Acts 18:23-21:16

Amplified Bible

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

²³ After spending some time there, he left and traveled through the territory of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening and encouraging all the disciples.

²⁴ Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent and cultured man, and well versed in the [Hebrew] Scriptures. ²⁵ This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being spiritually impassioned, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John; ²⁶ and he began to speak boldly and fearlessly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained more accurately to him the way of God [and the full story of the life of Christ]. ²⁷ And when Apollos wanted to go across to Achaia (southern Greece), the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples, [urging them] to welcome him gladly. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who, through grace, had believed and had followed Jesus as Lord and Savior, ²⁸ for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public discussions, proving by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

Paul at Ephesus

19 It happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the upper [inland] districts and came down to Ephesus, and found some disciples. ² He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed [in Jesus as the Christ]?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he asked, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” ⁴ Paul said, “John performed a baptism of repentance, continually telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, [to confidently accept and joyfully believe] in Jesus [the Messiah and Savior].” ⁵ After hearing this, they were baptized [again, this time] in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

⁸ And he went into the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient [to the word of God], discrediting and speaking evil of ^[a]the Way (Jesus, Christianity) before the congregation, Paul left them, taking the disciples with him, and went on holding ^[b]daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus [instead of in the synagogue]. ¹⁰ This continued for two years, so that all the inhabitants of [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor], Jews as well as Greeks, heard the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].

Miracles at Ephesus

¹¹ God was doing extraordinary and unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs or face-towels or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out [of them]. ¹³ Then some of the traveling Jewish exorcists also attempted to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I implore you and solemnly command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches!” ¹⁴ Seven sons of one [named] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ But the evil spirit retorted, “I know and recognize and acknowledge Jesus, and I know about Paul, but as for you, who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued ^[c]all of them and overpowered them, so that they ran out of that house [in terror, stripped] naked and wounded. ¹⁷ This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified and exalted. ¹⁸ Many of those who had become believers were coming, confessing and disclosing their [former sinful] practices. ¹⁹ And many of those who had practiced magical arts collected their books and [throwing book after book on the pile] began burning them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it to be ^[d]50,000 pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] was growing greatly and prevailing.

²¹ Now after these events, Paul determined in the Spirit that he would travel through ^[e]Macedonia and Achaia (most of the Greek mainland), and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome [and preach the good news of salvation].” ²² And after sending two of his assistants, Timothy and ^[f]Erastus, to Macedonia [ahead of him], he stayed on in [the west coast province of] Asia [Minor] for a while.

²³ About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way (Jesus, Christianity). ²⁴ Now a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of [the goddess] Artemis (Diana), was bringing no small profit to the craftsmen. ²⁵ These [craftsmen] he called together, along with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you are well aware that we make a good living from this business. ²⁶ You see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but almost all over [the province of] Asia, this Paul has persuaded [people to believe his teaching] and has misled a large number of people, claiming that gods made by [human] hands are not really gods at all. ²⁷ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will be discredited, but also that the [magnificent] ^[g]temple of the great goddess ^[h]Artemis will be discredited, and that she whom all Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned and lose her glorious magnificence.”

²⁸ When they heard this, they were filled with rage, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ Then the city was filled with confusion; and people rushed together [as a group] into the amphitheater, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. ³⁰ Paul wanted to go into the [pagan] assembly, but the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Even some of the Asiarchs (officials) who were his friends sent word to him and repeatedly warned him not to venture into the amphitheater. ³² Now some shouted one thing and some another, for the gathering was in confusion and most of the people did not know ^[i]why they had come together. ³³ Some of the crowd advised Alexander [to speak], since the Jews had pushed him forward; and Alexander motioned with his hand [for attention] and intended to make a defense to the people. ³⁴ But when they realized that he was a Jew, a single outcry went up from the crowd as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ³⁵ After the town ^[j]clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of that [^[k]sacred stone image of her] which fell from the sky? ³⁶ So, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and stay calm and not do anything rash. ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. ³⁸ So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another there. ³⁹ But if you want anything beyond this, it will be settled in the lawful assembly. ⁴⁰ For we are running the risk of being accused of rioting in regard to today’s events, and since there is no reason for it, we will be unable to give an account and justify this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹ And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

20 After the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had encouraged them he told them goodbye, and set off to go to ^[l]Macedonia. ² After he had gone through those districts and had encouraged the believers, he came to Greece. ³ And he stayed three months, and when a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia (northern Greece). ⁴ He was accompanied by Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus, and by Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and by Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus of Asia. ⁵ These men went on ahead and were waiting for us (including Luke) at Troas. ⁶ We sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread (Passover week), and within five days we reached them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days.

⁷ Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread (share communion), Paul began talking with them, intending to leave the next day; and he kept on with his message until midnight. ⁸ Now there were many lamps in the upper room where we were assembled, ⁹ and there was a young man named Eutychus (“Lucky”) sitting on the window sill. He was sinking into a deep sleep, and as Paul ^[m]kept on talking longer and longer, he was completely overcome by sleep and fell down from the third story; and he was picked up dead. ¹⁰ But Paul went down and threw himself on him and embraced him, and said [to those standing around him], “Do not be troubled, because ^[n]he is alive.” ¹¹ When Paul had gone back upstairs and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked [informally and confidentially] with them for a long time—until daybreak [in fact]—and then he left. ¹² They took the boy [Eutychus] home alive, and were greatly comforted and encouraged.

Troas to Miletus

¹³ But we went on ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for that was what he had arranged, intending himself to go [a shorter route] by land. ¹⁴ So when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and sailed on to Mitylene. ¹⁵ Sailing from there, we arrived the next day [at a point] opposite Chios; the following day we crossed over to Samos, and the next day we arrived at Miletus [about 30 miles south of Ephesus]. ¹⁶ Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus so that he would not end up spending time [unnecessarily] in [the province of] Asia (modern Turkey); for he was in a hurry to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of ^[o]Pentecost.

Farewell to Ephesus

¹⁷ However, from Miletus he sent word to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church [to meet him there]. ¹⁸ And when they arrived he said to them:

“You know well how I [lived when I] was with you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia [until now], ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and trials which came on me because of the plots of the Jews [against me]; ²⁰ [you know] how I did not shrink back in fear from telling you anything that was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public meetings, and from house to house, ²¹ solemnly [and wholeheartedly] testifying to both Jews and Greeks, urging them to turn in repentance to God and [to have] faith in our Lord Jesus Christ [for salvation]. ²² And now, compelled by the Spirit and obligated by my convictions, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit solemnly [and emphatically] affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. ²⁴ But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].

²⁵ “And now, listen carefully: I know that none of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, ^[p]will see me again. ²⁶ For that reason I testify to you on this [our parting] day that I am innocent of the blood of all people. ²⁷ For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose and plan of God. ²⁸ Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood. ²⁹ I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ even from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse and distorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves [as their followers]. ³¹ Therefore be continually alert, remembering that for three years, night or day, I did not stop admonishing and advising each one [of you] with tears. ³² And now I commend you to God [placing you in His protective, loving care] and [I commend you] to the word of His grace [the counsel and promises of His unmerited favor]. His grace is able to build you up and to give you the [rightful] inheritance among all those who are sanctified [that is, among those who are set apart for God’s purpose—all believers]. ³³ I had no desire for anyone’s silver or gold or [expensive] clothes. ³⁴ You know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs [working in manual labor] and to [those of] the people who were with me. ³⁵ In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’”

³⁶ When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷ And ^[q]they began to weep openly and threw their arms around Paul’s neck, and repeatedly kissed him, ³⁸ grieving and distressed especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see him again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Paul Sails from Miletus

21 When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we ran a straight course and came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara; ² and after finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. ³ After we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on our left (port side), we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. ⁴ After looking up the disciples [in Tyre], we stayed there [with them] seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the [Holy] Spirit ^[r]not to set foot in Jerusalem. ⁵ When our days there came to an end, we left and proceeded on our journey, while all of the disciples, with their wives and children, escorted us on our way until we were outside the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we told one another goodbye. ⁶ Then we boarded the ship, and they returned to their homes.

⁷ When we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we landed [twenty miles to the south] at Ptolemais, and after greeting the ^[s]believers, we stayed with them for one day. ⁸ On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven [deacons], and stayed with him.^{(A) 9} He had four virgin daughters who had the gift of prophecy. ¹⁰ As we were staying there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ And coming to [see] us, he took Paul’s [wide] ^[t]band (belt, sash) and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this same way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this band, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles (pagans).’” ¹² Now when we had heard this, both we and the local residents began pleading with Paul trying to persuade him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart [like this]? For I am ready not only to be bound and imprisoned, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ And since he would not be dissuaded, we stopped pleading and fell silent, saying, “The Lord’s will be done!”

Paul at Jerusalem

¹⁵ After this we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to [the house of] Mnason, a man from Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.