The story of Christianity in the first century is often told through the lens of theology, persecution, miracles, and missionary journeys. Yet another powerful force influenced the growth of the early Church: commerce. The Seven Churches of Revelation were not isolated villages hidden from the world. They were located in thriving commercial centers connected by roads, ports, trade routes, financial institutions, and marketplaces. Merchants, craftsmen, bankers, sailors, and entrepreneurs filled their streets. The Gospel spread not only through synagogues and homes but also through marketplaces and commercial networks.
Daniel J. Grace (Sun,) studied this question.