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Acts 16-20
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Paul Selects Timothy

16 Then he went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy,(A) the son of a believing Jewish woman,(B) but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him.(C) 3 Paul wanted Timothy[a] to go with him, so he took him and circumcised(D) him because of the Jews who were in those places, since they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for them to observe.(E) 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.(F)

Evangelization of Europe

6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia and were prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in Asia.(G) 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus(H) did not allow them. 8 So, bypassing Mysia, they came down to Troas.(I) 9 During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!”(J) 10 After(K) he had seen the vision, we[b] immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.

Lydia’s Conversion

11 Then, setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi,(L) a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul.(M) 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.”(N) And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction.[c](O) She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you[d] the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.” 18 And she did this for many days.

But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.[e](P)

19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(Q) and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.”(R)

22 Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods.(S) 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.(T)

A Midnight Deliverance

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.(U) 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!”

29 Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(V)

31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”(W) 32 Then they spoke the message of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.(X)

An Official Apology

35 When daylight came, the chief magistrates sent the police to say, “Release those men!”

36 The jailer reported these words to Paul: “The magistrates have sent orders for you to be released. So come out now and go in peace.”(Y)

37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to smuggle us out secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out!”(Z)

38 Then the police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them, and escorting them out, they urged them to leave town. 40 After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house where they saw and encouraged the brothers, and departed.(AA)

A Short Ministry in Thessalonica

17 Then they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica,(AB) where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went to the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,(AC) 3 explaining and showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.”(AD) 4 Then some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a great number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number[f] of the leading women.(AE)

Riot in the City

5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some scoundrels from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly.(AF) 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has received them as guests! They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees,(AG) saying that there is another king—Jesus!”(AH) 8 The Jews stirred up the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. 9 So taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.

The Bereans Search the Scriptures

10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea.(AI) On arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures(AJ) daily to see if these things were so. 12 Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that God’s message had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and disturbing[g] the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul away to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy(AK) stayed on there. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed.(AL)

Paul in Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was troubled within him when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.(AM) 18 Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some said, “What is this pseudo-intellectual[h] trying to say?”

Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the Resurrection.[i](AN)

19 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus,[j] and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you’re speaking of?(AO) 20 For what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these ideas mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.

The Areopagus Address

22 Then Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed:

TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it(AP)—He is Lord of heaven and earth(AQ) and does not live in shrines made by hands.(AR) 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything,(AS) since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things.(AT) 26 From one man[k] He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.(AU) 27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.(AV) 28 For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’[l](AW) 29 Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.(AX)

30 “Therefore, having overlooked(AY) the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”(AZ)

32 When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.” 33 Then Paul left their presence. 34 However, some men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Founding the Corinthian Church

18 After this, he[m] left Athens and went to Corinth,(BA) 2 where he found a Jewish man named Aquila,(BB) a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius[n] had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul came to them, 3 and being of the same occupation, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers[o] by trade.(BC) 4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.(BD)

5 When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with preaching the message[p] and solemnly testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.(BE) 6 But when they resisted and blasphemed,(BF) he shook his robe[q](BG) and told them, “Your blood is on your own heads!(BH) I am innocent.[r] From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”(BI) 7 So he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed the Lord, along with his whole household.(BJ) Many of the Corinthians, when they heard, believed and were baptized.

9 Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.”(BK) 11 And he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack against Paul and brought him to the judge’s bench.(BL) 13 “This man,” they said, “persuades people to worship God contrary to the law!”

14 As Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of a crime or of moral evil, it would be reasonable for me to put up with you Jews. 15 But if these are questions about words, names, and your own law, see to it yourselves. I don’t want to be a judge of such things.”(BM) 16 So he drove them from the judge’s bench. 17 Then they all[s] seized Sosthenes,(BN) the leader of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judge’s bench. But none of these things concerned Gallio.

The Return Trip to Antioch

18 So Paul, having stayed on for many days, said good-bye to the brothers and sailed away to Syria. Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He shaved his head at Cenchreae because he had taken a vow.(BO) 19 When they reached Ephesus(BP) he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and engaged in discussion with[t] the Jews. 20 And though they asked him to stay for a longer time, he declined, 21 but he said good-bye and stated,[u] “I’ll come back to you again, if God wills.”(BQ) Then he set sail from Ephesus.

22 On landing at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church[v] and went down to Antioch.(BR) 23 And after spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the Galatian territory and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.(BS)

The Eloquent Apollos

24 A Jew named Apollos,(BT) a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was powerful in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit,[w] he spoke and taught the things about Jesus accurately, although he knew only John’s baptism.(BU) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home[x] and explained the way of God to him more accurately.(BV) 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples urging them to welcome him. After he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace.(BW) 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.(BX)

Twelve Disciples of John the Baptist

19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples(BY) 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

“No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”(BZ)

3 “Then what baptism were you baptized with?” he asked them.

“With John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”(CA)

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on(CB) them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in other languages and to prophesy.(CC) 7 Now there were about 12 men in all.

In the Lecture Hall of Tyrannus

8 Then he entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, engaging in discussion and trying to persuade them about the things of the kingdom of God.(CD) 9 But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them and met separately with the disciples, conducting discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.(CE) 10 And this went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the message about the Lord.(CF)

Demonism Defeated at Ephesus

11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 so that even facecloths or work aprons[y] that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.(CG)

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!”(CH) 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Then fear fell on all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.(CI) 18 And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be 50,000 pieces of silver. 20 In this way the Lord’s message flourished and prevailed.(CJ)

The Riot in Ephesus

21 When these events were over, Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. “After I’ve been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well!”(CK) 22 So after sending two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.(CL)

23 During that time there was a major[z] disturbance about the Way.(CM) 24 For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis,[aa] provided a great deal of[ab] business for the craftsmen. 25 When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said: “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business. 26 You both see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods!(CN) 27 So not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world adore.”

28 When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius(CO) and Aristarchus,(CP) Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 30 Though Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him. 31 Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to take a chance by going[ac] into the amphitheater. 32 Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Then some of the crowd gave Alexander advice when the Jews pushed him to the front. So motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people.(CQ) 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a united cry went up from all of them for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 However, when the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, “Men of Ephesus! What man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great[ad] Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our[ae] goddess. 38 So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.(CR) 39 But if you want something else, it must be decided in a legal assembly. 40 In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disorderly gathering.” 41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.

Paul in Macedonia

20 After the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and after saying good-bye, departed to go to Macedonia.(CS) 2 And when he had passed through those areas and exhorted them at length, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. When he was about to set sail for Syria, a plot was devised against him by the Jews, so a decision was made to go back through Macedonia.(CT) 4 He was accompanied[af] by Sopater son of Pyrrhus[ag] from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy,(CU) and Tychicus(CV) and Trophimus(CW) from Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas,(CX) 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread.(CY) In five days we reached them at Troas, where we spent seven days.

Eutychus Revived at Troas

7 On the first day of the week, we[ah] assembled to break bread.(CZ) Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he extended his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were assembled, 9 and a young man named Eutychus was sitting on a window sill and sank into a deep sleep as Paul kept on speaking. When he was overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, embraced him, and said, “Don’t be alarmed, for his life is in him!”(DA) 11 After going upstairs, breaking the bread, and eating, Paul conversed a considerable time until dawn. Then he left. 12 They brought the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.

From Troas to Miletus

13 Then we went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. For these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene. 15 Sailing from there, the next day we arrived off Chios. The following day we crossed over to Samos, and[ai] the day after, we came to Miletus.(DB) 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so he would not have to spend time in Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.(DC)

Farewell Address to the Ephesian Elders

17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time(DD)— 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews(DE)— 20 and that I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching it to you in public and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God(DF) and faith in our Lord Jesus.(DG)

22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, bound in my spirit,[aj] not knowing what I will encounter there,(DH) 23 except that in town after town the Holy Spirit testifies to me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.(DI) 24 But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course[ak] and the ministry(DJ) I received from the Lord Jesus,(DK) to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

25 “And now I know that none of you will ever see my face again—everyone I went about preaching the kingdom to. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent[al] of everyone’s blood,(DL) 27 for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole plan of God.(DM) 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock(DN) that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers,(DO) to shepherd the church of God,[am] which He purchased with His own blood.(DP) 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 And men will rise up from your own number with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples into following them.(DQ) 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears.(DR)

32 “And now[an] I commit you to God and to the message of His grace,(DS) which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance(DT) among all who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(DU) 34 You yourselves know that these hands have provided for my needs and for those who were with me.(DV) 35 In every way I’ve shown you that by laboring like this, it is necessary to help the weak and to keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, for He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

36 After he said this, he knelt down and prayed with all of them.(DW) 37 There was a great deal of weeping by everyone. They embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 grieving most of all over his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.(DX)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:3 Lit wanted this one
  2. Acts 16:10 The use of we in this passage probably indicates that the author Luke is joining Paul’s missionary team here.
  3. Acts 16:16 Or a spirit by which she predicted the future
  4. Acts 16:17 Other mss read us
  5. Acts 16:18 Lit out this hour
  6. Acts 17:4 Lit as well as not a few
  7. Acts 17:13 Other mss omit and disturbing
  8. Acts 17:18 Lit this seed picker; = one who picks up scraps
  9. Acts 17:18 = Gk Anastasis
  10. Acts 17:19 Or Mars Hill, the oldest and most famous court in Athens with jurisdiction in moral, religious, and civil matters
  11. Acts 17:26 Other mss read one blood
  12. Acts 17:28 This citation is from Aratus, a third-century b.c. Gk poet.
  13. Acts 18:1 Other mss read Paul
  14. Acts 18:2 Roman emperor a.d. 41–54; he expelled all Jews from Rome in a.d. 49.
  15. Acts 18:3 Or leatherworkers, or less likely manufacturers of theatrical properties
  16. Acts 18:5 Other mss read was urged by the Spirit
  17. Acts 18:6 A symbolic display of protest; Mt 10:14; Ac 13:51
  18. Acts 18:6 Lit clean
  19. Acts 18:17 Other mss read Then all the Greeks
  20. Acts 18:19 Or and addressed
  21. Acts 18:21 Other mss add “By all means it is necessary to keep the coming festival in Jerusalem. But
  22. Acts 18:22 The church in Jerusalem
  23. Acts 18:25 Or in the Spirit
  24. Acts 18:26 Lit they received him
  25. Acts 19:12 Or that also sweatbands and sweatcloths or handkerchiefs
  26. Acts 19:23 Lit was not a little
  27. Acts 19:24 Artemis was the ancient Gk mother goddess believed to control all fertility.
  28. Acts 19:24 Lit provided not a little
  29. Acts 19:31 Lit not to give himself
  30. Acts 19:35 Other mss add goddess
  31. Acts 19:37 Other mss read your
  32. Acts 20:4 Other mss add to Asia
  33. Acts 20:4 Other mss omit son of Pyrrhus
  34. Acts 20:7 Other mss read the disciples
  35. Acts 20:15 Other mss add after staying at Trogyllium
  36. Acts 20:22 Or in the Spirit
  37. Acts 20:24 Other mss add with joy
  38. Acts 20:26 Lit clean
  39. Acts 20:28 Other mss read church of the Lord; other mss read church of the Lord and God
  40. Acts 20:32 Other mss add brothers,
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Acts 16-20
New International Version

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,(A) where a disciple named Timothy(B) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer(C) but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers(D) at Lystra and Iconium(E) spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.(F) 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders(G) in Jerusalem(H) for the people to obey.(I) 5 So the churches were strengthened(J) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.(K)

Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia(L) and Galatia,(M) having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.(N) 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus(O) would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.(P) 9 During the night Paul had a vision(Q) of a man of Macedonia(R) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we(S) got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel(T) to them.

Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi

11 From Troas(U) we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi,(V) a Roman colony and the leading city of that district[a] of Macedonia.(W) And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath(X) we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira(Y) named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart(Z) to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household(AA) were baptized,(AB) she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer,(AC) we were met by a female slave who had a spirit(AD) by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,(AE) who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.(AF)

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money(AG) was gone, they seized Paul and Silas(AH) and dragged(AI) them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar(AJ) 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans(AK) to accept or practice.”(AL)

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.(AM) 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer(AN) was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.(AO)

25 About midnight(AP) Paul and Silas(AQ) were praying and singing hymns(AR) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.(AS) At once all the prison doors flew open,(AT) and everyone’s chains came loose.(AU) 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.(AV) 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.(AW) 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”(AX)

31 They replied, “Believe(AY) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved(AZ)—you and your household.”(BA) 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night(BB) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.(BC) 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he(BD) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” 36 The jailer(BE) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”(BF)

37 But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,(BG) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.(BH) 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.(BI) 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,(BJ) where they met with the brothers and sisters(BK) and encouraged them. Then they left.

In Thessalonica

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,(BL) where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,(BM) and on three Sabbath(BN) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,(BO) 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer(BP) and rise from the dead.(BQ) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”(BR) he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas,(BS) as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.(BT) They rushed to Jason’s(BU) house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[b] 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged(BV) Jason and some other believers(BW) before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world(BX) have now come here,(BY) 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”(BZ) 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason(CA) and the others post bond and let them go.

In Berea

10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas(CB) away to Berea.(CC) On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.(CD) 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica,(CE) for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures(CF) every day to see if what Paul said was true.(CG) 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.(CH)

13 But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea,(CI) some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The believers(CJ) immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas(CK) and Timothy(CL) stayed at Berea. 15 Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens(CM) and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.(CN)

In Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue(CO) with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news(CP) about Jesus and the resurrection.(CQ) 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus,(CR) where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching(CS) is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians(CT) and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus(CU) and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.(CV) 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship(CW)—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it(CX) is the Lord of heaven and earth(CY) and does not live in temples built by human hands.(CZ) 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.(DA) 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.(DB) 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.(DC) 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[c](DD) As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[d]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.(DE) 30 In the past God overlooked(DF) such ignorance,(DG) but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.(DH) 31 For he has set a day when he will judge(DI) the world with justice(DJ) by the man he has appointed.(DK) He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”(DL)

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead,(DM) some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus,(DN) also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

In Corinth

18 After this, Paul left Athens(DO) and went to Corinth.(DP) 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,(DQ) because Claudius(DR) had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.(DS) 4 Every Sabbath(DT) he reasoned in the synagogue,(DU) trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas(DV) and Timothy(DW) came from Macedonia,(DX) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.(DY) 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,(DZ) he shook out his clothes in protest(EA) and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!(EB) I am innocent of it.(EC) From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”(ED)

7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.(EE) 8 Crispus,(EF) the synagogue leader,(EG) and his entire household(EH) believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:(EI) “Do not be afraid;(EJ) keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you,(EK) and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.(EL)

12 While Gallio was proconsul(EM) of Achaia,(EN) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law(EO)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes(EP) the synagogue leader(EQ) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters(ER) and sailed for Syria,(ES) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.(ET) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae(EU) because of a vow he had taken.(EV) 19 They arrived at Ephesus,(EW) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”(EX) Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea,(EY) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(EZ)

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia(FA) and Phrygia,(FB) strengthening all the disciples.(FC)

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,(FD) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.(FE) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[e](FF) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.(FG) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila(FH) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,(FI) the brothers and sisters(FJ) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(FK) that Jesus was the Messiah.(FL)

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos(FM) was at Corinth,(FN) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.(FO) There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit(FP) when[f] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism(FQ) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”(FR) 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(FS) 6 When Paul placed his hands on them,(FT) the Holy Spirit came on them,(FU) and they spoke in tongues[g](FV) and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Paul entered the synagogue(FW) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.(FX) 9 But some of them(FY) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.(FZ) So Paul left them. He took the disciples(GA) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years,(GB) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia(GC) heard the word of the Lord.(GD)

11 God did extraordinary miracles(GE) through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured(GF) and the evil spirits left them.

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits(GG) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus(GH) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,(GI) they were all seized with fear,(GJ) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.[h] 20 In this way the word of the Lord(GK) spread widely and grew in power.(GL)

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided[i] to go to Jerusalem,(GM) passing through Macedonia(GN) and Achaia.(GO) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”(GP) 22 He sent two of his helpers,(GQ) Timothy(GR) and Erastus,(GS) to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia(GT) a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.(GU) 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.(GV) 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus(GW) and in practically the whole province of Asia.(GX) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.(GY) 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!”(GZ) 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius(HA) and Aristarchus,(HB) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,(HC) and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples(HD) 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.(HE) 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(HF) 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!”(HG)

35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,(HH) 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(HI) nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen(HJ) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.(HK) 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(HL) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.(HM) 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(HN) just as he was about to sail for Syria,(HO) he decided to go back through Macedonia.(HP) 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus(HQ) and Secundus from Thessalonica,(HR) Gaius(HS) from Derbe, Timothy(HT) also, and Tychicus(HU) and Trophimus(HV) from the province of Asia.(HW) 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us(HX) at Troas.(HY) 6 But we sailed from Philippi(HZ) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,(IA) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

7 On the first day of the week(IB) we came together to break bread.(IC) Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room(ID) where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man(IE) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”(IF) 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread(IG) and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.(IH) 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus(II) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,(IJ) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,(IK) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.(IL)

17 From Miletus,(IM) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders(IN) of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,(IO) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.(IP) 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears(IQ) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.(IR) 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything(IS) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews(IT) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance(IU) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.(IV)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,(IW) not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me(IX) that prison and hardships are facing me.(IY) 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;(IZ) my only aim is to finish the race(JA) and complete the task(JB) the Lord Jesus has given me(JC)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.(JD)

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom(JE) will ever see me again.(JF) 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.(JG) 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.(JH) 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(JI) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(JJ) Be shepherds of the church of God,[j](JK) which he bought(JL) with his own blood.[k](JM) 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves(JN) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.(JO) 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples(JP) after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years(JQ) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.(JR)

32 “Now I commit you to God(JS) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(JT) among all those who are sanctified.(JU) 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(JV) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.(JW) 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.(JX) 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.(JY) 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(JZ) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(KA)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 16:12 The text and meaning of the Greek for the leading city of that district are uncertain.
  2. Acts 17:5 Or the assembly of the people
  3. Acts 17:28 From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides
  4. Acts 17:28 From the Cilician Stoic philosopher Aratus
  5. Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
  6. Acts 19:2 Or after
  7. Acts 19:6 Or other languages
  8. Acts 19:19 A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.
  9. Acts 19:21 Or decided in the Spirit
  10. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  11. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son
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