Ephesus

⁸He entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom. ⁹But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. ¹⁰This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

²³About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way. ²⁴For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen, ²⁵whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth. ²⁶You see and hear that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods that are made with hands. ²⁷Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.” ²⁸When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel. ³⁰When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn’t allow him. ³¹Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater. ³²Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn’t know why they had come together. ³³They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people. ³⁴But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ³⁵When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? ³⁶Seeing then that these things can’t be denied, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rash. ³⁷For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. ³⁸If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another. ³⁹But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly. ⁴⁰For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn’t be able to give an account of this commotion.” ⁴¹When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

¹⁷From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the assembly. ¹⁸When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time, ¹⁹serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews; ²⁰how I didn’t shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house, ²¹testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus. ²²Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there; ²³except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me. ²⁴But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God. ²⁵“Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching God’s Kingdom, will see my face no more. ²⁶Therefore I testify to you today that I am clean from the blood of all men, ²⁷for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. ²⁸Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. ²⁹For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. ³²Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³I coveted no one’s silver, gold, or clothing. ³⁴You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. ³⁵In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” ³⁶When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷They all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, ³⁸sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

¹“To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: “He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lamp stands says these things: ²“I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can’t tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. ³You have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary. ⁴But I have this against you, that you left your first love. ⁵Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent. ⁶But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.