Miletus
A port city at the mouth of the Meander river on the west coast of Asia Minor, Miletus had four harbors and three market areas that flourished during Hellenistic and Roman periods (324
B
.
C
.-
A
.
D
. 325).
The Roman theater of Miletus was situated between two bays. One of the best in Asia Minor, it had a seating capacity of 15,000. An inscription was found in the ruins of the theater, between the third and sixth row of seats, that reads: “Place of the Jews, also called the Godfearing.”
At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul stopped in Miletus on his way to Jerusalem for the last time. From Miletus he summoned the elders of the church in Ephesus, to whom he gave a stirring farewell address:
I am going to Jerusalem bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there....But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. (Acts 20:22-25)
Several centuries before Paul’s arrival, Miletus achieved maritime greatness, opening colonies along the Black Sea to the north. It was destroyed by the Persians in 495
B
.
C
. and
rebuilt by 479
B
.
C
. Its inhabitants opposed the advances of Alexander the Great (334
B
.
C
.), only to be crushed again.
The main export of Miletus was wool, which is said to have found a market in every corner of the ancient world:
The sheep of Miletus, for centuries the finest in Asia Minor, produced superb wools, the
Milesia Vellera
, and were eventually bred in Italy.
When the Romans gained control in 130
B
.
C
., the city was rebuilt architecturally, but never again achieved its former maritime and economic greatness.
The silting of the Meander river filled in the harbors, which caused the commercial decline of Miletus during the era of Paul’s visit, a time when the city was living on past glories.
The principal trade now flowed through Ephesus, which shared with Smyrna the land trade from the interior of Asia Minor.
Today the site of the ancient city is located five miles from the coast. At the time of Paul’s visit, the harbor was still open and active. It was the natural stopping point on the sea route from Lesbos, Chios, and Samos to the south, and close enough to Ephesus to summon the elders of the church (Acts 20:15-17). The 35 mile trip by land and sea would have taken
two days, giving Paul enough time to strengthen the saints in and around Miletus. Paul avoided stopping in Ephesus because he was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the
Day of Pentecost.
Miletus was famous as the birthplace of Greek philosophy. The “father of Western philosophy” was Thales, who lived in Miletus (640-546
B
.
C
.). Other famous philosophers who resided in Miletus include Anaximander (611-547
B
.
C
.) and Anaximenes (550-500
B
.
C
.). Anaximander is also considered the father of geography.Under the Roman Empire, Miletus was still one of the largest cities in Asia Minor.
Miletus (Bible Study)
Acts 20:16-38.
Paul delivered his farewell testimonial to the elders of Ephesus. He predicted his bonds, afflictions, and death.
2 Tim. 4:20.
A possible reference to another visit to Miletus.