Paul

18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

Paul stayed in Corinth a good while longer. Then he said goodbye to the believers there. In the town of Cenchrea he had his head shaved, because he had made a promise to God. Then he sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila went with him.

19And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

They came to the city of Ephesus, and Paul left them there. He himself went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews.

20When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

They asked him to stay with them longer. But he said no.

21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

He said goodbye to them. He told them, "I must go to Jerusalem for this feast. But I will come back to you if God wants me to." Then he sailed away from Ephesus.

22And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

His ship landed at Caesarea. He went up and greeted the church there. Then he went down to the city of Antioch.

23And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

He spent some time in Antioch. Then he left and traveled through the lands of Galatia and Phrygia. He went from place to place, helping all the followers of Jesus grow strong.

1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Apollos was in the city of Corinth at this time. Paul traveled through the hill country. He came to the city of Ephesus. There he found some followers of Jesus.

2He 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.

Paul asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said, "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" Baptism means being dipped in water to show a fresh start. They said, "The baptism John taught."

4Then 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.

Paul said, "John baptized people who were turning away from wrong. He told them to believe in the one coming after him. That one is Jesus."

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Paul put his hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them. They spoke in other languages. They also spoke messages from God.

7And all the men were about twelve.

There were about twelve men in all.

8And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Paul went into the synagogue, the Jewish meeting place. For three months he spoke there bravely. He gave reasons about God's kingdom to win people over.

9But 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.

But some men grew stubborn and would not believe. In front of the crowd they said bad things about the Way, which is what the followers of Jesus were called. So Paul left them and took the followers with him. Every day he talked with them in the lecture hall of a man named Tyrannus.

10And 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.

This went on for two years. So everyone living in the province of Asia heard the message about the Lord Jesus. Both Jews and Greeks heard it.

11And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

God did amazing miracles through Paul's hands.

12So 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.

People took cloths and aprons that had touched Paul to sick people. Their sicknesses went away. Evil spirits came out of them too.

13Then 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.

Some Jewish men traveled around trying to drive evil spirits out of people. They tried using the name of the Lord Jesus. They said, "I command you to come out, by Jesus, the one Paul preaches about."

14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

Seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva were doing this.

15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

One evil spirit answered them, "I know Jesus. I know about Paul. But who are you?"

16And 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.

Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them. He was too strong for them and beat them. They ran out of that house with no clothes on and hurt.

17And 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.

All the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about this. Fear came over all of them. And they gave great honor to the name of the Lord Jesus.

18And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Many people who had believed came and told out loud the wrong things they had done.

19Many 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.

Many who had done magic brought their magic books together. They burned them in front of everyone. They added up what the books were worth. It came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

In this way the word of God kept spreading and growing strong.

21After 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.

After all this, Paul made up his mind what to do next. He would travel through Macedonia and Achaia and then go to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have been there, I must see Rome too."

22So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia. Paul himself stayed in Asia a while longer.

23And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

About that same time, big trouble started over the Way.

24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

A man named Demetrius worked with silver. He made little silver models of the temple of the goddess Diana. His work brought in a lot of money for the other silver workers.

25Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

He called those workers together, along with others in the same kind of trade. He said, "Men, you know this work is how we make our money."

26Moreover 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:

"You can see and hear what is happening. This man Paul has talked many people into changing. He says gods made by human hands are not gods at all. He has done this here in Ephesus and almost all over Asia."

27So 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.

"So our trade may lose its good name. Worse, people may stop caring about the temple of the great goddess Diana. She may lose her greatness, even though all Asia and the whole world worship her."

28And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

When the men heard this, they became very angry. They shouted, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

29And 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.

Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, two men from Macedonia who traveled with Paul. Then they all rushed into the theater together.

30And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

Paul wanted to go in and speak to the crowd. But the followers would not let him.

31And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

Some important leaders of Asia were Paul's friends. They sent him a message. They begged him not to risk going into the theater.

32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

Some people shouted one thing and some another. The whole crowd was mixed up. Most of them did not even know why they had come.

33And 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.

The Jews pushed a man named Alexander to the front of the crowd. He waved his hand for quiet. He wanted to explain things to the people.

34But 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.

But then they saw that he was a Jew. So they all shouted together for about two hours. They kept saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

35And 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?

At last the city clerk, the town's chief officer, quieted the crowd. He said, "Men of Ephesus, everyone knows our city guards the temple of the great goddess Diana. Everyone knows we guard her image that fell from the sky."

36Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

"No one can say these things are untrue. So you should stay calm. Do not do anything foolish."

37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

"You brought these men here. But they have not robbed our temple. They have not said bad things about our goddess."

38Wherefore 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.

"If Demetrius and his workers have a complaint, the courts are open. There are judges to hear it. Let them take each other to court."

39But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

"If you want to ask about anything else, it must be settled in a proper meeting."

40For 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.

"We could be blamed for the riot today. We have no good reason to give for this noisy crowd."

41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

After he said this, he sent the crowd home.

1And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

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2And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

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3And 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.

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4And 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.

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5These going before tarried for us at Troas.

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6And 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.

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7And 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.

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8And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

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9And 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.

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10And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

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11When 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.

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12And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

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17And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

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18And 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,

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19Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

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20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

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21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

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22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

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23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

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24But 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.

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25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

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26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

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27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

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28Take 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.

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29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

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30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

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31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

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32And 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.

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33I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

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34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

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35I 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.

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36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

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37And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,

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38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

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1And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:

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2And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

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3Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

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4And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

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5And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

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6And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

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7And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

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8And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

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9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

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10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

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11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

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12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

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13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

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14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

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15And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.

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16There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

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17And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

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18And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

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19And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

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20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

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21And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

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22What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

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23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;

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24Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

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25As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

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26Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

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