Acts 18:9-19:13

New International Version

⁹ One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:^(A) “Do not be afraid;^(B) keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you,^(C) and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.^(D)

¹² While Gallio was proconsul^(E) of Achaia,^(F) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. ¹³ “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. ¹⁵ But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law^(G)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” ¹⁶ So he drove them off. ¹⁷ Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes^(H) the synagogue leader^(I) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

¹⁸ Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters^(J) and sailed for Syria,^(K) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.^(L) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae^(M) because of a vow he had taken.^{(N) 19} They arrived at Ephesus,^(O) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”^(P) Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²² When he landed at Caesarea,^(Q) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.^(R)

²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia^(S) and Phrygia,^(T) strengthening all the disciples.^(U)

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,^(V) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.^(W) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor^[a](X) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.^{(Y) 26} He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila^(Z) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,^(AA) the brothers and sisters^(AB) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures^(AC) that Jesus was the Messiah.^(AD)

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos^(AE) was at Corinth,^(AF) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.^(AG) There he found some disciples ² and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit^(AH) when^[b] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

³ So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism^(AI) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”^{(AJ) 5} On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.^{(AK) 6} When Paul placed his hands on them,^(AL) the Holy Spirit came on them,^(AM) and they spoke in tongues^[c](AN) and prophesied. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

⁸ Paul entered the synagogue^(AO) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.^{(AP) 9} But some of them^(AQ) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.^(AR) So Paul left them. He took the disciples^(AS) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years,^(AT) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia^(AU) heard the word of the Lord.^(AV)

¹¹ God did extraordinary miracles^(AW) through Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured^(AX) and the evil spirits left them.

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits^(AY) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus^(AZ) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.”