Thematic Bible: Ac 13-14

and departed unto Antioch, and when he had tarried there a while, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia by order, strengthening all the disciples. And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria came to Ephesus: an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures. The same was informed in the way of the Lord, and he spake fervently in the spirit, and taught diligently the things of the Lord, and knew but the baptism of John only. read more.
And the same began to speak boldly in the Synagogue. And when Priscilla and Aquila had heard him: they took him unto them; And expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to go into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him. After he was come thither he helped them much, which had believed through grace. And mightily he overcame the Jews and that openly showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. It fortuned, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul passed through the upper coasts, and came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples and said unto them, "Have ye received the holy ghost since ye believed?" And they said unto him, "No. We have not heard whether there be any holy ghost or no." And he said unto them, "Wherewith were ye then baptised?" And they said, "With John's baptism." Then said Paul, "John verily baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him, which should come after him. That is on Christ Jesus." When they heard that, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. And Paul laid his hands upon them: and the holy ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues and prophesied; and all the men were about twelve. And he went into the synagogue, and behaved himself boldly for the space of three months: disputing, and giving them exhortations of the kingdom of God. When divers waxed hard hearted, and believed not, but spake evil of the way of the Lord, and that before the multitude: he departed from them; And separated the disciples away; And disputed daily in the school of one called Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of two years: So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought not small miracles by the hands of Paul. So that from his body were brought unto the sick, napkins or partlets, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth." And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew and chief of the priests, which did so: and 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, ran on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also, which dwelt at Ephesus, and fear came on them all. And they magnified the name of the Lord Jesus. And many that believed came, and confessed and showed their works. Many of them which used curious crafts, brought their books and burned them before all men, and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand silverlings. So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed. After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, to pass over Macedonia and Achaia, and to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there I must also see Rome." So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him: Timothy and Erastus: but he himself remained in Asia for a season. The same time there arose no little ado about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith which made silver shrines for Diana, was not a little beneficial unto the craftsmen: which he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs ye know that by this craft we have vantage. Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus: but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be not gods which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft cometh into peril to be set at nought: but that also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised. And her magnificence should be destroyed, which all Asia, and the world worshippeth." When they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." And all the city was on a roar, and they rushed into the common hall with one assent, and caught Gaius, and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions. When Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. Certain also of the chief of Asia which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not press into the common hall. Some cried one thing, and some another and the congregation was all out of quiet, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. Some of the company drew forth Alexander, the Jews thrusting him forwards. Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have given the people an answer. When they knew that he was a Jew, there arose a shout almost for the space of two hours of all men crying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." When the town clerk had ceased the people he said, "Ye men of Ephesus: what man is it that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which came from heaven? Seeing then that no man saith here against, ye ought to be content, and to do nothing rashly; For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet despisers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him, have any saying to any man: the law is open, and there are rulers. Let them accuse one another. If ye go about any other thing, it may be determined in a lawful congregation. For we are in jeopardy to be accused of this day's business: forasmuch as there is no cause whereby we may give a reckoning of this concourse of people." And when he had thus spoken, he let the congregation depart. After the rage was ceased, Paul called the disciples unto him, and took his leave of them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and given them large exhortations, he came into Greece: and there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria; He purposed to return through Macedonia. There accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Beroea: And of Thessalonica, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy: And out of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went before, and tarried us at Troas. And we sailed away from Philippi after the holy days, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we abode seven days. And on the morrow after the Sabbath day the disciples came together for to break bread, and Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued the preaching unto midnight. And there were many lights in the chamber where they were gathered together, and there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, fallen into a deep sleep. And as Paul declared, he was the more overcome with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. Paul went down and fell on him, and embraced him, and said, "Make nothing ado. For his life is in him." When he was come up again, he brake bread, and tasted, and communed a long while: even till the morning, and so departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted. And we went afore to ship, and loosed unto Assos, there to receive Paul. For so had he appointed, and would himself go a foot. When he was come to us unto Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios. And the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium. The next day we came to Miletus. For Paul had determined to leave Ephesus as they sailed, because he would not spend the time in Asia. For he hasted to be, if he could possibly, at Jerusalem at the day of Pentecost. Wherefore from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the congregation. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, "Ye know from the first day that I came unto Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humbleness of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which happened unto me by the layings wait of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable: but that I have showed you, and taught you openly and at home in your houses, witnessing both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, the repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, and know not what shall come on me there, but that the holy ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and trouble abide me. But none of those things move me. Neither is my life dear unto myself; that I might fulfill my course with joy, and the ministration which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I am sure that henceforth ye all, through whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this same day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have kept nothing back: but have showed you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, whereof the holy ghost hath made you overseers: to rule the congregation of God, which he hath purchased with his blood. For I am sure of this: that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, which will not spare the flock. Moreover, of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw disciples after them. Therefore awake and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one of you, both night and day with tears. And now dear brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build further, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have desired no man's silver, gold, or vesture. Ye know well that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to receive the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how that he said, 'It is more blessed to give, than to receive.'" When he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they wept all abundantly, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him: sorrowing, most of all, for the words, which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. And it chanced that as soon as we had launched forth, and were departed from them, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the day following unto the Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara. And we found a ship ready to sail unto Phoenicia, and went aboard and set forth. Then appeared unto us Cyprus, and we left it on the left hand, and sailed unto Syria, and came unto Tyre. For there the ship unladed her burden. And when we had found brethren, we tarried there seven days. And they told Paul through the spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. And when the days were ended we departed, and went our ways, and they all brought us on our way, with their wives and children, till we were come out of the city. And we kneeled down in the shore and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship, and they returned home again. When we had full ended the course from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. The next day, we that were of Paul's company, departed and came unto Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven deacons, and abode with him. The same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there a good many days, there came a certain prophet from Jewry, named Agabus. When he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his hands and feet and said, "Thus saith the holy ghost, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the gentiles.'" When we heard this, both we and others of the same place, besought him, that he would not go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, and said, "What do ye weeping, and breaking mine heart? I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." When we could not turn his mind, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be fulfilled." After those days we made ourselves ready, and went up to Jerusalem.

But after a certain space, Paul said unto Barnabas, "Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have showed the word of the Lord, and see how they do." And Barnabas gave counsel, to take with them John called also Mark: But Paul thought it not meet to take him unto their company which departed from them at Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. read more.
And so sharp was the dissension between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: so that Barnabas took Mark and sailed unto Cyprus. And Paul chose Silas and departed, delivered of the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through all Syria and Cilicia, establishing the congregations. Then came he to Derbe and to Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, a woman's son which was a Jewess and believed: but his father was a Greek. Of whom reported well, the brethren of Lystra and of Iconium. The same, Paul would that he should go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters, for they knew all that his father was a Greek. As they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the congregations established in the faith, and increased in number daily. When they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the holy ghost to preach the word in Asia, they came to Mysia, and sought to go into Bithynia, but the spirit suffered them not. Then they went over Mysia, and came down to Troas, and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him saying, "Come into Macedonia and help us." After he had seen the vision, immediately we prepared to go into Macedonia: certified that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Then loosed we forth from Troas, and with a straight course came we to Samothrace, and the next day to Neapolis, and from thence to Philippi, which is the chiefest city in the parts of Macedonia: and a free city. We were in that city abiding a certain days. And on the Sabbath days, we went out of the city besides a river where men were wont to pray, and we sat down and spake unto the women which thither resorted. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, gave us audience: whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which Paul spake. When she was baptised, and her household, she besought us saying, "If ye think that I believe on the Lord come into my house, and abide there." And she constrained us. And it fortuned as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit that prophesied met us, which brought her master and masters much vantage with prophesying. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation." And this did she many days. But Paul, not content, turned about and said to the spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ that thou come out of her." And he came out the same hour. And when her master and mistress saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them to the officers, saying, "These men trouble our city, which are Jews and preach ordinances which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, seeing we are Romans." And the people ran on them, and the officers rent their clothes, and commanded them to be beaten with rods, and when they had beaten them sore, they cast them into prison commanding the jailer to keep them surely. Which jailer, when he had received such commandment, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. At midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and lauded God. And the prisoners heard them. And suddenly, there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison was shaken, and by and by all the doors opened, and every man's bonds were loosed. When the keeper of the prison waked out of his sleep, and saw the prison doors open, he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice saying, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved and thy household." And they preached unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds, and was baptised, with all that belonged unto him, straightway. When he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and joyed that he with all his household believed on God. And when it was day, the officers sent the ministers saying, "Let those men go." The keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, "The officers have sent word to loose you. Now therefore get you hence and go in peace." Then said Paul unto them, "They have beaten us, openly un-condemned, for all that we are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now would they send us away privily? Nay not so, but let them come themselves and fetch us out." When the ministers told these words unto the officers, they feared when they heard that they were Romans; and came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. And they went out of the prison and entered into the house of Lydia, and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed. As they made their journey through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica where was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them: and three Sabbath days declared out of the scripture unto them, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from death. And that this Jesus was Christ, whom, said he, "I preach to you." And some of them believed and came and companied with Paul and Silas. Also of the honorable Greeks, a great multitude; and of the chief women, not a few. But the Jews which believed not, having indignation, took unto them evil men which were vagabonds, and gathered a company, and set all the city on a roar, and made assault unto the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the heads of the city crying, "These that trouble the world are come hither also, which Jason hath received privily. And these all do contrary to the elders of Caesar, affirming another King: one Jesus." And they troubled the people and the officers of the city when they heard these things. And when they were sufficiently answered of Jason, and of the others they let them go. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul, and Silas by night unto Berea. Which, when they were come thither, they entered into the Synagogue of the Jews. These were the noblest of birth among them of Thessalonica, which received the word with all diligence of mind, and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were even so. And many of them believed, also of worshipful women which were Greeks; and of men, not a few. When the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came there and moved the people: and then, by and by, the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea. But Silas and Timothy abode there still. And they that guided Paul brought him unto Athens, and received a commandment unto Silas and Timothy for to come to him at once. And came their way. While Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was moved in him to see the city given to worshipping of images. Then he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons; And in the market daily with them that came unto him. Certain Philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, disputed with him. And some there were which said, "What will this babbler say?" Others said, "He seemeth to be a tidings-bringer of new devils," because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. And they took him, and brought him into Mars Street, saying, "May we not know what is this new doctrine whereof thou speakest? For thou bringest strange tidings to our ears. We would know therefore what these things mean." For all the Athenians and strangers which were there gave themselves to nothing else, but either to tell or to hear new tidings. Paul stood in the midst of Mars Street and said, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by and beheld the manner how ye worship your gods, I found an altar wherein was written, Unto the unknown God. Whom ye then ignorantly worship, him show I unto you: God, that made the world, and all that are in it, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, he dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed of any thing. Seeing he himself giveth life and breath to all men everywhere, and hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and hath assigned before: how long time, and also the ends of their inhabitation. That they should seek God, if they might feel and find him: though he be not far from every one of us. For in him we live, move, and have our being, as certain of your own poets said. For we are also his generation. Forasmuch then as we are the generation of God, we ought not to think that the godhead is like unto gold, silver, or stone, graven by craft and imagination of man. And the time of this ignorance God regarded not: but now he biddeth all men everywhere to repent, because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world according to righteousness, by that man, whom he hath appointed, and hath offered faith to all men, after that he had raised him from death." When they heard of the resurrection from death, some mocked, and others said, "We will hear thee again of this matter." So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit, certain men clave unto Paul and believed, among the which was Dionysius a senator, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. After that, Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth, and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy with his wife Priscilla: because that the Emperor Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome. And he drew unto them. And because he was of the same craft he abode with them and wrought: their craft was to make tents. And he preached in the synagogue every Sabbath day; And exhorted the Jews and the gentiles. When Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the spirit, to testify to the Jews that Jesus was very Christ. And when they said contrary, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment and said unto them, "Your blood upon your own heads. And from henceforth I go blameless unto the gentiles." And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house named Justus, a worshipper of God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. Howbeit, one Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians gave audience and believed, and were baptised. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall invade thee that shall hurt thee. For I have much people in this city." And he continued there a year and six months, and taught them the word of God. When Gallio was ruler of the country of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, saying, "This fellow counceleth men to worship God contrary to the law." And as Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrong, or an evil deed to ye, reason would that I should hear you: but if it be a question of words, or of names, or of your law, look ye to it yourselves. For I will be no judge in such matters." And he drave them from the seat. Then took all the Greeks Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the Synagogue, and smote him before the judge's seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. Paul, after this, tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, Priscilla and Aquila accompanying him. And he shore his head in Cenchreae. For he had a vow. And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the Synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not, but bade them fare well saying, "I must needs, at this feast that cometh, be in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you if God will." And he departed from Ephesus and came unto Caesarea: and ascended and saluted the congregation,