The Collection for the Lord’s People

16 Now about the collection^(A) for the Lord’s people:^(B) Do what I told the Galatian^(C) churches to do. ² On the first day of every week,^(D) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.^{(E) 3} Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve^(F) and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Personal Requests

⁵ After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you^(G)—for I will be going through Macedonia.^{(H) 6} Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey,^(I) wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.^{(J) 8} But I will stay on at Ephesus^(K) until Pentecost,^{(L) 9} because a great door for effective work has opened to me,^(M) and there are many who oppose me.

¹⁰ When Timothy^(N) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord,^(O) just as I am. ¹¹ No one, then, should treat him with contempt.^(P) Send him on his way^(Q) in peace^(R) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

¹² Now about our brother Apollos:^(S) I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm^(T) in the faith; be courageous; be strong.^{(U) 14} Do everything in love.^(V)

¹⁵ You know that the household of Stephanas^(W) were the first converts^(X) in Achaia,^(Y) and they have devoted themselves to the service^(Z) of the Lord’s people.^(AA) I urge you, brothers and sisters, ¹⁶ to submit^(AB) to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. ¹⁷ I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.^{(AC) 18} For they refreshed^(AD) my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.^(AE)

Final Greetings

¹⁹ The churches in the province of Asia^(AF) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla^[a](AG) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.^{(AH) 20} All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(AI)

²¹ I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.^(AJ)

²² If anyone does not love the Lord,^(AK) let that person be cursed!^(AL) Come, Lord^[b]!^(AM)

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.^(AN)

²⁴ My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.^[c]

²¹ After all this had happened, Paul decided^[a] to go to Jerusalem,^(A) passing through Macedonia^(B) and Achaia.^(C) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”^{(D) 22} He sent two of his helpers,^(E) Timothy^(F) and Erastus,^(G) to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia^(H) a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.^{(I) 24} A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. ²⁵ He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.^{(J) 26} And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus^(K) and in practically the whole province of Asia.^(L) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.^{(M) 27} There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

²⁸ When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^{(N) 29} Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius^(O) and Aristarchus,^(P) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,^(Q) and all of them rushed into the theater together. ³⁰ Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples^(R) would not let him. ³¹ Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

³² The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another.^(S) Most of the people did not even know why they were there. ³³ The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned^(T) for silence in order to make a defense before the people. ³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^(U)

³⁵ The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,^(V) doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶ Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. ³⁷ You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples^(W) nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸ If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen^(X) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.^(Y) They can press charges. ³⁹ If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰ As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” ⁴¹ After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Through Macedonia and Greece

20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples^(Z) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.^{(AA) 2} He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, ³ where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him^(AB) just as he was about to sail for Syria,^(AC) he decided to go back through Macedonia.^{(AD) 4} He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus^(AE) and Secundus from Thessalonica,^(AF) Gaius^(AG) from Derbe, Timothy^(AH) also, and Tychicus^(AI) and Trophimus^(AJ) from the province of Asia.^{(AK) 5} These men went on ahead and waited for us^(AL) at Troas.^{(AM) 6} But we sailed from Philippi^(AN) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,^(AO) where we stayed seven days.