Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos^(A) was at Corinth,^(B) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.^(C) There he found some disciples ² and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit^(D) when^[a] 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^(E) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”^{(F) 5} On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^{(G) 6} When Paul placed his hands on them,^(H) the Holy Spirit came on them,^(I) and they spoke in tongues^[b](J) and prophesied. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

⁸ Paul entered the synagogue^(K) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.^{(L) 9} But some of them^(M) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.^(N) So Paul left them. He took the disciples^(O) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years,^(P) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia^(Q) heard the word of the Lord.^(R)

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

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits^(U) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus^(V) 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,^(W) they were all seized with fear,^(X) 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.^{[c] 20} In this way the word of the Lord^(Y) spread widely and grew in power.^(Z)

²¹ After all this had happened, Paul decided^[d] to go to Jerusalem,^(AA) passing through Macedonia^(AB) and Achaia.^(AC) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”^{(AD) 22} He sent two of his helpers,^(AE) Timothy^(AF) and Erastus,^(AG) to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia^(AH) a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.^{(AI) 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.^{(AJ) 26} And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus^(AK) and in practically the whole province of Asia.^(AL) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.^{(AM) 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!”^{(AN) 29} Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius^(AO) and Aristarchus,^(AP) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,^(AQ) and all of them rushed into the theater together. ³⁰ Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples^(AR) 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.^(AS) 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^(AT) 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!”^(AU)

³⁵ The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,^(AV) 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^(AW) nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸ If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen^(AX) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.^(AY) 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^(AZ) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.^{(BA) 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^(BB) just as he was about to sail for Syria,^(BC) he decided to go back through Macedonia.^{(BD) 4} He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus^(BE) and Secundus from Thessalonica,^(BF) Gaius^(BG) from Derbe, Timothy^(BH) also, and Tychicus^(BI) and Trophimus^(BJ) from the province of Asia.^{(BK) 5} These men went on ahead and waited for us^(BL) at Troas.^{(BM) 6} But we sailed from Philippi^(BN) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,^(BO) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

⁷ On the first day of the week^(BP) we came together to break bread.^(BQ) 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^(BR) 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^(BS) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”^{(BT) 11} Then he went upstairs again and broke bread^(BU) 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.^{(BV) 16} Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus^(BW) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,^(BX) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,^(BY) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.^(BZ)

¹⁷ From Miletus,^(CA) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(CB) of the church. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,^(CC) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.^{(CD) 19} I served the Lord with great humility and with tears^(CE) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.^{(CF) 20} You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything^(CG) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews^(CH) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(CI) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(CJ)

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,^(CK) not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(CL) that prison and hardships are facing me.^{(CM) 24} However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(CN) my only aim is to finish the race^(CO) and complete the task^(CP) the Lord Jesus has given me^(CQ)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(CR)

²⁵ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom^(CS) will ever see me again.^{(CT) 26} Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^{(CU) 27} For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^{(CV) 28} Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(CW) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(CX) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[e](CY) which he bought^(CZ) with his own blood.^{[f](DA) 29} I know that after I leave, savage wolves^(DB) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.^{(DC) 30} Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples^(DD) after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(DE) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(DF)

³² “Now I commit you to God^(DG) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(DH) among all those who are sanctified.^{(DI) 33} I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(DJ) 34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(DK) 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.^{(DL) 37} They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.^{(DM) 38} What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.^(DN) Then they accompanied him to the ship.^(DO)

On to Jerusalem

21 After we^(DP) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. ² We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,^(DQ) went on board and set sail. ³ After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.^(DR) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ We sought out the disciples^(DS) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit^(DT) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵ When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.^{(DU) 6} After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

⁷ We continued our voyage from Tyre^(DV) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters^(DW) and stayed with them for a day. ⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea^(DX) and stayed at the house of Philip^(DY) the evangelist,^(DZ) one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.^(EA)

¹⁰ After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus^(EB) came down from Judea. ¹¹ Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,^(EC) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind^(ED) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”^(EE)

¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die^(EF) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”^{(EG) 14} When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up^(EH) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”^(EI)

¹⁵ After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.^{(EJ) 16} Some of the disciples from Caesarea^(EK) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus^(EL) and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

¹⁷ When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters^(EM) received us warmly.^{(EN) 18} The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,^(EO) and all the elders^(EP) were present. ¹⁹ Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles^(EQ) through his ministry.^(ER)

²⁰ When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous^(ES) for the law.^{(ET) 21} They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,^(EU) telling them not to circumcise their children^(EV) or live according to our customs.^{(EW) 22} What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, ²³ so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.^{(EX) 24} Take these men, join in their purification rites^(EY) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.^(EZ) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. ²⁵ As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”^(FA)

²⁶ The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.^(FB)

Paul Arrested

²⁷ When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,^{(FC) 28} shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”^{(FD) 29} (They had previously seen Trophimus^(FE) the Ephesian^(FF) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

³⁰ The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,^(FG) they dragged him^(FH) from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. ³¹ While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³² He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.^(FI)

³³ The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound^(FJ) with two^(FK) chains.^(FL) Then he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,^(FM) and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.^{(FN) 35} When Paul reached the steps,^(FO) the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. ³⁶ The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”^(FP)

Paul Speaks to the Crowd^(FQ)

³⁷ As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,^(FR) he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. ³⁸ “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness^(FS) some time ago?”^(FT)

³⁹ Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus^(FU) in Cilicia,^(FV) a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

⁴⁰ After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned^(FW) to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic^[g]:^(FX)