During the first decades after the death of Jesus, the leaders of the early Christian movement faced severe persecution. St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death. St James the Less, identified by some traditions as a relative or brother of Jesus, also suffered death by stoning. St James the Great, the brother of John, was executed by the sword. In Rome, St Peter and St Paul were both martyred. These violent events deeply shook the early Christian communities.
As persecution increased, many believers were forced to leave Palestine and seek safety in other regions of the Roman Empire. This movement of people played an important role in spreading Christianity beyond its original homeland Turkey Tour Guide.
The Jewish Revolt and the Journey to Ephesus
It was likely during this period of unrest, and probably during the Jewish Revolt against Rome (66–70 CE), that St John traveled to Ephesus, taking the Virgin Mary with him according to Christian tradition. The revolt ended with the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a disaster that changed Jewish and Christian history forever.
At this time, Ephesus was one of the largest and most important cities of the Roman world. Its population may have exceeded 150,000 people. Among them were many Jews, as well as Jewish and Gentile Christians, perhaps numbering around a thousand or more. Ephesus was therefore an important center for early Christianity in Asia Minor.
Tensions Between Jews and Christians
After the Jewish Revolt, Jews and Jewish Christians living outside Palestine—known as the Diaspora—lost much of their earlier favor with Roman authorities. They were often viewed with suspicion and sometimes punished. This created tension within the local communities.
At the same time, Gentile Christians, who had not taken part in the revolt, were treated more leniently by Rome. This difference caused resentment among Jews and deepened divisions between Jewish and Gentile believers. By this stage, some early Christian communities that had been strong during the first missionary efforts were weakened by internal disagreements, declining numbers, and confusion about beliefs St John of Patmos.
St John’s Concerns in Ephesus
When St John arrived in Ephesus, he was troubled by what he saw. Some Christians had begun to compromise with pagan practices, blending Christian belief with local religious customs. This situation alarmed John, who believed such behavior weakened the faith.
These concerns appear clearly in the Book of Revelation, especially in the letter addressed to the Church in Ephesus. In this message, John warns the community to return to its earlier devotion and to remain faithful despite pressure from the surrounding pagan society.
Exile to Patmos and Return
The main ancient source describing St John’s life in Ephesus is incomplete. The first part, which may have told of his arrival and early work in the city, is lost. What remains focuses mostly on his return from exile on the island of Patmos. These texts describe how John resumed preaching, debated pagans and heretics, performed miracles, and eventually died in Ephesus.
In the Book of Revelation, John gives little information about the reason for his exile. He simply states that he was sent to Patmos “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9). Preaching alone was not normally a crime punishable by exile. Roman authorities generally allowed people to worship freely, as long as public order was not disturbed.
Christians were not yet seen as criminals, but rather as members of an unauthorized religion, which made them vulnerable to punishment during times of fear or unrest.
