The city of Ephesus was the capital of the province of Asia, [As used in the New Testament, the word Asia does not apply to the continent of Asia, but to a Roman province which embraced the western part of Asia Minor, and of which Ephesus was the capital.] and the great commercial center of Asia Minor. Its harbor was crowded with shipping from all parts of the known world, and its streets thronged with the people of every country. It therefore presented, like Corinth, a favorable missionary field. {LP 128.3}

Efesus var hovedstad for Asiens provins, [som ordet Asien bruges i Nye Testamente gælder det ikke kontintentet Asien, men en romersk provins, som omfatter den vestlige del af Lilleasien, og at Efesus var Hovedstaden.] og det store handelscenter i Lilleasien. Dens havn var fyldt med skibe fra alle dele af den kendte verden, og i dens gader flokkedes folk fra alle lande. Den blev ligesom Korint, fremstillet som en god missionsmark.