Paul in Ephesus.

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive THE HOLY SPIRIT when you became believers?" They replied, "No. We have not even heard that there is a HOLY SPIRIT." He asked, "Then how were you baptized?" They answered, "With the baptism of John."

       Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in THE ONE who was to come after him, that is, JESUS." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of THE LORD JESUS. When Paul had laid his hands on them, THE HOLY SPIRIT came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve of them in all.

       He then entered the synagogue, and during the next three months he spoke out fearlessly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of GOD. But some remained stubborn in their disbelief and began to malign the Way publicly. So he withdrew from them, taking the disciples with him, and began to hold daily discussions in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, with the result that all the residents of the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of THE LORD.

ACTS: CHAPTER 19, VERSES 1 - 10

New Encounter of the Church with Magic.

       So extraordinary were the wonders GOD worked through Paul that when handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, they were cured of their diseases and the evil spirits came out of them.

       Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists used the name of THE LORD JESUS over those possessed by evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the JESUS whom Paul proclaims." Seven sons of a Jewish leading priest named Sceva were among those who were doing this. But the evil spirit responded, "JESUS I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" Then the man with the evil spirit sprang at them, overpowered them, and prevailed over them so violently that they fled out of the house battered and naked.

       When this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck, and the name of THE LORD JESUS came to be held in ever increasing honor. Moreover, many of those who had become believers came forward and openly confessed their deeds, while a great number of those who practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly. When the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver pieces. In such ways did the word of THE LORD spread ever more widely and successfully.

ACTS: CHAPTER 19, VERSES 11 - 20

Paul's Future Plans.

       After all this had been accomplished, Paul decided in the Spirit to visit Macedonia and Achaia and then return to Jerusalem. "And after I have been there," he said, "I must also visit Rome." Then he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed a while longer in the province of Asia.

ACTS: CHAPTER 19, VERSES 21 & 22

The Riot of the Silversmiths.

       About that time, a serious disturbance broke out concerning the Way. A man named Demetrius was a silversmith who crafted silver shrines of Artemis that provided considerable employment for the craftsmen. He called a meeting of these craftsmen and of those in similar trades, and addressed them: "As you men know, our prosperity depends upon this business. And as you can now see and hear, not only in Ephesus but also throughout most of the province of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people by insisting that gods fashioned by human hands are not gods.

       "Therefore, we are facing a dangerous situation. Not only may our business be discredited, but it could also happen that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will become an object of scorn, and that she who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the entire world will be deprived of her greatness."

       When they heard this, they became enraged and began to shout, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" The entire city was in an uproar, and the people all rushed to the theater, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions. Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not permit him to do so. Even some officials of the province of Asia who were friendly to him sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theater.

       Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in an uproar, and most of the people had no idea why they had all come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. Then Alexander motioned for silence and tried to offer some type of defense. However, as soon as the crowd recognized him to be a Jew, all of them shouted in unison for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

       Finally, the town clerk quieted the crowd and said, "Citizens of Ephesus, is there anyone who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her statue that descended from heaven? Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to remain calm and do nothing rash. These men whom you have brought here are not temple robbers, nor have they uttered any blasphemy against our goddess.

       "Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow artisans have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges there against one another. If there are further charges to present, let these be settled in the lawful assembly. As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting today. There is no reason for it, and we will be unable to offer any justification for this commotion." When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

ACTS: CHAPTER 19, VERSES 23 - 41

Journey to Macedonia and Greece.

When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he embraced them and set out on his journey to Macedonia. As he traveled through those areas, he gave the believers much encouragement. Then he arrived in Greece, where he stayed for three months.

ACTS: CHAPTER 20, VERSES 1 - 3

Return to Troas.

       He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot against him was devised by the Jews, and so he decided to return by way of Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas. We sailed from Philippi after the feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

ACTS: CHAPTER 20, VERSES 3 - 6

Paul Raises Eutychus to Life.

       On the first day of the week, when we gathered for the breaking of the bread, Paul spoke to the people, and because he was going to leave on the next day, he continued speaking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled, and a young man named Eutychus, who was sitting on the window ledge, became ever more drowsy as Paul talked on and on. Finally, overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below, and when they picked him up, he was dead.

       Paul went down, threw himself upon him, and took him in his arms. "Do not be alarmed," he said. "He is still alive." Then he went back upstairs and broke bread and ate. He went on to converse with them until dawn, at which time he left. Meanwhile, they had taken the boy home, greatly relieved that he was alive.

ACTS: CHAPTER 20, VERSES 7 - 12

Journey to Miletus.

       We went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, where we were to take Paul aboard, since he intended to continue his journey by land. When he met us in Assos, we took him aboard and went to Mitylene.

       We sailed from there, and on the following day we reached a point opposite Chios. A day later, we reached Samos; and the day after that, we came to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus in order to avoid spending time in the province of Asia. He was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

ACTS: CHAPTER 20, VERSES 13 - 16

Paul's Farewell Speech at Miletus.

       From Miletus, he sent a message to Ephesus, summoning the elders of the Church. When they came to him, he addressed them as follows:
       "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in the province of Asia. I served THE LORD with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that befell me as a result of the intrigues of the Jews. I did not hesitate to tell you what was for your benefit as I proclaimed the word to you and taught you publicly as well as from house to house. I have attested to Jews and Gentiles alike about repentance before GOD and faith in our LORD JESUS.
       "And now, compelled by THE SPIRIT, I am on my way to Jerusalem without knowing what will happen to me there, except that in every city THE HOLY SPIRIT warns me that I will face imprisonment and hardships. As for me, I do not regard my life as of any value, only that I finish the race and complete the mission that I received from THE LORD JESUS--to bear witness to the gospel of GOD's grace.
       "I have gone among you proclaiming the kingdom, but now I realize that none of you will ever see my face again. Therefore, I solemnly declare to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of GOD. Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock of which THE HOLY SPIRIT has made you overseers, and be shepherds of the Church of GOD that HE purchased with the price of HIS own blood.
       "I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own ranks men will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. Therefore, be on your guard. Remember that for three years I never ceased night and day to warn every one of you with tears.
       "And now I commend you to GOD and to the word of HIS grace that is able to build you up and give you your inheritance among all who are sanctified. I have never coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You are aware that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions. In all this, I have shown you that by such hard work we must help the weak, keeping in mind the words of THE LORD JESUS who HIMSELF said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
       When he had finished speaking, he knelt down and prayed with them. They were all weeping loudly as they embraced Paul and kissed him, for they were deeply distressed at his words that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.


ACTS: CHAPTER 20, VERSES 17 - 38

Arrival at Tyre.

When we had finally torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we traveled directly to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. There, we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, so we went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus, we passed by it on our left and sailed to Syria, landing at Tyre where the ship was to unload her cargo.

       We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them for seven days. Through THE SPIRIT, they advised Paul to abandon his plans to move on to Jerusalem. However, when our time with them was ended, we left and continued on our journey. All of them, including women and children, escorted us outside the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and then bid farewell to one another. Afterward, we boarded the ship and they returned home.

ACTS: CHAPTER 21, VERSES 1 - 6