The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

and the evil spirit, answering, said, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with; and ye — who are ye?'

And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaping upon them, and having overcome them, prevailed against them, so that naked and wounded they did flee out of that house,

and this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who are dwelling at Ephesus, and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified,

many also of those who did believe were coming, confessing and declaring their acts,

and many of those who had practised the curious arts, having brought the books together, were burning [them] before all; and they reckoned together the prices of them, and found [it] five myriads of silverlings;

so powerfully was the word of God increasing and prevailing.

And when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in the Spirit, having gone through Macedonia and Achaia, to go on to Jerusalem, saying — 'After my being there, it behoveth me also to see Rome;'

and having sent to Macedonia two of those ministering to him — Timotheus and Erastus — he himself stayed a time in Asia.

And there came, at that time, not a little stir about the way,

for a certain one, Demetrius by name, a worker in silver, making silver sanctuaries of Artemis, was bringing to the artificers gain not a little,

whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who did work about such things, he said, 'Men, ye know that by this work we have our wealth;

and ye see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost in all Asia, this Paul, having persuaded, did turn away a great multitude, saying, that they are not gods who are made by hands;

and not only is this department in danger for us of coming into disregard, but also, that of the great goddess Artemis the temple is to be reckoned for nothing, and also her greatness is about to be brought down, whom all Asia and the world doth worship.'

And they having heard, and having become full of wrath, were crying out, saying, 'Great [is] the Artemis of the Ephesians!'

and the whole city was filled with confusion, they rushed also with one accord into the theatre, having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's fellow-travellers.

And on Paul's purposing to enter in unto the populace, the disciples were not suffering him,

and certain also of the chief men of Asia, being his friends, having sent unto him, were entreating him not to venture himself into the theatre.

Some indeed, therefore, were calling out one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the greater part did not know for what they were come together;

and out of the multitude they put forward Alexander — the Jews thrusting him forward — and Alexander having beckoned with the hand, wished to make defence to the populace,

and having known that he is a Jew, one voice came out of all, for about two hours, crying, 'Great [is] the Artemis of the Ephesians!'

And the public clerk having quieted the multitude, saith, 'Men, Ephesians, why, who is the man that doth not know that the city of the Ephesians is a devotee of the great goddess Artemis, and of that which fell down from Zeus?

these things, then, not being to be gainsaid, it is necessary for you to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

'For ye brought these men, who are neither temple-robbers nor speaking evil of your goddess;

if indeed, therefore, Demetrius and the artificers with him with any one have a matter, court [days] are held, and there are proconsuls; let them accuse one another.

'And if ye seek after anything concerning other matters, in the legal assembly it shall be determined;

for we are also in peril of being accused of insurrection in regard to this day, there being no occasion by which we shall be able to give an account of this concourse;'

and these things having said, he dismissed the assembly.

And after the ceasing of the tumult, Paul having called near the disciples, and having embraced [them], went forth to go on to Macedonia;

and having gone through those parts, and having exhorted them with many words, he came to Greece;

having made also three months' [stay] — a counsel of the Jews having been against him — being about to set forth to Syria, there came [to him] a resolution of returning through Macedonia.

And there were accompanying him unto Asia, Sopater of Berea, and of Thessalonians Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus, and of Asiatics Tychicus and Trophimus;

these, having gone before, did remain for us in Troas,

and we sailed, after the days of the unleavened food, from Philippi, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days.

And on the first of the week, the disciples having been gathered together to break bread, Paul was discoursing to them, about to depart on the morrow, he was also continuing the discourse till midnight,

and there were many lamps in the upper chamber where they were gathered together,

and there was sitting a certain youth, by name Eutychus, upon the window — being borne down by a deep sleep, Paul discoursing long — he having sunk down from the sleep, fell down from the third story, and was lifted up dead.

And Paul, having gone down, fell upon him, and having embraced [him], said, 'Make no tumult, for his life is in him;'

and having come up, and having broken bread, and having tasted, for a long time also having talked — till daylight, so he went forth,

and they brought up the lad alive, and were comforted in no ordinary measure.

And we having gone before unto the ship, did sail to Assos, thence intending to take in Paul, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go on foot;

and when he met with us at Assos, having taken him up, we came to Mitylene,

and thence having sailed, on the morrow we came over-against Chios, and the next day we arrived at Samos, and having remained in Trogyllium, on the following day we came to Miletus,

for Paul decided to sail past Ephesus, that there may not be to him a loss of time in Asia, for he hasted, if it were possible for him, on the day of the Pentecost to be at Jerusalem.

And from Miletus, having sent to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the assembly,

and when they were come unto him, he said to them, 'Ye — ye know from the first day in which I came to Asia, how, with you at all times I was;

serving the Lord with all humility, and many tears, and temptations, that befell me in the counsels of the Jews against [me];

how nothing I did keep back of what things are profitable, not to declare to you, and to teach you publicly, and in every house,

testifying fully both to Jews and Greeks, toward God reformation, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

'And now, lo, I — bound in the Spirit — go on to Jerusalem, the things that shall befall me in it not knowing,

save that the Holy Spirit in every city doth testify fully, saying, that for me bonds and tribulations remain;

but I make account of none of these, neither do I count my life precious to myself, so that I finish my course with joy, and the ministration that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify fully the good news of the grace of God.

'And now, lo, I have known that no more shall ye see my face, — ye all among whom I did go preaching the reign of God;

wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I [am] clear from the blood of all,

for I did not keep back from declaring to you all the counsel of God.

'Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the assembly of God that He acquired through His own blood,

for I have known this, that there shall enter in, after my departing, grievous wolves unto you, not sparing the flock,

and of your own selves there shall arise men, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

'Therefore, watch, remembering that three years, night and day, I did not cease with tears warning each one;

and now, I commend you, brethren, to God, and to the word of His grace, that is able to build up, and to give you an inheritance among all those sanctified.

'The silver or gold or garments of no one did I covet;

and ye yourselves know that to my necessities, and to those who were with me, minister did these hands;

all things I did shew you, that, thus labouring, it behoveth [us] to partake with the ailing, to be mindful also of the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

And these things having said, having bowed his knees, with them all, he did pray,

and there came a great weeping to all, and having fallen upon the neck of Paul, they were kissing him,

sorrowing most of all for the word that he had said — that they are about no more to see his face; and they were accompanying him to the ship.

And it came to pass, at our sailing, having been parted from them, having run direct, we came to Coos, and the succeeding [day] to Rhodes, and thence to Patara,

and having found a ship passing over to Phenicia, having gone on board, we sailed,

and having discovered Cyprus, and having left it on the left, we were sailing to Syria, and did land at Tyre, for there was the ship discharging the lading.

And having found out the disciples, we tarried there seven days, and they said to Paul, through the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem;

but when it came that we completed the days, having gone forth, we went on, all bringing us on the way, with women and children, unto the outside of the city, and having bowed the knees upon the shore, we prayed,

and having embraced one another, we embarked in the ship, and they returned to their own friends.

And we, having finished the course, from Tyre came down to Ptolemais, and having saluted the brethren, we remained one day with them;

and on the morrow Paul and his company having gone forth, we came to Caesarea, and having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist — who is of the seven — we remained with him,

and this one had four daughters, virgins, prophesying.

And we remaining many more days, there came down a certain one from Judea, a prophet, by name Agabus,

and he having come unto us, and having taken up the girdle of Paul, having bound also his own hands and feet, said, 'Thus saith the Holy Spirit, The man whose is this girdle — so shall the Jews in Jerusalem bind, and they shall deliver [him] up to the hands of nations.'

And when we heard these things, we called upon [him] — both we, and those of that place — not to go up to Jerusalem,

and Paul answered, 'What do ye — weeping, and crushing mine heart? for I, not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem, am ready, for the name of the Lord Jesus;'

and he not being persuaded, we were silent, saying, 'The will of the Lord be done.'

And after these days, having taken [our] vessels, we were going up to Jerusalem,

and there went also of the disciples from Caesarea with us, bringing with them him with whom we may lodge, a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an aged disciple.

And we having come to Jerusalem, the brethren did gladly receive us,

and on the morrow Paul was going in with us unto James, all the elders also came,

and having saluted them, he was declaring, one by one, each of the things God did among the nations through his ministration,

and they having heard, were glorifying the Lord. They said also to him, 'Thou seest, brother, how many myriads there are of Jews who have believed, and all are zealous of the law,

and they are instructed concerning thee, that apostasy from Moses thou dost teach to all Jews among the nations, saying — Not to circumcise the children, nor after the customs to walk;

what then is it? certainly the multitude it behoveth to come together, for they will hear that thou hast come.

'This, therefore, do that we say to thee: We have four men having a vow on themselves,

these having taken, be purified with them, and be at expence with them, that they may shave the head, and all may know that the things of which they have been instructed concerning thee are nothing, but thou dost walk — thyself also — the law keeping.

'And concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have written, having given judgment, that they observe no such thing, except to keep themselves both from idol-sacrifices, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom.'

Then Paul, having taken the men, on the following day, with them having purified himself, was entering into the temple, announcing the fulfilment of the days of the purification, till the offering was offered for each one of them.

And, as the seven days were about to be fully ended, the Jews from Asia having beheld him in the temple, were stirring up all the multitude, and they laid hands upon him,

crying out, 'Men, Israelites, help! this is the man who, against the people, and the law, and this place, all everywhere is teaching; and further, also, Greeks he brought into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place;'

for they had seen before Trophimus, the Ephesian, in the city with him, whom they were supposing that Paul brought into the temple.

All the city also was moved and there was a running together of the people, and having laid hold on Paul, they were drawing him out of the temple, and immediately were the doors shut,

and they seeking to kill him, a rumour came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem hath been thrown into confusion,

who, at once, having taken soldiers and centurions, ran down upon them, and they having seen the chief captain and the soldiers, did leave off beating Paul.

Then the chief captain, having come nigh, took him, and commanded [him] to be bound with two chains, and was inquiring who he may be, and what it is he hath been doing,

and some were crying out one thing, and some another, among the multitude, and not being able to know the certainty because of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried to the castle,

and when he came upon the steps, it happened he was borne by the soldiers, because of the violence of the multitude,