As the city of Ephesus prepares for a religious festival in honor of the emperor Domitian, a Christian landowner feels increasing pressure from the city's leaders to participate. Can he perform his civic duties and remain faithful to his Lord? Or has the time come for a costly choice? In this historical novel, biblical scholar David deSilva brings to life such compelling struggles faced by the early Christians. Their insistence on the absolute lordship of their own singular deity brought them into conflict not only with the myriad religious cults of the day, but with all the crushing power of the empire itself. Meticulously researched and supplemented by historical images and explanatory sidebars, A Week in the Life of Ephesus poses anew the timeless question of Christianity and empire. Here is a vividly imaginative portrait of the Roman empire in all its beauty and might―and hanging over it, the looming sky of apocalypse.

A fundamental principle of biblical interpretation is the importance of context--historical, literary, and canonical. But an often-neglected source of context for understanding Scripture is the field of archaeology. The physical and cultural world we inhabit affects us deeply, and that was no less true for the original writers and readers of Scripture. Archaeology provides insights into important questions like, What did these believers see day to day? What messages did they receive from their environment? What social practices influenced them? In this first of three planned volumes, New Testament scholar David deSilva uses archaeological findings to explore places where the apostle Paul ministered and his audiences lived. This visually compelling and beautifully designed book contains more than 250 full-color photographs of sites and artifacts. The author focuses on the fruits of archaeology in regard to the sites associated with Paul's ministry in Acts and in Paul's own writings. This book helps readers understand the real-life situations Paul addressed. This volume will be an important supplemental textbook for courses on the New Testament and for anyone who wants to better understand the lived context of Paul and his readers.

Dr. Wilson’s newest volume, Biblical Turkey is an authoritative and comprehensive guide to the ancient Jewish and Christian sites in Turkey. It includes all the references to cities, regions, provinces, and natural features in the Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Apocrypha or Deutero canonicals, New Testament, and Apostolic Fathers. Special features include Side-trips, which point to nearby sites that are also of interest to visitors. The In-Sites help readers to read between the lines for special insights into the biblical text. In the Ancient Voice section writers from antiquity speak about the ancient world of Asia Minor. Colorful photographs and plans of selected sites illustrate the volume.

God’s got a plan for your life” is an aphorism frequently heard by Christians. But how do you discover that plan? Using Paul’s journeys in Acts as examples, twenty-two lessons on guidance are drawn from these journeys. Using his firsthand experience traveling along these routes in the Eastern Mediterranean, Wilson reads between the lines offering additional insights into Luke’s account. He also provides important geographical and archaeological information to illustrate Paul’s world among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. Wilson then illustrates each lesson with autobiographical vignettes drawn from his and his wife’s own spiritual pilgrimages of over forty-five years as followers of Jesus. Friends and colleagues also share stories of similar experiences of guidance. Each chapter ends with reflection questions that help the reader integrate the lesson into Christian living. The volume offers an inductive Bible study combined with practical, spiritual insights regarding how God guides his people then and now.

A Firsthand Look at a Groundbreaking Archaeological Discovery In 2014, aerial photography revealed a submerged structure beneath the waters of Lake Iznik, near the ancient city of Nicaea. The structure appeared to be in the shape of an ancient basilica church, with a nave, aisles, and an apse pointing to the east. The discovery was named one of the top ten archaeological discoveries in 2014 by the Archaeological Institute of America. Earlier excavations in ancient Nicaea have revealed fourteen Byzantine churches in the city, but none of them can be dated as early as the fourth century. Biblical scholar and archaeologist Mark Fairchild’s work on the archaeological excavations in Turkey reveals what he argues is the likely location of the First Council of Nicaea. The Underwater Basilica of Nicaea includes: • Beautiful images from the excavation • Helpful maps from the dig site • Fascinating insights for a location that could be the birthplace of Christian theology.

Dig Deeper into Key Places and People in the New Testament From Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus to Paul’s missionary journeys, dig deeper into 20 key Bible places!

The Christian Saints of Turkey is an introductory guide to people, places, events, and texts of the early church of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The time frame of the book is more functional than academic, it begins with the New Testament and ends in 1453. The book’s layout is unique and us­er-friendly. It contains 300 short descriptive “profiles” that are listed nu­merically (1 to 300), with no chapters. The numbering system allows for cross-referencing within the individual “profiles.” The book also includes two table of contents, one chronological and the other geographical. The goal of the book is help people worldwide not only discover that Turkey is the land of the Bible, but it is also the primary and central land of the early church. There is no other book of its kind available today.

The Christian Saints of Turkey is an introductory guide to people, places, events, and texts of the early church of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The time frame of the book is more functional than academic, it begins with the New Testament and ends in 1453. The book’s layout is unique and us­er-friendly. It contains 300 short descriptive “profiles” that are listed nu­merically (1 to 300), with no chapters. The numbering system allows for cross-referencing within the individual “profiles.” The book also includes two table of contents, one chronological and the other geographical. The goal of the book is help people worldwide not only discover that Turkey is the land of the Bible, but it is also the primary and central land of the early church. There is no other book of its kind available today.

Essential to an understanding of the New Testament is a comprehension of the individuals, events, and social movements that shaped the setting from which Jesus and his followers emerged. Unfortunately, many accounts by historians can leave readers feeling overwhelmed and confused. New Testament History provides a worthy solution to this problem. A well-known expert on the social situation of the New Testament, Ben Witherington offers an engaging look into the world that gave birth to the Christian faith.

Who was Priscilla? Readers of the Bible may know her as the wife of Aquila, Paul's coworker, or someone who explained baptism to Apollos. Biblical references to Priscilla spark questions: Why is she mentioned before her husband? Does the mention of her instruction of Apollos mean that women taught in the church? What is her story?Ben Witherington addresses these questions and more. In this work of historical fiction, Priscilla looks back on her long life and remembers the ways she has participated in the early church. Her journey has taken her to Ephesus, Corinth, and Rome, and she's partnered with Paul and others along the way.Priscilla's story makes the first-century world come alive and helps readers connect the events and correspondence in different New Testament books. Witherington combines biblical scholarship and winsome storytelling to give readers a vivid picture of an important New Testament woman.