The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 32

AND pa.s.sing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was the synagogue of the Jews. (2)And Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (3)opening them, and setting forth that the Christ must suffer, and rise again from the dead; and that this is the Christ, Jesus whom I preach to you. (4)And some of them believed, and joined themselves to[17:4] Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great mult.i.tude, and of the chief women not a few.

(5)But the Jews, moved with envy[17:5], having taken to them, of the idlers in the market-place, certain vicious men, and having gathered a crowd, set the city in an uproar; and a.s.saulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them unto the people. (6)And not finding them, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying: These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. (7)Whom Jason has received; and all these are acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.

(8)And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. (9)And having taken security of Jason, and of the others, they let them go.

(10)And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Beroea; who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

(11)These were more n.o.ble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so.

(12)Many of them therefore believed; and of honorable Grecian women and men, not a few. (13)But when the Jews of Thessalonica knew that also at Beroea the word of G.o.d was preached by Paul, they came, stirring up the people there also. (14)And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to journey as upon the sea; but Silas and Timothy abode there still. (15)And they who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and having received a command to Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

(16)Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city full of idols. (17)Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the market daily with those who met with him. (18)And certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, were disputing with him. And some said: What would this babbler say? and others: He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign G.o.ds; because he made known to them the good news of Jesus and the resurrection. (19)And taking hold of him, they brought him upon Mars' Hill, saying: May we know what this new doctrine is, of which thou speakest? (20)For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears; we would know therefore what these things mean. (21)Now all Athenians, and the strangers residing there, spent their leisure for nothing else, but to tell or to hear something new.

(22)And Paul, standing in the midst of Mars' Hill, said: Men of Athens, in all things I perceive that ye are very devout. (23)For as I pa.s.sed by, and observed your objects of wors.h.i.+p, I found also an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN G.o.d. Whom therefore, not knowing, ye wors.h.i.+p, him I announce to you. (24)The G.o.d who made the world and all things therein, he being Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; (25)nor is ministered to by human hands, as if needing anything more, himself giving to all life, and breath, and all things. (26)And he made of one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having fixed the appointed seasons and bounds of their habitation; (27)that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, although he is not far from every one of us; (28)for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as also some of your own poets have said: For his offspring also are we. (29)Being therefore G.o.d's offspring, we ought not to think that the G.o.dhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. (30)The times of ignorance therefore G.o.d overlooked; but now, commands all men everywhere to repent.

(31)Because he fixed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by the man whom he appointed, having given a.s.surance to all by raising him from the dead.

(32)And when they heard of a resurrection of the dead, some mocked; and others said: We will hear thee again of this matter. (33)And thus Paul departed from among them.

(34)But certain ones, joining themselves to him, believed; among whom was also Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

XVIII.

AFTER these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.

(2)And finding a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, lately come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome), he came to them; (3)and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and labored; for by their occupation they were tentmakers. (4)And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

(5)And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed with the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. (6)But they opposing themselves and blaspheming, he shook out his garments and said to them: Your blood be upon your own head; I am clean; from henceforth I will go to the Gentiles.

(7)And departing thence he entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one who wors.h.i.+ped G.o.d, whose house was adjoining the synagogue. (8)And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were immersed.

(9)And the Lord said to Paul, through a vision in the night: Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; (10)for I am with thee, and no one shall a.s.sail thee to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city. (11)And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of G.o.d among them.

(12)And when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one accord against Paul, and brought him before the judgment-seat, (13)saying: This man persuades men to wors.h.i.+p G.o.d contrary to the law.

(14)And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: If it were some injustice, or wicked misdeed, O Jews, with reason I would have borne with you. (15)But if it is a question about a word, and names, and your own law look to it yourselves; I will not be a judge of these things (16)And he drove them away from the judgment-seat.

(17)But having all seized upon Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, they beat him before the judgment-seat. And Gallio cared for none of these things.

(18)And Paul having remained yet many days, took leave of the brethren, and sailed thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shaven his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow. (19)And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there but entering himself into the synagogue, he reasoned with the Jews. (20)And they desiring him to remain a longer time with them, he consented not; (21)but took leave of them, saying: [18:21][I must by all means keep the coming feast at Jerusalem; but] I will return again to you, if G.o.d will. And he sailed from Ephesus. (22)And having landed at Caesarea, and gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. (23)And after he had spent some time there, he departed, going through the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

(24)And a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. (25)This man was instructed in the way of the Lord and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught correctly the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the immersion of John. (26)And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But Aquila and Priscilla, having heard him, took him to them, and expounded to him the way of G.o.d more perfectly. (27)And he wis.h.i.+ng to pa.s.s through into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; who, when he was come, contributed much to those who had believed through grace. (28)For he powerfully confuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

XIX.

AND it came to pa.s.s, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having pa.s.sed through the upper districts came to Ephesus. And finding certain disciples, (2)he said to them: Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said to him: Nay, we did not even hear whether there is a Holy Spirit. (3)And he said to them: Unto what then were ye immersed? And they said: Unto John's immersion. (4)Then said Paul: John indeed immersed with the immersion of repentance; saying to the people, that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, on Jesus. (5)And when they heard this, they were immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6)And Paul having laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. (7)And all the men were about twelve.

(8)And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them of the things concerning the kingdom of G.o.d. (9)But when some were hardened, and believed not, speaking evil of the Way before the mult.i.tude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. (10)And this continued for two years; so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (11)And G.o.d wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; (12)so that also there were carried from his body to the sick, handkerchiefs or ap.r.o.ns, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out from them.

(13)Then some of the wandering Jewish exorcists took upon them to name, over those who had the evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying: I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches. (14)And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.

(15)And the evil spirit answering said: Jesus I know, and Paul I well know; but who are ye? (16)And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against both, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (17)And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

(18)And many of the believers came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. (19)Many of those also who practiced curious arts brought together the books, and burned them before all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. (20)So mightily grew the word of G.o.d and prevailed.

(21)When these things were ended, Paul purposed to go to Jerusalem, pa.s.sing through Macedonia and Achaia; saying: After I have been there, I must also see Rome. (22)And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

(23)And about that time, there arose no small tumult concerning the Way. (24)For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen; (25)whom he called together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said: Sirs, ye well know that by this craft we have our wealth.

(26)Moreover ye see and hear, that this Paul has persuaded and turned aside much people, not only of Ephesus, but of almost all Asia, saying that they are not G.o.ds, which are made with hands. (27)And there is danger to us, not only that this branch of business will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great G.o.ddess Diana will be accounted nothing, and her magnificence will be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world wors.h.i.+p.

(28)And hearing it, they became full of wrath, and continued crying out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians. (29)And the whole city was filled with confusion; and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel. (30)And Paul wis.h.i.+ng to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. (31)And some also of the chiefs of Asia, being his friends, sent to him, entreating him not to adventure himself into the theatre.

(32)Some therefore were crying one thing, and some another; for the a.s.sembly was confused, and the greater part knew not wherefore they had come together. (33)And they brought forward Alexander out of the mult.i.tude, the Jews thrusting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, desiring to make his defense to the people. (34)But when they knew that he was a Jew, one voice arose from all, crying about two hours: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

(35)And the town-clerk, having quieted the people, said: Men of Ephesus, what human being is there, who knows not that the city of the Ephesians is keeper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? (36)These things being therefore undeniable, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. (37)For ye brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples, nor blasphemers of your G.o.ddess. (38)If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open[19:38], and there are proconsuls; let them implead one another. (39)But if ye make any demand concerning other matters, it shall be determined in the lawful a.s.sembly. (40)For we are in danger of being called in question for this day's riot, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. (41)And having thus spoken, he dismissed the a.s.sembly.

XX.

AND after the tumult ceased, Paul called to him the disciples, and having embraced them, departed to go into Macedonia. (2)And having gone through those regions, and given them much exhortation, he came into Greece. (3)And after he had stayed three months, a plot being laid for him by the Jews, as he was about sailing to Syria, it was resolved that he should return through Macedonia. (4)And there accompanied him unto Asia, Sopater, son of Pyrrhus, a Beroean; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. (5)These, having gone forward, were waiting for us at Troas. (6)But we sailed forth from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

(7)And on the first day of the week, we having come together to break bread, Paul discoursed to them (being about to depart on the morrow), and continued the discourse until midnight. (8)Now there were many lights in the upper room, where we were a.s.sembled. (9)And there sat on the window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep; and as Paul was long discoursing, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. (10)And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said: Do not lament, for his life is in him. (11)And having come up again, and broken the bread, and eaten, he talked a long while even till break of day, and so departed. (12)And they brought the young man living, and were not a little comforted.

(13)And we, going forward to the s.h.i.+p, embarked for a.s.sos, intending there to take in Paul; for so he had appointed, intending himself to go on foot. (14)And when he met with us at a.s.sos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. (15)And sailing thence, we came the following day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos; and having tarried at Trogyllium, we came the next day to Miletus. (16)For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

(17)And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. (18)And when they were come to him, he said to them: Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you the whole time; (19)serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and trials which befell me by the plottings of the Jews; (20)how I kept back nothing that was profitable, that I should not announce it to you, and teach you, publicly and from house to house; (21)testifying, to both Jews and Greeks, repentance toward G.o.d, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

(22)And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there; (23)save that the Holy Spirit witnesses to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. (24)But none of these things move me, neither do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy[20:24], and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the good news of the grace of G.o.d.

(25)And now, behold, I know that all ye, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom of G.o.d, shall see my face no more. (26)Wherefore I testify to you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all; (27)for I shunned not to declare to you the whole counsel of G.o.d.

(28)Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the church of the Lord[20:28], which he purchased with his own blood. (29)For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. (30)And from among yourselves will men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

(31)Therefore watch, remembering that for the s.p.a.ce of three years, night and day, I ceased not to warn every one with tears.

(32)And now, brethren, I commend you to G.o.d, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all the sanctified. (33)I coveted no one's silver, or gold, or apparel. (34)Ye yourselves know, that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me. (35)In all ways I showed you that, so laboring, ye ought to a.s.sist the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.

(36)And having thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

(37)And they all wept sorely, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him; (38)sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more. And they accompanied him to the s.h.i.+p.

XXI.

AND it came to pa.s.s, that after we had torn ourselves from them, and had put to sea, we came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from thence to Patara. (2)And finding a s.h.i.+p crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and put to sea. (3)And bringing Cyprus in sight, and leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the s.h.i.+p was to unlade her burden. (4)And having found out the disciples, we remained there seven days; who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

(5)And when we had completed the days, we departed and went our way; they all accompanying us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city; and we kneeled down on the beach, and prayed. (6)And having embraced one another, we went on board the s.h.i.+p; and they returned to their homes.

(7)And we, completing the voyage, came down from Tyre to Ptolemais; and having embraced the brethren, we remained with them one day.

(8)And on the morrow we departed, and came to Caesarea; and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, being one of the Seven, we abode with him. (9)And this man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied.