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23 tioch. And 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.t

24

And a certain Jew, named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in 25 the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; ‡ and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only 26 the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of 27 God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him and when he was come, he helped them much 28 who had believed through grace. He reasoned with the Jews very forcibly in public, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

1

CHAP. XIX.

AND it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper countries, came to Ephesus: and

* Provinces in Asia Minor.

† How constant and persevering was this holy apostle in his travels and labors to spread the doctrines of the gospel.

He had been taught to expect the Messiah.

2 finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not even heard that there is any Holy Spirit.* 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's 4 baptism. Then Paul said, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, That they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, on 5 Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them,

the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake 7 in other languages, and prophesied. And all 8 the men were about twelve. And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and insisting on the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way‡ before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples from them, disputing daily 10 in the school of one Tyannus. And this continued by the space of two years: so that

* That is, any miraculous gifts of the Spirit. See 6 v. + Like Apollos, living at a great distance from Judea, they had been acquainted only with the doctrine of John, but were in expectation of the Messiah; and therefore readily acknowledged that Jesus was Christ.

That way, or sect of religion.

It is uncertain whether this were a school of instruction in the Jewish religion, or in paganism, or some sect of philosophers. In either case, Paul would have much to oppose, and much to teach.

all they who dwelt in that part of Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and 11 Greeks.* And God wrought special miracles 12 by the hands of Paul: So 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. 13 Then some of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to pronounce on them who had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul 14 preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did 15 so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are 16 ye? And the man, in whom the evil spirit was, leapt on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out 17 of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks who dwelt at Ephesus: and fear came on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who believed came, and confessed, 19 and shewed their deeds. Many also of them who used deceptive arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men ; and they counted the price of them, and found 20 it fifty thousand pieces of silver. Thus, with great power, the word of the Lord increased and prevailed.

21 After these events had taken place, Paul

This must have been the occasion of an extensive knowledge of Christianity.

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resolved with himself, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Je. rusalem, saying, After I have been there, I 22 must also see Rome. donia two of those who Timothy and Erastus; 23 in Asia for a season.

So he sent into Maceministered unto him, but he himself stayed And at that time there

was a great tumult concerning that way.* 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Diana,† brought no small gain unto the craftsmen. 25 Whom he called together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know 26 that by this trade we have our wealth: Ye also see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying, that they are no gods which are made 27 with hands: And there is danger not only that this our trade should become unprofitable, but that the temple of the great goddess Diana, whom all Asia and the world worships, should be despised, and her magnificence destroyed. 28 And when they heard this, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of 29 the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion; and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the

*The sect of Christians, and the doctrines of the gospel.

† A goddess worshipped by the Ephesians and other heathens in that country.

30 theatre.

-31 not.

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him And some of the chief men of Asia also, who were his friends, sent unto him, desiring that he would not trust himself in the theatre. 32 Now some cried one thing, and some another : for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what cause they had come 33 together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews thrusting him forward. And Alexander, beckoning with the hand, would have made his defence unto the people. 34 But when they learnt that he was a Jew, with one voice, for the space of two hours, they all cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35 And when the town-clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not, that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell 36 down from Jupiter?† These things then being

indisputable, ye ought to be quiet, and to do 37 nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither

these men, who are neither robbers of churches, 38 nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the artificers who are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts of law are open, and there are depu

* This was an officer of some authority, as well as a scribe or recorder.

†The Ephesians supposed that the idol, which represented Diana, was given by Jupiter from heaven.

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