Bible Passages Blog

Dear Jackson, You sure remind me of your dad. You notice things other people miss. The other day you were studying that Apologetics Press Bible action card and noticed Damaris seated in a large outdoor theater, and you asked, “How did they hear without a microphone?” Greek and Roman Theater at Ephesus (Theater Photo taken by Ya Ya) That’s a mighty good question. Most folks don’t think about things like that. But you do. She was indeed seated a long way from the front. Did you

Saying good-bye to those we love is always difficult. Saying goodbye for the final time is often hard to bear. From the top row of this theater, a spectator could have easily seen the ancient harbor of Miletus and the place where the elders of Ephesus walked with the apostle Paul to a ship headed for Judea (Acts 20:38). The ancient harbor of Miletus, once a thriving maritime center, no longer exists. Silt from the Meander River closed its access to the Aegean Sea, and the ci

Emperor Hadrian - Photo Taken at the Istanbul Archaeological Museum For those hurt by death’s menacing power, this image will mean a lot to you. In a vivid display of dominion and power, Emperor Hadrian (76-138 A.D.) stands as a victorious warrior over a menacing enemy of Rome. Variously interpreted as either a Dacian warrior or a Jewish Zealot from the Bar-Kokhba revolt, the trampled subject is shown in an obvious display of subjugation and defeat. Discovered in 1987, the s

Located today at Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey, this 65-foot granite obelisk dedicated to the Egyptian god Amun-Ra once stood at a temple in Karnak, Egypt. Commissioned by Thutmose III to commemorate his victorious military campaign over the Mitanni, this well-known Egyptian Pharaoh reigned from approximately 1504-1450 BC. While the Bible does not reveal his name, it seems almost certain that it was Thutmose III who died prior to Moses’ return to Egypt following his

The Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) church in Istanbul is one of the most iconic church buildings in the entire world. The original structure that became the building that we see today was built in the 6th century by Justinian I. The central feature of the church is the massive dome that makes it a landmark in the Istanbul skyline. (Interestingly, some claim that Islamic mosques, now famous for domed architecture, did not feature a dome until after the Islamic conquest saw the Hag