Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(desirable). Capital of Ionia, on the Ægean Sea. Noted for its commerce, learning, and architecture. Paul visited it (Acts 18:1-20), and founded a church there, to which he addressed one of his best epistles (Acts 19:1-10; 20:17-38).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
A renowned city of Ionia, and in the time of the Romans the capital of the part called “the province of Asia,” being the west portion of Asia Minor. Being near the sea it was a place of great commerce, and as the capital of the province it had constant intercourse with the surrounding towns. The celebrated temple of Diana also brought multitudes of heathen. Its inhabitants are supposed to have been of Greek origin, with also a large number of Jews engaged in commerce (Acts 18:19-21; Acts 19:1,17,26,35; Acts 20:16-17; 1 Cor. 15:32; 1 Cor. 16:8; Eph. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:3; 2 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 4:12; Rev. 1:11; Rev. 2:1). It is now named Ayasolook. The ruins are extensive: the sea has retired, leaving a pestilential morass of mud and rushes.
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Meaning:
probably of foreign origin; Ephesus, a city of Asia Minor
Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:
full purposed: a throwing at
Potts’ Bible Proper Names:
Desirable; the end; patience:―a city of Asia Minor, Acts 18:19. {Amabilis; finis}
From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Acts 19:19. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men.
Ephesus was the great center of magic in the time of Paul. The “books” here mentioned were probably made up of directions for producing magical results, and were reckoned of great value to all who practiced sorcery. One of the curious arts “consisted in the use of the” Ephesian letters,”celebrated in ancient times. These are supposed to have been copies of certain characters which were engraved on the crown, the girdle, and the feet of the statue of the goddess Diana. See note on verse 35 (#850). They were written on strips of parchment, and worn as amulets. The” books “ may have taught how to use these to the best advantage. Hesychins (cited by Burder, Oriental Literature, No. 1492) says: “The Ephesian letters, or characters, were formerly six, but certain deceivers added others afterward; and their names, according to report, were these: askion, kataskion, lix, tetrax, damnameneus, and aision. It is evident that askion means darkness; kataskion, light; lix, the earth; tetrax, the year; damnameneus, the sun; and aision, truth: these are holy and sacred things.”