In Acts 18:18-19 we read: “Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers [Christians] and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. They arrived at Ephesus …”
Here you can see a screenshot of my map app on my phone. This gives you a good idea where Corinth is located.
Corinth was located on the narrow isthmus connecting mainland Greece with the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Corinth became a very wealthy city from portaging ships across the isthmus between the Saronic Gulf on the eastern side, and the Corinthian Gulf on the west. Cenchrea was basically an extension of Corinth, serving as the eastern port. You can see in the above screenshot that the current day city of Kechries is basically where Cenchrea used to be.
It is interesting to note that Phoebe who delivered Paul’s letter to the church at Rome, was from Cenchrea. (Romans 16:1-2)
The passage in Acts 18:18-19 specifically mentions Aquila and Priscilla accompanying Paul on his journey from Corinth to Ephesus. It is curious that nothing is mentioned of Silas and Timothy who had been with Paul on most of his second missionary journey. Acts 18:5 mentions Silas and Timothy arriving in Corinth, after having stayed behind to strengthen the newly-planted church in Thessalonica.
Paul remained in Corinth a year and a half teaching the people the word of God. It can only be assumed that Silas and Timothy were also in Corinth during that time, teaching the people the word of God and helping Paul. It can likewise be assumed that Silas and Timothy probably accompanied Paul as he, Aquila and Priscilla sailed for Ephesus.
Here you can see a screenshot of my map app on my phone of what their journey from Corinth to Ephesus would have looked like. Corinth is located in our modern-day Greece – in Paul’s day, Corinth was in Achaia. Ephesus is located in our modern-day Türkiye – in Paul’s day, Ephesus was in Asia Minor.
Before hubby and I took our Journeys of Paul cruise, I had no idea where Corinth was located. And to be honest, I didn’t really have a good idea where Ephesus was located. I found it fascinating all the islands they had to sail through on their journey from Corinth to Ephesus.
Here is a close-up view of my map app of the islands they sailed through on their journey. Check out all those shipping lanes through the islands!
And here you can see what it actually looks like to be sailing through this part of the Aegean Sea. Isn’t the blue of the water absolutely stunning! This right here is what Paul, Aquila and Priscilla, and possibly Silas and Timothy would have seen as they sailed from Corinth to Ephesus.
And far off in the distance, islands. An island on the right … and an island on the left. Paul and his traveling companions would have seen far off islands just like this on their journey from Corinth to Ephesus.
Here you can see the coastline of Türkiye, as Paul and his traveling companions approached Ephesus.
Perhaps Paul and his traveling companions journeyed all throughout the night, like hubby and I did. Here is our view of the coastline of Türkiye as we got up early in the morning. No doubt, Paul and his traveling companions had a very similar view as they approached the coastline as well.
Getting closer to the coastline. Notice how hilly and mountainous the landscape is.
The ship hubby and I were on docked in Kusadasi, about 20 kilometers to the south of Ephesus. It was a 30-minute bus ride north to reach Ephesus. I wanted to share one more screenshot with you because it’s important to notice how far inland Ephesus is today. During Paul’s day – almost 2,000 years ago – Ephesus was a port city. Ephesus used to be located right on the sea. This shows you just how much the land has silted in and pushed the sea out.
Driving north to Ephesus – here you can see the road we took to reach Ephesus. All that flat level area you see, where the road and resorts currently are, would have been the sea back in Paul’s day. Paul and his traveling companions would have sailed right through here. You can see a hill rising on the right side of the photo – on the far side of this hill the sea would have reached up into that valley area.
Here is a close-up view of the sea and surrounding landscape which Paul and his traveling companions would have seen as they neared Ephesus. (that tall ship-shaped building is a fancy resort hotel) Once again, notice how hilly and mountainous the landscape is.
And here you can see the valley which used to be the sea back in Paul’s day. Paul and his traveling companions would have sailed right up this valley to the right, to reach Ephesus.
The valley had been silting in for many years, even hundreds of years prior to the time period that Paul visited the city. In fact, the earliest city of Ephesus used to be located even further inland. However, as the silt kept pushing the sea further and further out, the city was moved forward to its current location, in order to be on the sea.
Even to this day, the valley is marshy, swampy, and boggy. Here you can see the view out the bus windows as we drove up the valley towards Ephesus. The marshy, swampy, boggy conditions were ultimately what caused the downfall and the collapse of the great city, many years later. The marshy swampy conditions were perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and in turn, malaria.
Additionally, as the sea was pushed further and further out (due to the silt accumulation), Ephesus lost its advantage of being a port city. It became increasingly more and more difficult to keep a channel dug and cleared in order for ships from open water to reach the city.
Here you can see a map at Ephesus of what the port was like when Paul and his traveling companions arrived. Notice how the city was built up against the hillsides and extended up the hillsides. At the time Paul was here, the area around Ephesus was already silting in, but a large harbor had been dug, and was continually dredged and maintained so that ships could access the city. Additionally, an access channel had been dug and was continually dredged and maintained so that ships could reach the open water and trade could continue.
Here is a view from high atop the hill of Ephesus, looking out across the valley which once used to be the sea 2,000 years ago. When Paul and his traveling companions arrived, it was not silted in like it looks today. Probably when Paul and his traveling companions arrived this area would still have been very sea-like, though considerably shallow and not navigable for ships.
Welcome to Ephesus!
