1 And it came to
pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed
through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain
disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye
believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard
whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And
they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance,
saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which
should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost
came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space
of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning
the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake
evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them,
and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of
one Tyrannus.
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all
they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both
Jews and Greeks.
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs
or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil
spirits went out of them.
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them
to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord
Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief
of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and
Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and
overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled
out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling
at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord
Jesus was magnified.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their
deeds.
19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books
together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the
price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit,
when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem,
saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto
him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for
a season.
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made
silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation,
and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but
almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned
away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made
with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at
nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana
should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed,
whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath,
and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having
caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions
in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the
disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends,
sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself
into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the
assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore
they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting
him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would
have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice
about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the
Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said,
Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that
the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess
Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye
ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers
of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with
him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there
are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it
shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's
uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account
of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
Chapter 20
1 And after the
uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced
them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them
much exhortation, he came into Greece,
3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait
for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to
return through Macedonia.
4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and
of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of
Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.
6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened
bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode
seven days.
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came
together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart
on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they
were gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus,
being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching,
he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft,
and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said,
Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.
11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread,
and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day,
so he departed.
12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little
comforted.
13 And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there
intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding
himself to go afoot.
14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came
to Mitylene.
15 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against
Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at
Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would
not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible
for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders
of the church.
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know,
from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner
I have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many
tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait
of the Jews:
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you,
but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from
house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance
toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem,
not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying
that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life
dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,
and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to
testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone
preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from
the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel
of God.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three
years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word
of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you
an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered
unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought
to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed
with them all.
37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed
him,
38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that
they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto
the ship. |