Acts 17-19

New American Standard Bible

Paul in Thessalonica

17 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to ^(A)Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² And ^(B)according to Paul’s custom, he ^[a]visited them, and for three ^(C)Sabbaths reasoned with them from ^(D)the Scriptures, ^3 [b]explaining and ^[c]giving evidence that the ^[d]Christ ^(E)had to suffer and ^(F)rise from the dead, and saying, “^(G)This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the ^[e]Christ.” ^4 (H)And some of them were persuaded and joined ^(I)Paul and Silas, ^[f]along with a large number of the ^(J)God-fearing ^(K)Greeks and ^[g]a significant number of the ^(L)leading women. ⁵ But ^(M)the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and they attacked the house of ^(N)Jason and were seeking to bring them out to the people. ⁶ When they did not find them, they began ^(O)dragging Jason and some brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset ^[h](P)the world have come here also; ^7 [i]and Jason ^(Q)has welcomed them, and they all act ^(R)contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” ⁸ They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. ⁹ And when they had received a ^[j]pledge from ^(S)Jason and the others, they released them.

Paul in Berea

^10 (T)The brothers immediately sent ^(U)Paul and Silas away by night to ^(V)Berea, ^[k]and when they arrived, they went into ^(W)the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ Now these people were more noble-minded than those in ^(X)Thessalonica, ^[l]for they received the word with ^[m]great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. ¹² Therefore, ^(Y)many of them believed, ^[n]along with a significant number of ^(Z)prominent Greek ^(AA)women and men. ¹³ But when the Jews of ^(AB)Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in ^(AC)Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. ¹⁴ Then immediately ^(AD)the brothers sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and ^(AE)Silas and ^(AF)Timothy remained there. ¹⁵ Now ^(AG)those who escorted Paul brought him as far as ^(AH)Athens; and receiving a command for ^(AI)Silas and Timothy to ^(AJ)come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Paul in Athens

¹⁶ Now while Paul was waiting for them in ^(AK)Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he observed that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he was reasoning ^(AL)in the synagogue with the Jews and ^(AM)the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be present. ¹⁸ And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers as well were ^[o]conversing with him. Some were saying, “What could ^(AN)this ^[p]scavenger of tidbits want to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching ^(AO)Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ And they ^(AP)took him and brought him ^[q]to the ^[r](AQ)Areopagus, saying, “May we know what ^(AR)this new teaching is ^[s]which you are proclaiming? ²⁰ For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” ²¹ (Now all the Athenians and the strangers ^(AS)visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.)

Sermon on Mars Hill

²² So Paul stood in the midst of the ^[t]Areopagus and said, “Men of ^(AT)Athens, I see that you are very ^(AU)religious in all respects. ²³ For while I was passing through and examining the ^(AV)objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore, what ^(AW)you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. ^24 (AX)The God who made the world and everything that is in it, since He is ^(AY)Lord of heaven and earth, does not ^(AZ)dwell in temples made by hands; ²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, ^(BA)as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; ²⁶ and ^(BB)He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having ^(BC)determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, ^(BD)though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for ^(BE)in Him we live and move and ^[u]exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’ ²⁹ Therefore, since we are the descendants of God, we ^(BF)ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and thought. ³⁰ So having ^(BG)overlooked ^(BH)the times of ignorance, God is ^(BI)now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, ³¹ because He has set ^(BJ)a day on which ^(BK)He will judge ^[v](BL)the world in righteousness ^[w]through a Man whom He has ^(BM)appointed, having furnished proof to all people ^[x]by ^(BN)raising Him from the dead.”

³² Now when they heard of ^(BO)the resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We shall hear from you ^[y]again concerning this.” ³³ So Paul went out from among them. ³⁴ But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the ^(BP)Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Paul in Corinth

18 After these events Paul left ^(BQ)Athens and went to ^(BR)Corinth. ² And he found a Jew named ^(BS)Aquila, a native of ^(BT)Pontus having recently come from ^(BU)Italy with his wife ^(BV)Priscilla, because ^(BW)Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. He came to them, ³ and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them, and ^(BX)they worked together, for they were tent-makers by trade. ⁴ And Paul was reasoning ^(BY)in the synagogue every ^(BZ)Sabbath and trying to persuade ^(CA)Jews and Greeks.

⁵ But when ^(CB)Silas and Timothy ^(CC)came down from ^(CD)Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, ^(CE)testifying to the Jews that ^(CF)Jesus was the ^[z]Christ. ⁶ But when they resisted and blasphemed, he ^(CG)shook out his garments and said to them, “Your ^(CH)blood is ^[aa]on your own heads! I am clean. From now on I will go ^(CI)to the Gentiles.” ⁷ Then he left ^[ab]the synagogue and went to the house of a man named ^[ac]Titius Justus, ^(CJ)a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. ^8 (CK)Crispus, ^(CL)the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord ^(CM)together with his entire household; and many of the ^(CN)Corinthians, as they listened to Paul, were believing and being baptized. ⁹ And the Lord said to Paul by ^(CO)a vision at night, “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; ¹⁰ for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ And he settled there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

¹² But while Gallio was ^(CP)proconsul of ^(CQ)Achaia, ^(CR)the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before ^(CS)the ^[ad]judgment seat, ¹³ saying, “This man is inciting the people to worship God contrary to ^(CT)the ^[ae]law.” ¹⁴ But when Paul was about to ^(CU)open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or vicious, unscrupulous act, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you; ¹⁵ but if there are ^[af](CV)questions about ^[ag]teaching and ^[ah]persons and your own law, see to it yourselves; I am unwilling to be a judge of these matters.” ¹⁶ And he drove them away from ^(CW)the ^[ai]judgment seat. ¹⁷ But they all took hold of ^(CX)Sosthenes, ^(CY)the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of ^(CZ)the judgment seat. And yet Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.

¹⁸ Now Paul, when he had remained many days longer, ^(DA)took leave of ^(DB)the brothers and sisters and sailed away to ^(DC)Syria, and ^(DD)Priscilla and ^(DE)Aquila were with him. ^[aj]Paul first ^(DF)had his hair cut at ^(DG)Cenchrea, for he was keeping a vow. ¹⁹ They came to ^(DH)Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered ^(DI)the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to stay for a longer time, he did not consent, ²¹ but ^(DJ)took leave of them and said, “I will return to you again ^(DK)if God wills,” and he set sail from ^(DL)Ephesus.

²² When he had landed in ^(DM)Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and went down to ^(DN)Antioch.

Third Missionary Journey

²³ And after spending some time there, he left and passed successively through the ^(DO)Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴ Now a Jew named ^(DP)Apollos, an ^(DQ)Alexandrian by birth, ^[ak]an eloquent man, came to ^(DR)Ephesus; and he was proficient in the Scriptures. ²⁵ This man had been instructed in ^(DS)the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was accurately speaking and teaching things about Jesus, being acquainted only with ^(DT)the baptism of John; ²⁶ and ^[al]he began speaking boldly in the synagogue. But when ^(DU)Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained ^(DV)the way of God more accurately to him. ²⁷ And when he wanted to go across to ^(DW)Achaia, ^(DX)the brothers encouraged him and wrote to ^(DY)the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly ^[am]helped those who had believed through grace, ²⁸ for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating ^(DZ)by the Scriptures that ^(EA)Jesus was the ^[an]Christ.

Paul in Ephesus

19 Now it happened that while ^(EB)Apollos was in ^(EC)Corinth, Paul passed through the ^(ED)upper country and came to ^(EE)Ephesus, and found some disciples. ² He said to them, “^(EF)Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “On the contrary, ^(EG)we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “^(EH)Into John’s baptism.” ⁴ Paul said, “^(EI)John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people ^(EJ)to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ When they heard this, they were ^(EK)baptized ^[ao]in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had ^(EL)laid hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began ^(EM)speaking with tongues and ^(EN)prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

⁸ And he entered ^(EO)the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, having discussions and persuading them ^(EP)about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when ^(EQ)some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of ^[ap](ER)the Way before the ^[aq]people, he withdrew from them and took ^(ES)the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This took place for ^(ET)two years, so that all who lived in ^[ar](EU)Asia heard ^(EV)the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Miracles at Ephesus

¹¹ God was performing ^(EW)extraordinary ^[as]miracles by the hands of Paul, ^12 (EX)so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and ^(EY)the evil spirits went out. ¹³ But also some of the Jewish ^(EZ)exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to ^[at]use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, “I order you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches!” ¹⁴ Now there were seven sons of ^[au]Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, doing this. ¹⁵ But the evil spirit responded and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know of Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶ And the man in whom was the evil spirit, pounced on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ This became known to all who lived in ^(FA)Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. ¹⁸ Also many of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. ¹⁹ And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they added up the prices of ^[av]the books and found it to be fifty thousand ^[aw](FB)pieces of silver. ²⁰ So ^[ax](FC)the word of the Lord ^(FD)was growing and prevailing mightily.

²¹ Now after these things were finished, Paul resolved in ^[ay]the Spirit to ^(FE)go to Jerusalem ^(FF)after he had passed through ^(FG)Macedonia and ^(FH)Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, ^(FI)I must also see Rome.” ²² And after he sent into ^(FJ)Macedonia two of ^(FK)those who assisted him, ^(FL)Timothy and ^(FM)Erastus, he himself stayed in ^[az](FN)Asia for a while.

²³ About that time ^[ba]a major disturbance occurred in regard to ^[bb](FO)the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of ^[bc]Artemis, ^(FP)was bringing ^[bd]considerable ^[be]business to the craftsmen; ²⁵ he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity ^[bf]depends upon this business. ²⁶ You see and hear that not only in ^(FQ)Ephesus, but in almost all of ^[bg](FR)Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that ^[bh](FS)gods made by hands are not gods at all. ²⁷ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess ^[bi]Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of ^[bj](FT)Asia and ^(FU)the ^[bk]world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

²⁸ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began shouting, saying, “Great is ^[bl]Artemis of the ^(FV)Ephesians!” ²⁹ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging along ^(FW)Gaius and ^(FX)Aristarchus, Paul’s ^(FY)Macedonian traveling ^(FZ)companions. ³⁰ And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, ^(GA)the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Also some of the ^[bm]Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him and repeatedly urged him not to ^[bn]venture into the theater. ^32 (GB)So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the ^[bo]assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know ^[bp]for what reason they had come together. ³³ Some of the crowd ^[bq]concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having ^(GC)motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is ^[br]Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵ After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of ^(GD)Ephesus, what person is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great ^[bs]Artemis and of the image which fell down from ^[bt]the sky? ³⁶ So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither ^(GE)temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. ³⁸ So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and ^[bu](GF)proconsuls are available; have them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the ^[bv]lawful ^[bw]assembly. ⁴⁰ For indeed, we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real reason for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹ After saying this he dismissed the ^[bx]assembly.