Acts 18:18–19:22

18  And Paul, having yet stayed there many days, took leave of the brethren and sailed thence to Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having shorn his head in Cenchrea, for he had a vow; 19  and he arrived at Ephesus, and left them there. But entering himself into the synagogue he reasoned with the Jews. 20  And when they asked him that he would remain for a longer time with them he did not accede, 21  but bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep the coming feast at Jerusalem; I will return to you again, if God will: and he sailed away from Ephesus. 22  And landing at Caesarea, and having gone up and saluted the assembly, he went down to Antioch. 23  And having stayed there some time, he went forth, passing in order through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, establishing all the disciples.

24  But a certain Jew, Apollos by name, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, who was mighty in the scriptures, arrived at Ephesus. 25  He was instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in his spirit, he spoke and taught exactly the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John. 26  And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. And Aquila and Priscilla, having heard him, took him to them and unfolded to him the way of God more exactly. 27  And when he purposed to go into Achaia, the brethren wrote to the disciples engaging them to receive him, who, being come, contributed much to those who believed through grace. 28  For he with great force convinced the Jews publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Chapter 19

1  And it came to pass, 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 had believed? And they said to him, We did not even hear if the Holy Spirit was come. 3  And he said, To what then were ye baptised? And they said, To the baptism of John. 4  And Paul said, John indeed baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on him that was coming after him, that is, on Jesus. 5  And when they heard that, they were baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus. 6  And Paul having laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7  And all the men were about twelve.

8  And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly during three months, reasoning and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9  But when some were hardened and disbelieved, speaking evil of the way before the multitude, he left them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10  And this took place for two years, so that all that inhabited Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 11  And God wrought no ordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12  so that even napkins or aprons were brought from his body and put upon the sick, and the diseases left them, and the wicked spirits went out.

13  And certain of the Jewish exorcists also, who went about, took in hand to call upon those who had wicked spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches. 14  And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, Jewish high priest, who were doing this. 15  But the wicked spirit answering said to them, Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with; but ye, who are ye? 16  And the man in whom the wicked spirit was leaped upon them, and having mastered both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17  And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who inhabited Ephesus, and fear fell upon all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18  And many of those that believed came confessing and declaring their deeds. 19  And many of those that practised curious arts brought their books of charms and burnt them before all. And they reckoned up the prices of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20  Thus with might the word of the Lord increased and prevailed.

21  And when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in his spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, After I have been there I must see Rome also. 22  And having sent into Macedonia two of those ministering to him, Timotheus and Erastus, he remained himself awhile in Asia.