"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, "These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." (Revelation 2:1-7, NKJV).
Ephesus abounded with the most eminent orators, philosophers, etc., in the world and was adorned with the most splendid buildings. The city was famous for possessing the Temple of Diana (in the New Testament Diana is a translation of the Greek word Artemis), considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was during his second visit to Ephesus that Paul experienced the city's fanatical devotion to the pagan goddess Diana, especially from those who made their living off of her worship: "And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way (the way of life of a true Christian). For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. "He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: 'Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.' "Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians!' . . . "And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: 'Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.' " (Acts 19:23-28, 35-36, NKJV)
Sources: Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible; Easton's Bible Dictionary; Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary; John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible | 
