Pastor Al's Kiev, Ukraine Report [58:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Pastor Al visited the Ukraine this September, to learn more about the work being done there, while teaching at the Kiev Theological Seminary. We will send a small team back to Kiev to work with some of the students that Pastor Al taught this upcoming summer. Learn more about what brought him there, and some of our church’s history with regards to the Ukraine!

See the photos Pastor Al references on our gallery page here

 

 The Majesty of the Gospel [39:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 [+/-]1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 [2:1]For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. [2]But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. [3]For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, [4]but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. [5]For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is witness. [6]Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. [7]But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. [8]So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (ESV)

Every Christian is a witness. Elton Trueblood in one of the best books ever written called The Company of the Committed says that a “non-witnessing Christian is a contradiction in terms.” The word for witness includes two essentials that are necessary for our understanding what the word means. The first forms the context for the second. The word for witness in the New Testament means fundamentally one who is willing to die for Jesus. It is the English word “martyr.” A witness is one who is willing to die for Jesus because on the one side that person has died to this world and its ways. A witness is no longer controlled or consumed by the concerns of this world. A witness way find herself in places of success and significance but she does not seek them for herself and when they come she knows that they are sent by God as platforms for the proclamation of the Gospel. A witness does not seek after fortune and fame but if they come he knows that they are to be use for the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the world. The witness does not seek the things after which the world seeks because the witness is dead to the things that are of concern to the people of the world. And that is because the witness has been raised by the power of God to live only for the glory of God in declaring daily his devotion to Jesus. His desire is to see God honored, Jesus exalted, sinners saved, and believers built up in the body of Christ. So the True and Faithful witness spends time and invests energy in the seeking of God through prayer and praise and listening to God through the study of His Holy Word. This is the first essential for understanding who the witness is. It is the essential without which the word has no real meaning because it defines the witness first and foremost in relationship to God.

Learn more about this message by downloading the sermon notes here!

 

 Wednesday Evening Message - September 24, 2008: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Pastor Al shares a little about the Georgia Baptists Children’s Home, and Cecil McCollum shares a personal testimony about his childhood, growing up in the Ga. Baptist Children’s Home, and his continued involvement with this vitally needed ministry. Please do visit their website to learn more about this ministry!

Pastor Al then shares more about the absolute integrety and validity of the law of God before which we stand condemnded and then jumps back into the study of John 3:16 [+/-]John 3:16 [16]"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
, and the meaning of what it means to “believe”

One of the joys of travelling overseas for me is seeing missionaries who are gladly doing the work that God has called them to do.  I talked to several of our own IMB missionaries while in Kiev.  They spoke of the struggles of living far away from home and family, and of the cross cultural concerns that can create confusion and conflict.  But those things are just minor issues and pale into oblivion in the face of the joy that has come to them as a result of being obedient to God.  Joel Ragains who had served for thirty-five years as a staff member of a local church would speak with enthusiastic delight about what he is involved in now.  It is not that he did not find fulfillment and meaning in those years as a staff member of a local church.  He did.  But he has found now by his own reckoning a fullness of joy that he did not know during those years.  I believe that there is a principle here that is profoundly biblical.  It would go something like this:  the depth of our joy in the Lord is directly proportionate to the extent to which we are obedient in going beyond what we can see ourselves doing.  In other words, who would read this and say, “I am willing to go and do whatever and wherever God calls me to go and do.”  And then when He calls you, you go and do.  That kind of person is in for an intensely joyful experience of God’s goodness and grace.

God has given me the privilege over the last twelve years now to travel to different countiries and relate to our IMB missionaries.  I have also had the privielge of being inolved with missionaries from other conservative evangelical denominations.  I always ask them two questions and the similarity of the responses is amazing.  The first question is, “when you come back to America, what shocks you that you did not see while you lived here full time?”  The second question is, “what is it that we as Christians in Americal do not see that we think we see but cannot see because we are so captured byour culture?”  This is what they say.  The responses seldom vary.  Their response to the first question is that they are shocked by the blatant materialism both in the culture and in the church.  We have an enormous addictioin to things.  Their response to the second question is that what we don’t see is that it really is about us even when we say that it is not about us.  One of the missionaries pointed out to me while I was in the Ukraine that we build building to accomodate the wants or “needs” of certain age groups all the while declaring that what we are doing is for the glory of God.  And the question begs to be asked, “how can it be both?”  And the answer ought to be clear.  But as he argued, and I think correctly; we have learned so how to blend the two that we can take actions that are all about us and our needs while verbalizing that we simply want to glorify God.

No missionary has ever volunteered this information to me.  And often when I ask them, they are at first hestitant to respond.  I think that a person has to live in another land or travel frequently to other lands to undestand the hestitancy.  It is the result of being somewhere long enough that a person sees some of the problems in the place from which they came but they have also been in the place in which they are serving to see that no place is immune from problems.  That is one of the things that God has taught me in recent years.  It is easy to go on a mission trip to some other land and idealize the setting of that place, return to this land we love and point fingers.  But live any place long enough and you will see that no place is immune to the results and ravages of sin.  And the two most obvious outcomes from a sinful people living in a sinful word are pride that causes us to focus on ourselves and greed that causes us to want more and more for ourselves.  That is not just a problem here in this land; it is a problem wherever sin is.

 

 Basic Christianity [43:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 [+/-]1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 [2]We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, [3]remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [4]For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, [5]because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. [6]And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, [7]so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. [8]For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. [9]For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, [10]and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (ESV)

Join Pastor Al as he continues to share about the foundation for Christian churches presented in 1 Thessalonians by Paul. He shares the tangible evidences that are evident when genuine Biblical Conversion occurs, and the mandate for purposeful discipleship.

Learn more about this message by downloading the sermon notes here!
(will add later!)

 

 Wednesday Evening Message - September 17, 2008 [33:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

1 John

Don continues his study of 1 John, looking specifically looking at sin. John mentions sin 9 times throughout 1 and 2 John. He uses contrasts to illustrate sin.

He began with sharing the 5 reasons it was important to share your faith with others:

1. Fellowship

2. Joy

3. To sin less

4. Not to be led astray

5. That may believe and know they are saved

If you haven’t ever participated in FAITH, or it’s been a while, please come and be involved on Monday evenings at 6:30!

I had to put the year in the title above.  This has been and continues to be by far the best experience on a mission trip that I have ever had.  I have had far too much fun and been far too blessed to call this a mission trip.  God has touched my life in ways that I will sort for some time and still not make sense of them.  I stood in the lobby of this seminary in 1997 and prayed that God would give me the opportunity to come here some day and teach.  He did. It took a few years, but here I am and have been for the last two weeks.  I was concerned coming into this experience that what I was seeking would be far beyond what I would find, but what I have found has been far beyond what I was seeking.  Teaching here and being able to drink in the Word of God and those who help me to understand His word has been an inestimable blessing.  I miss Anne immensely and I miss my church family, but I will get on the plane on Friday morning with some grief in my soul that would be heart to carry if I thought I would not come back here.  There is something very special about this place and the people who study here.

Pray for the Ukraine.  What Russia has done and continues to do in Georgia could easily happen here.  Ukraine is a huge country that is almost equally divided between those who are pro-west and those who are pro-Russia.  Putin said recently that the break up of the Soviet Union was a great tragedy.  He wants to see it back in place as the the Union of Soviet Social Republics.  Now that would be the great tragedy.  Pray for the church in the Ukraine.  God is moving and stirring in significant ways here.  The older, more mainline churches in this country are struggling much as they are in our country and most of that with good reason.  The churches that are alive are those new churches that are being planted all over this country.  Pray for them and the young pastors that serve them.  Pray for Joel and Mary Ellen Ragains and their work here.  They are gifts of God.  At an age when most people are looking toward retirement they are busily serving the Lord and doing it with great, great joy.  Joel was the worship pastor at the Graceland Baptist Church for thirty-five years; Mary Ellen was called to missions as a young girl in a Bap;tist church at seven years of age.  She has known this her whole life and just waited on God to convict and to call Joel.  He did.  And here they are in their sixties serving with such great joy.  Pray that God would raise up many like them from our churches.  I do not belittle those for whom retirement is seen as the reward that lets us do what we want to do after years of labor. I just ask about myself, “when did my life as a follower of Jesus ever become about what I want to do at any age?”  As one man put it, “my retirement plan as a believer is out of this world, and that is when I will receive it.”  Amen.

Being here has been such a joy.  I have learned so much.  Let me close with a note from the class today.  One of the students was giving a report on how God used the sufferings of Paul as an avenue for advancing the Gospel.  This is what he said, “Paul’s sufferings for the Gospel and our sufferings for the Gospel are like the rainbow in he Old Testament.  They are a beautiful and joyful reminder of the goodness and the grace of God, that our God loves us enough that He would consider us worthy of suffering for Him.”  Believe me, as much as I know how true that is and how powerful (I wept when he shared it); I am not at that place.  Oh, how I want to be because it is there that we most experience the great glory of God.  God willling, I will see you on Sunday.

Let me introduce you the students of the Kiev Theological Seminary.  The Seminary hosts several programs of study:  Biblical Studies, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, and Church Planting.  Most of these programs are taught in a modular manner so that the students come for two week stints at varying times during the year.  While they are here they live at the seminary and attend classes all day.  Most of these students range in age from just after college to no older than thirty.  They are a very special group of people.  I have lived on the hall with them for the time I have been here.  My room is located next to dorm rooms that house at least a dozen guys.

These students are serious students and seriously good students.  One of them made a presentation in my class today and it was outstanding.  He was able to grasp a theme in a book we are reading that is not an easy book and show how that theme is developed and then show how that theme is integrated into his work as a church planter. It was brilliant.  This student like most of the rest speaks at least three languages, has a full time job and serves as a pastor of a church.  The students study a lot at night but they also play ping-pong but the delight for me is when they take their guitars and gather around the piano and sing to the glory of God.  Most of my students love opera and ballet and listen to a lot of classical music.  Contemporary Christian music to them is “yes Lord, yes Lord; yes, yes Lord.”  I have at least learned that that is said, “da, da, bog” with the “o” being a long “o” sound.  This song though is as about as edgy as they get.  In fact, the church in which I worshiped on Sunday that is for college aged students probably did one of the best jobs I have ever seen of balancing an emphasis on the grandeur of God before whom we bow in reverential awe with the generous grace of God in whom we take great delight celebrating his love and mercy.  

Being with students here has left me asking once again what it is that we must be missing. These students are not just sharp in their intellectual abilities, they demonstrate a keen desire to learn.  They love Jesus and they want to learn more and more about Him.  And they are as technologically modern as can be.  Let me illustrate.  The church in which I preached on Sunday has this really unique ministry.  Each week the students submit questions that they want addressed and then the following team a group of leaders meet to record their responses to the questions, bracket the responses with youth appropriate music and then make the recording available in an mp3 format for the students to listen to and share with their friends who are not believers.  Isn’t that something?  

This is what I just love about this kind of ministry that God has given me.  I travel however far it is to give something and I always get so much more than I give.  And just to know that the family of God really is made up of people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.  It is such a joy to be a part of such a glorious Kingdom.

from Joel and Mary Ellen Ragain’s website in Kiev, Ukraine

For those of you who are new to our website, the Church Planting Department at KTS exists to train and equip church planters to plant reproducible churches in Ukraine and the former Soviet Union. And this training is done largely by visiting professors who give of their time to teach these young men for two weeks at a time.

Read more here! »

 

 Sunday Evening Message - September 14, 2008 [35:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

1 John

Now that Don has wrapped up Ephesians, and Pastor Al is on mission, Don decided to do a study on Jude; but realized that he needed to start in 1 John, moving through 2 and 3 John before jumping in.

He will pick this up next time he teaches!

 

 the Glory of God [28:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

John 17:1-5 [+/-]John 17:1-5 [17:1]When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, [2]since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. [3]And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. [4]I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. [5]And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (ESV)

Mike Godfrey taught from the book of John this morning, sharing an encouraging message about the wonderfully great gift of eternal life - that many believers seem to forget when they are constantly bombarded by the daily distractions of life.

Jesus’ prayer in verses 1-5 focused on God, and that WE are the glory of God, and He is glorified in giving us salvation.

I am not Martin Luther but I felt tonight much like he must have felt years ago as he met with students after class to discuss the topics that were addressed in class. The man taught everything but was particularly fond of the New Testament. I too love the New Testament and tonight having taught Pauline Theology for a week I went with the students on a crowded bus to Joel and Mary Ellen Ragain’s home. We ate Pizza that really was good and had some of Mary Ellen’s very delicious desserts. We drank coffee and chai and then the students fired questions at me: what do you think of ordination, is it really necessary and do you have to be ordained to administer baptism and the Supper? What about the text in 1 Peter 3 [+/-]1 Peter 3 [3:1]Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, [2]when they see your respectful and pure conduct. [3]Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear-- [4]but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. [5]For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, [6]as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. [7]Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. [8]Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. [9]Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. [10]For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; [11]let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. [12]For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." [13]Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? [14]But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, [15]but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, [16]having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. [17]For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. [18]For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, [19]in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, [20]because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. [21]Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, [22]who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (ESV)
that equates baptism with the flood and speaks of the water washing us so that we can have a pure conscience before God? What about those who hear the Gospel over and over again and do not respond; how do we reach them? What about the elements of salvation that we spent two days discussing; how do we teach them to believers? And oh how I wished everyone at home could have heart this one. I have heard it in Africa a lot and now in eastern Europe: what can we do to stop Americans from coming here and having evangelistic crusades; they are hurting us far more than they are helping us because they leave behind a large group of people who never make it into the church but think that they are saved and we can’t reach them because they have banked their whole future on their response at the crusade. Segie (Ser-gee-ay) said tonight, “Dr. Wright (they refuse to call me by my first name considering an offense to my position as a doctor/teacher) the way of Jesus was bringing people to himself one person at a time and then teaching them and showing them how to teach others; that is the way of the local church. These crusades are killing us.” Point taken. Point well taken. It was quite a night. It was quite a day. I preached this morning at the Open Heart Church. This church is reaching a lot of college students in Kiev. Let me tell you what is so very special to me. I do not simply because I cannot transport sermons from America to any other culture. I seek God through His Word for what He wants me to say. Oh, it is easier to just preach an old one but I prayed and God led me to preach Ephesians one about what we have when we are in Christ. And the preacher said after the service, “it is almost as if you knew where our church is and what our church needed.” Ain’t God good? It wasn’t me at all. This was God once again showing that if we will just listen and work at being obedient, he will unfold His way. It is 3:30 in the afternoon on the east coast of America. I have talked to Anne and received what I expected about the wonderful job that Mike did. He is such a good blessing to me. Brad Jones taught Sunday School and did a good job as well. I am off to bed. Big week ahead. Thanks for reading these blogs and praying for what God is doing here in the Ukraine.

This has been another interesting day in the Ukraine.  I taught this morning for four hours since I did not arrive until Monday night and needed to make up the class I missed on Monday.  The students were fine with meeting but students are students:  they wanted to get out early since it was Saturday.  So, I gave in and let them out fifteen minutes ahead of schedule.  I called that grace; I am not sure what they called it.  It was a good class.  We have spent a few days this week looking at the various elements of salvation.  The more I read and study the Bible the more I am convinced, and particularly with Paul; that salvation is seen biblically primarily as a future event.  I am also convinced that salvations consists of several components that take place as we are being saved not in a checklist type fashion but in a fashion that demonstrates the greatness of the glory of God in the manifestation of His grace.  And I am convinced that no person is being saved in whom these elements are not active.  So, we have spent a couple of days talking about them:  regeneration, repentance and faith, justification, imputation, reconciliation, redemption, propitiation/expiation, sanctification and glorification.  The last two in the list, of course, represent the ongoing reality of salvation and the ultimate outcome of salvation.  But both are a vital component in what it means to be saved.

Joel Ragaians and l left as soon as I finished teaching to go to downtown Kiev.  He had to leave their apartment since Mary Ellen was hosting a group of ladies, some from the States and others who were missionaries or missionary spouses here in the Ukraine.  So, we hopped on the Metro (an expereince all in itself) and shot across the Nipur River to the main part of the city.  We walked the streets and saw so much influence from the west, some good and some not so good.  We went to the huge main square in downtown, ate some excellent chili with a Greek Salad.  Everything here has garlic so my body will reak for a week when I return.  Then we went to Gloira Jeans for coffee.  That’s right, a good kaffe latte served by an English speaking girl living in the Ukraine.

Here is the God thing.  Along the way we went by the IMB office in downtown.  I was there in 1997.  We were looking at the pictures of all the missionaries in the Ukraine and there it was:  Calvin BoBo.  Wow.  I taught Calvin at Brewton Parker.  He was a really good student.  And he is not far from where we were in downtown Kiev.  I just talked to him and we are having dinner together on Monday night.  He is even coming early to sit in on the last hour of class.  Isn’t that something?  Our God is such an awesome God.  Can I tell you a secret?  I sometimes forget that and get the mulygrubs, the poor ole me down in the mouth stuff.  But God does something like this to me and for me?  I have needed some of the God things that I have experienced this week.  They  came right on time.

Oh, how I absolutely love God things.  Another one of those God things has happened to me while here in Eastern Europe in the former Soviet Union teaching students Paul’s perspective on planting churches and where I am doing what I am doing is a God thing.  But that is not the God thing of which I speak.  Let me tell you about it.

Visiting professors come and go from here all the time.  There is one other here this week.  He teaches the four hour shift in the morning and I teach the four hour shift in the afternoon.  He teaches church history from the early church through the Reformation and I teach Paul’s Theology of Missions.  We had met and had a brief time together on Tuesday but last night we went to the Ragains (the SBC missionaries who are my wonderful hosts for this two week stretch) for dinner.  Boy, was it good,  We had Greek salad, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and good meat.  Yum, yum.  Just for the record, the food here is excellent.  Do not have any clue what I am eating most days but tonight they had a dish that tasted like grits only these grits were laced with beef and gravy.  It was so very good.  Anyway back to my God thing:  Jim Erhart who is the other professor here this week and I started swapping stories on the way to the Ragains and boy!!  He was in seminary just prior to my being in seminary.  The liberal influence of the seminary in those days captured him for a long time.  He was telling me all of this and I am just stunned.  He told me about the wasted years and the wasted time and how he cannot do enough of this kind of thing now because of what he did for so long due to the disruption in his life from the demonism of liberalism.  When he finished, I just said, “you are not going to believe this, but our stories run right along together.”  We went on to discover that we are just a couple of years apart in age.  I am older and he has a lot of hair.  His birthday is on September 25 just two days after mine and we both have a passion for Puritan Theology.  How odd of God is that? 

I love FBC Waynesboro and the privilege that is given me to be here to teach.  I do not take it for granted.  And believe me I am having a blast.  I study all morning long to get ready for class, teach for four hours, have a brief dinner and then back in the office as I am now to stay with the books until bedtime.  No TV, No cell phones, No radio and it is absolutely delightful for me. 

One other thing.  Don’t dismiss or discard the God things in your life.  They happen.  They are His little wink at us to let us know who really is in charge.

 

 Wednesday Evening Message - September 10, 2008 [23:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Ephesians 6:18-20 [+/-]Ephesians 6:18-20 [18]praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, [19]and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, [20]for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (ESV)

Don continues, and concludes his study on Ephesians in this study, He details the armor, and the importance of having the Armor of God.

It is also a great message on prayer, why it’s important, and the many forms of prayer.

Well, I am off and running in the course I am teaching here, The Missionary Vision of Paul.  It is an examination of Acts 13-28 [+/-]Acts 13:1-27:9 [13:1]Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2]While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." [3]Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. [4]So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. [5]When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. [6]When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. [7]He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. [8]But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. [9]But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him [10]and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? [11]And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. [12]Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. [13]Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, [14]but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. [15]After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it." [16]So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. [17]The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. [18]And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. [19]And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. [20]All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. [21]Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. [22]And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' [23]Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. [24]Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. [25]And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.' [26]"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. [27]For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. [28]And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. [29]And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. [30]But God raised him from the dead, [31]and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. [32]And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, [33]this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, "'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.' [34]And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, "'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.' [35]Therefore he says also in another psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.' [36]For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, [37]but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. [38]Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, [39]and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. [40]Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: [41]"'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'" [42]As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. [43]And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. [44]The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. [45]But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. [46]And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. [47]For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" [48]And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. [49]And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. [50]But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. [51]But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. [52]And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. [14:1]Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. [2]But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. [3]So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. [4]But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. [5]When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, [6]they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, [7]and there they continued to preach the gospel. [8]Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. [9]He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, [10]said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he sprang up and began walking. [11]And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" [12]Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. [13]And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. [14]But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, [15]"Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. [16]In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. [17]Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." [18]Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. [19]But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. [20]But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. [21]When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, [22]strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. [23]And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. [24]Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. [25]And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, [26]and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. [27]And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. [28]And they remained no little time with the disciples. [15:1]But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." [2]And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. [3]So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. [4]When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. [5]But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses." [6]The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. [7]And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. [8]And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, [9]and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. [10]Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? [11]But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." [12]And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. [13]After they finished speaking, James replied, "Brothers, listen to me. [14]Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. [15]And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, [16]"'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, [17]that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things [18]known from of old.' [19]Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, [20]but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. [21]For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." [22]Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, [23]with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. [24]Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, [25]it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, [26]men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. [27]We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. [28]For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: [29]that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell." [30]So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. [31]And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. [32]And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. [33]And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. [35]But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. [36]And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." [37]Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. [38]But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. [39]And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, [40]but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. [41]And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. [16:1]Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. [2]He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. [3]Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. [4]As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. [5]So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. [6]And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. [7]And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. [8]So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. [9]And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." [10]And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. [11]So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, [12]and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. [13]And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. [14]One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. [15]And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us. [16]As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. [17]She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." [18]And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. [19]But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. [20]And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. [21]They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice." [22]The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. [23]And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. [24]Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. [25]About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, [26]and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. [27]When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. [28]But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." [29]And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. [30]Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" [31]And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." [32]And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. [33]And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. [34]Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. [35]But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, "Let those men go." [36]And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace." [37]But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out." [38]The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. [39]So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. [40]So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. [17:1]Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. [2]And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, [3]explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." [4]And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. [5]But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. [6]And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, [7]and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." [8]And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. [9]And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. [10]The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. [11]Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. [12]Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. [13]But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. [14]Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. [15]Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. [16]Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. [17]So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. [18]Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"-- because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. [19]And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? [20]For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean." [21]Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. [22]So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. [23]For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. [24]The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [25]nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. [26]And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, [27]that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, [28]for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.' [29]Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. [30]The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, [31]because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." [32]Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this." [33]So Paul went out from their midst. [34]But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. [18:1]After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. [2]And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, [3]and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. [4]And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. [5]When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. [6]And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." [7]And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. [8]Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. [9]And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, [10]for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people." [11]And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. [12]But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, [13]saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law." [14]But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. [15]But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things." [16]And he drove them from the tribunal. [17]And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. [18]After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. [19]And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. [20]When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. [21]But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus. [22]When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. [23]After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. [24]Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. [25]He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. [26]He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately. [27]And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, [28]for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. [19:1]And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. [2]And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." [3]And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." [4]And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus." [5]On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6]And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. [7]There were about twelve men in all. [8]And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. [9]But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. [10]This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. [11]And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, [12]so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. [13]Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims." [14]Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. [15]But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" [16]And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. [17]And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. [18]Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. [19]And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. [20]So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. [21]Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." [22]And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. [23]About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. [24]For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. [25]These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. [26]And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. [27]And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship." [28]When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" [29]So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. [30]But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. [31]And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. [32]Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. [33]Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. [34]But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" [35]And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? [36]Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. [37]For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. [38]If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. [39]But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. [40]For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion." [41]And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. [20:1]After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. [2]When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. [3]There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. [4]Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. [5]These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, [6]but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days. [7]On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. [8]There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. [9]And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. [10]But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him." [11]And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. [12]And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted. [13]But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. [14]And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. [15]And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. [16]For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. [17]Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. [18]And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, [19]serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; [20]how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, [21]testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. [22]And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, [23]except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. [24]But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. [25]And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. [26]Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, [27]for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. [28]Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. [29]I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; [30]and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. [31]Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears. [32]And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. [33]I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. [34]You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those