The Rise of the Christian Faith in the 21st Century

Within this first century context, Ephesus was a city that was very pluralistic and polytheistic. The people of Ephesus engaged in the practice of sorcery of magic arts. They worshipped numerous idols and deities, particularly the Greco-Roman goddess Artemis. There in Ephesus also were those who adamantly opposed and were explicitly hostile towards the gospel. Paul experienced this himself in Acts 19 when a mob was incited against Paul and other Christians.