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Ephesus became the main city of the Roman province of Asia. It had the temple of Artemis (see Acts 19:23–35) and became the richest banking center in that region. The people of Ephesus were very independent. They refused help from Alexander to rebuild their temple after its destruction in the 300s BC. They argued that one god should not build a temple for another god (see Strabo, Geography 14.1.22). The pride of the Ephesians also led to the uproar against Paul (Acts 19:23–41).