And after Paul had staid there yet a considerable time, he took leave of the brethren, and sailed from thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, after he had shaved his head at Cenchrea; for he had a vow. And he came to Esphesus, and left them there: but before his departure he himself went into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. read more. Though when they desired him to stay longer with them, he did not consent: but took his leave of them, saying, I must by all means keep the approaching feast at Jerusalem; but I will return to you again, God willing. So he sailed from Ephesus; and landing at Cesarea, went up to Jerusalem, and after he had saluted the church, he went down to Antioch. And when he had spent some time there, he departed, and went in order through the country of Galatia and Phrygia strengthening all the disciples. Now there came to Ephesus a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures.

Now it came to pass while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul having passed through the upper parts of Asia came to Ephesus: and finding some disciples there, he said unto them, Have ye received the holy Spirit since ye embraced the faith? And they said unto him, Nay, we had not even heard whether the holy Spirit be yet given. read more. And he said unto them, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into the baptism of John. Then said Paul, John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people, that they should believe in Him that was coming after him, that is, in Christ Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And as Paul laid his hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And the men were in all about twelve. And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly, disputing with them for the space of three months, and persuading them of the things concerning the kingdom of God. But as some were hardened and refractory, speaking evil of the way of life before the multitude, he departed from them, and took away the disciples with him, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. And this he did for two years; so that all the inhabitants of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord Jesus. And God wrought extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul: so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases lest them, and evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those that had evil spirits, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth." Now there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jewish priest, who did this. But the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leapt upon them, and mastered them, 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, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many of them that believed came confessing and declaring their former practices. And a great number of those that had used inquisitive arts, brought the books, and burned them before them all: and they computed the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily did the word of the Lord increase and prevail.

Hearing this and being filled with rage, they cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus two Macedonians, fellow-travellers with Paul. read more. And when Paul would have gone in unto the people, the disciples would not let him. And some also of the chief men of Asia, being his friends, sent to him and desired him not to venture himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another; for the assembly was confused, and the greater part did not know for what they were come together. And they brought Alexander forward out of the multitude, the Jews urging him on. And Alexander beckoning with the hand, would have made a defence to the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, they all cried out with one voice, for near two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And when the Secretary had appeased the multitude, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who doth not know that the city of the Ephesians is devoted to the service of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

But he sent from Miletus to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

(For they had before seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they thought Paul had brought into the temple.)

If, to speak as a man, I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage have I, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. ---

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things by Christ;

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things by Christ;

which He exerted in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in heavenly places,

and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly regions;

This I say therefore, and charge you in the name of the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk,

For our conflict is not with flesh and blood only, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the world and of the darkness of this age, against wicked spirits in heavenly places.

As I exhorted thee to stay at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain persons not to teach other doctrine,

Thou knowest that all those of Asia are turned from me, of whom is Phygellus and Hermogenes.

And I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

To the angel of the church at 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 patience, and that thou canst not bear those that are evil: and thou hast tried those who say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars; and hast borne trouble, and hast patience; read more. and for my name's sake thou hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Yet I have somewhat against thee; for thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place, if thou repent not. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Let him, that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.