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 gods; 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
passed by, and observed your objects of worship, I found also an altar
with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore, not knowing,
ye worship, him I announce to you. (24)The God 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 God's offspring, we ought not to
think that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by
art and man's device. (30)The times of ignorance therefore God
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 assurance 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 worshiped God, 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 assail 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 God 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 worship God 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 God 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 God more perfectly. (27)And he
wishing to pass 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 pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having
passed 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
God. (9)But when some were hardened, and believed not, speaking evil
of the Way before the multitude, 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 God wrought special
miracles by the hands of Paul; (12)so that also there were carried
from his body to the sick, handkerchiefs or aprons, 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 God and prevailed.
(21)When these things were ended, Paul purposed to go to Jerusalem,
passing 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 gods, 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 goddess Diana will be
accounted nothing, and her magnificence will be destroyed, whom all
Asia and the world worship.
(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 wishing 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
assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not wherefore they
had come together. (33)And they brought forward Alexander out of the
multitude, 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
goddess. (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
assembly. (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
assembly.
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 assembled. (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 ship, embarked for Assos, 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 Assos, 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
God, 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 God.
(25)And now, behold, I know that all ye, among whom I went about
preaching the kingdom of God, 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 God.
(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 space of three years,
night and day, I ceased not to warn every one with tears.
(32)And now, brethren, 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. (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 assist 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 ship.
XXI.
AND it came to pass, 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 ship
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 ship 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 ship; 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.
(10)And while we were remaining several days, there came down from
Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. (11)And coming to us, he took
off Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said: Thus
says the Holy Spirit: So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man,
whose this girdle is, and will deliver him into the hands of the
Gentiles. (12)And when we heard these things, both we, and they of
that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. (13)Then answered
Paul: What mean ye, to weep and to break my heart? For I am ready not
only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the
Lord Jesus. (14)And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying:
The will of the Lord be done.
(15)And after those days, having packed up our baggage, we went up to
Jerusalem. (16)There went with us also some of the disciples from
Caesarea, bringing us to Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom
we should lodge.
(17)And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us
gladly. (18)And on the following day, Paul went in with us to James;
and all the elders were present. (19)And having embraced them, he
recounted particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles
through his ministry.
(20)And they, hearing it, glorified the Lord. And they said to him:
Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe;
and they are all zealots for the law. (21)And they were informed
concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the
Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they should not circumcise
their children, nor walk after the customs. (22)What is it therefore?
A multitude must surely come together; for they will hear that thou
hast come. (23)Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men
who have a vow on them; (24)these take with thee, and purify thyself
with them, and bear the charges for them, that they may shave their
heads; and all will know that those things, of which they have been
informed concerning thee, are nothing, but that thou thyself also
walkest orderly, keeping the law. (25)But concerning the Gentiles who
have believed, we wrote to them, deciding that they should observe no
such thing, except that they keep themselves from things offered to
idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from
fornication.
(26)Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having purified himself
with them, entered into the temple, announcing the completion of the
days of the purification, until the offering was brought for each one
of them.
(27)And as the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from
Asia, having observed him in the temple, stirred up all the people,
and laid hands on him, (28)crying out: Men of Israel, help. This is
the man who teaches all, everywhere, against the people, and the law,
and this place; and further also, he brought Greeks into the temple,
and has polluted this holy place. (29)For they had before seen with
him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul
brought into the temple. (30)And all the city was moved, and the
people ran together; and laying hold of Paul, they dragged him out of
the temple; and forthwith the doors were shut.
(31)And while they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the
chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar;
(32)who immediately took with him soldiers and centurions, and ran
down to them; and they, seeing the chief captain and the soldiers,
left off beating Paul. (33)Then the chief captain came near, and took
hold of him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and
inquired who he was, and what he had done. (34)And some cried one
thing, some another, among the multitude; and not being able to know
the certainty on account of the tumult, he commanded him to be led
into the castle. (35)And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that
he was borne by the soldiers on account of the violence of the people.
(36)For the multitude of the people followed after, crying: Away with
him.
(37)And as he was about to be led into the castle, Paul says to the
chief captain: May I speak to thee? And he said: Canst thou speak
Greek? (38)Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days made
an uproar, and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of
the assassins? (39)And Paul said: I am a Jew of Tarsus, a citizen of
no obscure city of Cilicia; and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak to
the people.
(40)And he having given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs,
beckoned with the hand to the people. And a great silence ensuing, he
spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying:
XXII.
BRETHREN, and fathers, hear my defense, which I now make to you.
(2)And hearing that he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, they kept
the more silence. (3)And he says: I am a Jew, born indeed in Tarsus of
Cilicia, but brought up in this city, taught at the feet of Gamaliel,
according to the strictness of the law of the fathers, being zealous
for God, as ye all are this day. (4)And I persecuted this Way unto
death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. (5)As
also the high priest bears me witness, and all the eldership; from
whom, moreover, I received letters to the brethren, and was journeying
to Damascus, to bring also those who were there bound to Jerusalem,
that they might be punished.
(6)And it came to pass, that as I journeyed, and came near to
Damascus, about midday, there suddenly flashed around me a great light
out of heaven. (7)And I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying
to me: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (8)And I answered: Who art
thou, Lord? And he said to me: I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom thou
persecutest. (9)And they who were with me beheld indeed the light, and
were afraid; but the voice of him who spoke to me they heard
not[22:9]. (10)And I said: What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to
me: Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee
concerning all things which it is appointed thee to do.
(11)And as I could not see, for the glory of that light, being led by
the hand by those who were with me, I came into Damascus. (12)And one
Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report from
all the Jews who dwelt there, (13)came to me, and standing by me said
to me: Brother Saul, receive sight. And I, in that very hour, looked
up upon him. (14)And he said: The God of our fathers appointed thee to
know his will, and to see the Just One, and to hear a voice out of his
mouth. (15)For thou shalt be a witness for him to all men, of what
thou hast seen, and didst hear. (16)And now why tarriest thou? Arise,
be immersed and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
(17)And it came to pass, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and as I
was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance, (18)and saw him
saying to me: Make haste, and go forth quickly out of Jerusalem; for
they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. (19)And I said:
Lord, they well know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue
those who believe on thee; (20)and when the blood of thy witness
Stephen was shed, then I myself was standing by, and consenting, and
keeping the garments of those who slew him. (21)And he said to me:
Depart; for I will send thee far hence to the Gentiles.