Miletus
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Acts 20:15–17, 2 Tim. 4:20)—a city in Asia Minor, several miles from the Aegean Sea, near the mouth of the river Meander, situated in the ancient province of Caria. It was famous for its temple of Apollo, the ruins of which are visible to this day, and as the birthplace of Thales, Anaximander, and other people well known in history. Christianity was planted in Miletus by the apostles, and one of the bishops of Miletus was present at the Council of Nicaea (in 325 A.D.). In Miletus one can see the ruins of an enormous theater, an aqueduct, temples buried in sand, and one Christian church.
On the site of the ancient city there now stands a small Turkish village called Palatia, or Palatsa. The city of Miletus is undoubtedly well known in history, but in the New Testament its name is mentioned only a few times. Here the Apostle Paul, on his way from Greece to Jerusalem, summoned to himself the elders of the church of Ephesus and delivered before them a most moving farewell speech, since he did not hope to be in this place again (Acts 20:15–38). At Miletus he left Trophimus, who was sick (2 Tim. 4:20).