors. Nevertheless, the site speaks for itself.