And they brought forward Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward; and Alexander beckoned with his hand, desiring to make his defence to the people.
and put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:
And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. And when they asked him to stay longer, he consented not; but having taken leave of them, saying, I will return to you, if God will, he set sail from Ephesus.
For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not be detained in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you the whole time,
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serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews; how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but have made it known to you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house; testifying to both Jews and Greeks repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus. And now behold, I go, bound in my spirit, to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will befall me there; save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I count life of no value to me, so that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the glad tidings of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will see my face no more. Wherefore I testify to you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit made you overseers, to feed the church of the Lord, which he purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among yourselves will men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be watchful, and remember that for the space of three years, night and day, I ceased not to warn every one with tears. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all the sanctified. I have coveted no mans silver, or gold, or apparel. Ye yourselves know, that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those that were with me. In all ways I showed you that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. And having thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sorely, and fell on Pauls neck, and kissed him; sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they were to see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
Then some of the wandering Jewish exorcists undertook to name over those who had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by that Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of Scevas, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. And the evil spirit answering said, Jesus I knew, and Paul I well know; but who are ye?
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And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them both, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
And Paul, having stayed many days longer, took leave of the brethren, and sailed thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, after he had shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. And when they asked him to stay longer, he consented not;
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but having taken leave of them, saying, I will return to you, if God will, he set sail from Ephesus. And having landed at Caesarea and gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, going through the Galatian country and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. And a certain Jew, named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught correctly the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But Aquila and Priscilla having heard him, took him to them, and set forth to him the way [of the Lord] more fully. And when he wished to go over into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to give him welcome; and when he was come, he gave much aid to those who had believed through grace. For he publicly confuted the Jews, with power, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy endurance, and that thou canst not bear evil men; and thou didst try those who say they are apostles, and are not, and didst find them liars; and thou hast endurance, and hast borne on account of my name, and hast not become weary.
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But I have this against thee, that thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore whence thou hast fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to thee, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place, unless thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God.
But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.
The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day: and what services he rendered me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
As I besought thee, when I set out for Macedonia, to remain still in Ephesus, that thou mightst charge certain persons not to teach other doctrine,
saying: What thou seest, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches; to Ephesus, and to Smyrna, and to Pergamus, and to Thyatira, and to Sardes, and to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
The Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but on the contrary, when he arrived at Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews;
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how I kept back nothing that was profitable, but have made it known to you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house; testifying to both Jews and Greeks repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus.
And Paul, having stayed many days longer, took leave of the brethren, and sailed thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, after he had shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow. And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. And when they asked him to stay longer, he consented not;
read more.
but having taken leave of them, saying, I will return to you, if God will, he set sail from Ephesus. And having landed at Caesarea and gone up and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And after he had spent some time there, he departed, going through the Galatian country and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
so that even handkerchiefs, or aprons, were carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
Then some of the wandering Jewish exorcists undertook to name over those who had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by that Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of Scevas, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. And the evil spirit answering said, Jesus I knew, and Paul I well know; but who are ye?
read more.
And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them both, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 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.
