Some New Testament History

We thought we would do one post of our New Testament site visits ... we are trying not to be too boring and repetitious with the ruins. We want to keep you interested.

We have been in Selcuk for the last 4 days and before that had 2 days in Pamukkale. Ephesus is just up the road from where we are staying. This is our last stop of Greek/Roman ruins, tomorrow we are of to Gallipoli ... we are looking forward to it, then we are back in Istanbul for 3 nights and we fly out to Kathmandu on Saturday Oct 4. We cannot believe we have been here for a month it feels much longer. Again we have so many photos ... we find it hard to choose which ones to post and trying to keep it simple at the same time. Here it goes with some possible NT history...

Hierapolis, means Holy City... it is on a plateau that overlooks Pamukkale. There was a Branch of the early church here and Paul refers to it in Colossians 4:13. Things didn't always go smoothly for the Christians & Philip and his daughters (Acts 21:8, 9) were executed in this spot. 

Pete was thrilled about our visits to these NT sites. Here he is standing outside the Tomb of Philip and his daughters. 

I am standing in the entrance of the Basilica of Saint John. Tradition has it that this is the place where John the Beloved wrote the Gospel of John. 

This house is built on the hill overlooking Selcuk, where John may have done his writing.

Pete and I outside Mary, the Mother of Christ's home. There is some question around the authenticity of Mary's residence but this is the spot where she may have lived with John.

These are petitions to the Virgin Mary ... people come a long way to do this. 

This is the Baptismal Font in Mary's Church in Ephesus. There is a similar one in the Basilica of St John. Total immersion was the norm.

This is the theatre at Ephesus where two of Paul's missionary companions were taken after they were kidnapped by the silversmiths of the goddess Diana. Things turned ugly early on but they were saved by the town clerk of Ephesus. Paul waited outside. He wanted to go in but was talked out of it for his own safety (Acts 19:24-41). We are sitting in the nose bleeder part of the seats taking this photo. A spectacular view over the valley.

Pete standing in the centre of the theatre stage where the town clerk would have addressed the silversmiths. He would have had no trouble being heard as the acoustics are fantastic. While we were sitting a woman spontaneously starting singing ... she sounded great. These places have really brought the NT alive for us. 

The main Harbour Road that leads into Ephesus ... Paul and his followers would have walked this road when they got off the boat... on these very stones probably. The main theatre is in the background. There is something thrilling about walking where these great NT teachers had once walked and taught.