Acts 18-20 (English Standard Version)

Acts 18

Paul in Corinth

 ¹After this Paul^[a] left Athens and went to Corinth. ²And he found a Jew named^(A) Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife^(B) Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, ³and^(C) because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. ⁴And^(D) he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

 ^5(E) When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul^(F) was occupied with the word,^(G) testifying to the Jews that the Christ was^(H) Jesus. ⁶And when they opposed and reviled him,^(I) he shook out his garments and said to them,^(J) "Your blood be on your own heads!^(K) I am innocent.^(L) From now on I will go to the Gentiles." ⁷And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius^(M) Justus,^(N) a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. ^8(O) Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together^(P) with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. ⁹And the Lord said to Paul^(Q) one night in^(R) a vision, ^(S) "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, ^10(T) for I am with you, and^(U) no one will attack you to harm you, for^(V) I have many in this city who are my people." ¹¹And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

 ¹²But when Gallio was^(W) proconsul of Achaia,^(X) the Jews made a united attack on Paul and^(Y) brought him before the tribunal, ¹³saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to^(Z) the law." ¹⁴But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious^(AA) crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. ¹⁵But^(AB) since it is a matter of questions about words and names and^(AC) your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things." ¹⁶And he drove them from the tribunal. ¹⁷And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Paul Returns to Antioch

 ¹⁸After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of^(AD) the brothers^[b] and set sail for Syria, and with him^(AE) Priscilla and Aquila. At^(AF) Cenchreae^(AG) he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. ¹⁹And they came to^(AH) Ephesus, and he left them there, but^(AI) he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. ²¹But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you^(AJ) if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus.

 ²²When he had landed at Caesarea, he^(AK) went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. ²³After spending some time there, he departed and^(AL) went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia,^(AM) strengthening all the disciples.

Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus

 ²⁴Now a Jew named^(AN) Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man,^(AO) competent in the Scriptures. ²⁵He had been instructed in^(AP) the way of the Lord. And^(AQ) being fervent in spirit,^[c] he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only^(AR) the baptism of John. ²⁶He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when^(AS) Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him^(AT) the way of God more accurately. ²⁷And when he wished to cross to^(AU) Achaia,^(AV) the brothers encouraged him and^(AW) wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived,^(AX) he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, ²⁸for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures^(AY) that the Christ was Jesus.

Acts 19

Paul in Ephesus

 ¹And it happened that while^(AZ) Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed^(BA) through the inland^[d] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. ²And he said to them,^(BB) "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No,^(BC) we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." ³And he said,^(BD) "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into^(BE) John’s baptism." ⁴And Paul said,^(BF) "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people^(BG) to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." ⁵On hearing this,^(BH) they were baptized in^[e] the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶And^(BI) when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and^(BJ) they began speaking in tongues and^(BK) prophesying. ⁷There were about twelve men in all.

 ⁸And^(BL) he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them^(BM) about the kingdom of God. ^9(BN) But when some became stubborn and^(BO) continued in unbelief, speaking evil of^(BP) the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.^{[f] 10}This continued for^(BQ) two years, so that^(BR) all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The Sons of Sceva

 ¹¹And^(BS) God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ^12(BT) so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and^(BU) the evil spirits came out of them. ¹³Then some of the itinerant Jewish^(BV) exorcists^(BW) undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying,^(BX) "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." ¹⁴Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. ¹⁵But the evil spirit answered them,^(BY) "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" ¹⁶And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all^[g] of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and^(BZ) the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. ¹⁸Also many of those who were now believers came,^(CA) confessing and divulging their practices. ¹⁹And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰So the word of the Lord^(CB) continued to increase and prevail mightily.

A Riot at Ephesus

 ²¹Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit^(CC) to pass through^(CD) Macedonia and Achaia and^(CE) go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there,^(CF) I must also see Rome." ²²And having sent into Macedonia two of^(CG) his helpers,^(CH) Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia^(CI) for a while.

 ²³About that time^(CJ) there arose no little disturbance concerning^(CK) the Way. ²⁴For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis,^(CL) brought no little business to the craftsmen. ^25(CM) These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. ²⁶And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people,^(CN) saying that^(CO) gods made with hands are not gods. ²⁷And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the^(CP) great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship."

 ²⁸When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out,^(CQ) "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ²⁹So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and^(CR) Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s^(CS) companions in travel. ³⁰But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. ³¹And even some of the Asiarchs,^[h] who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. ^32(CT) Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. ³³Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander,^(CU) motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. ³⁴But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice,^(CV) "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

 ³⁵And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from^(CW) the sky?^{[i] 36}Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. ³⁷For you have brought^(CX) these men here who are neither^(CY) sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. ³⁸If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are^(CZ) proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹But if you seek anything further,^[j] it shall be settled in the regular assembly. ⁴⁰For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion." ⁴¹And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Acts 20

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

 ¹After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and^(DA) departed for Macedonia. ²When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. ³There he spent three months, and when^(DB) a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. ⁴Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians,^(DC) Aristarchus and Secundus; and^(DD) Gaius of Derbe, and^(DE) Timothy; and the Asians,^(DF) Tychicus and Trophimus. ⁵These went on ahead and were waiting for^(DG) us at^(DH) Troas, ⁶but we sailed away from Philippi after^(DI) the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

Eutychus Raised from the Dead

 ^7(DJ) On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together^(DK) to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. ⁸There were many lamps in^(DL) the upper room where we were gathered. ⁹And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he^(DM) fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. ¹⁰But Paul went down and^(DN) bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said,^(DO) "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." ¹¹And when Paul had gone up and^(DP) had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. ¹²And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

 ¹³But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. ¹⁴And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. ¹⁵And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and^[k] the day after that we went to Miletus. ¹⁶For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening^(DQ) to be at Jerusalem, if possible,^(DR) on the day of Pentecost.

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

 ¹⁷Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called^(DS) the elders of the church to come to him. ¹⁸And when they came to him, he said to them:

   

   ^(DT) "You yourselves know^(DU) how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, ^19(DV) serving the Lord^(DW) with all humility and with^(DX) tears and with trials that happened to me through^(DY) the plots of the Jews; ²⁰how I^(DZ) did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and^(EA) teaching you in public and from house to house, ^21(EB) testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of^(EC) repentance toward God and of^(ED) faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. ²²And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained^(EE) by^[l] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³except that^(EF) the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that^(EG) imprisonment and^(EH) afflictions await me. ²⁴But^(EI) I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only^(EJ) I may finish my course and^(EK) the ministry^(EL) that I received from the Lord Jesus,^(EM) to testify to^(EN) the gospel of^(EO) the grace of God. ²⁵And now, behold,^(EP) I know that none of you among whom I have gone about^(EQ) proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. ²⁶Therefore^(ER) I testify to you this day that^(ES) I am innocent of the blood of all of you, ²⁷for^(ET) I did not shrink from declaring to you^(EU) the whole counsel of God. ^28(EV) Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all^(EW) the flock, in which^(EX) the Holy Spirit has made you^(EY) overseers,^(EZ) to care for^(FA) the church of God,^[m] which he^(FB) obtained^(FC) with his own blood.^{[n] 29}I^(FD) know that after my departure^(FE) fierce wolves will come in among you,^(FF) not sparing the flock; ³⁰and^(FG) from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹Therefore^(FH) be alert, remembering that^(FI) for three years I did not cease night or day^(FJ) to admonish everyone^(FK) with tears. ³²And now^(FL) I commend you to God and to^(FM) the word of his grace, which is able to^(FN) build you up and to give you^(FO) the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ^33(FP) I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ^34(FQ) You yourselves know that^(FR) these hands ministered to my necessities and^(FS) to those who were with me. ³⁵In all things^(FT) I have shown you that^(FU) by working hard in this way we must^(FV) help the weak and^(FW) remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed^(FX) to give than to receive.'"

 ³⁶And when he had said these things,^(FY) he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷And^(FZ) there was much weeping on the part of all;^(GA) they embraced Paul and kissed him, ³⁸being sorrowful most of all because of^(GB) the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And^(GC) they accompanied him to the ship.