¹⁹ They arrived at Ephesus,^(A) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,^(A) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.^(B) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos^(A) was at Corinth,^(B) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.^(C) There he found some disciples

¹⁷ When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,^(A) they were all seized with fear,^(B) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

²⁶ And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus^(A) and in practically the whole province of Asia.^(B) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.^(C)

²⁸ When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^(A)

³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”^(A)

³⁵ The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,^(B) doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶ Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. ³⁷ You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples^(C) nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸ If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen^(D) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.^(E) They can press charges. ³⁹ If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰ As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” ⁴¹ After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

¹⁶ Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus^(A) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,^(B) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,^(C) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.^(D)

¹⁷ From Miletus,^(E) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(F) of the church. ¹⁸ When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,^(G) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.^{(H) 19} I served the Lord with great humility and with tears^(I) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.^{(J) 20} You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything^(K) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹ I have declared to both Jews^(L) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance^(M) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.^(N)

²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,^(O) not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me^(P) that prison and hardships are facing me.^{(Q) 24} However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;^(R) my only aim is to finish the race^(S) and complete the task^(T) the Lord Jesus has given me^(U)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.^(V)

²⁵ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom^(W) will ever see me again.^{(X) 26} Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.^{(Y) 27} For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.^{(Z) 28} Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(AA) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(AB) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](AC) which he bought^(AD) with his own blood.^{[b](AE) 29} I know that after I leave, savage wolves^(AF) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.^{(AG) 30} Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples^(AH) after them. ³¹ So be on your guard! Remember that for three years^(AI) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.^(AJ)

³² “Now I commit you to God^(AK) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance^(AL) among all those who are sanctified.^{(AM) 33} I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.^{(AN) 34} You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^{(AO) 35} In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

³⁶ When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.^{(AP) 37} They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.^{(AQ) 38} What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.^(AR) Then they accompanied him to the ship.^(AS)

²⁹ (They had previously seen Trophimus^(A) the Ephesian^(B) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)