Map and timeline
Where the story moves, and where it sits in Israel’s history.
The story's places
- Regions: darker shading where more sources agree on their extent
Coordinates and outlines: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0; Jordan River © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.
Stops
Stop 1 · Ephesians 1:1 (in some manuscripts); Acts 19
The city addressed
A great port city of Roman Asia, famous for the temple of Artemis, where Paul taught for about three years.
Read Chapter 1Places in the story
How sure scholars are of each location
- EphesusHigh confidence
Named in 1 verse: Ephesians 1:1
37.939° N, 27.341° E
- ColossaeHigh confidence
Shown for orientation; not named in Ephesians.
37.787° N, 29.260° E
- RomeHigh confidence
Shown for orientation; not named in Ephesians.
41.892° N, 12.485° E
- Mediterranean SeaHigh confidence
Shown for orientation; not named in Ephesians.
31.805° N, 34.170° E
Locations and confidence: OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0. About our sources
Some outlines © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0.
Where Ephesians fits
Shown in order, not to scale. Dates are debated.
Rome and Herod
Jesus' ministry
The early church
The Jewish war and after
Judea and Galilee
Herod the Great rules for Rome and rebuilds the temple.
Jesus is crucified and rises (about AD 30).
The church spreads from Jerusalem to Gentile cities; Paul is arrested in Jerusalem (about AD 57).
Revolt against Rome from AD 66; the temple destroyed in AD 70.
The empire
Augustus becomes emperor.
Tiberius is emperor.
Ephesus is a leading city of Roman Asia, home to the great temple of Artemis; Nero becomes emperor in AD 54.
A year of civil war, then Vespasian.
This book
Written from prison, about AD 60 to 62 (if by Paul)