⁹ But some of them^(A) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.^(B) So Paul left them. He took the disciples^(C) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

The Riot in Ephesus

²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.^(A)

² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus,^(A) so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way,^(B) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

⁴ The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.^(A)

⁶ But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,^(A) he shook out his clothes in protest^(B) and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!^(C) I am innocent of it.^(D) From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”^(E)

⁷ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.^{(F) 8} Crispus,^(G) the synagogue leader,^(H) and his entire household^(I) believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying^(A) and heaped abuse^(B) on him.

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first.^(C) Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.^(D)

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people!^(A) Your hearts^(B) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

¹⁰ Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.^(A)

¹² But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.^(A)