Help QuickNav Adv. Options
ESV

ESV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Copy
Copy Options
Strong's
Red Letter
Copy Options
Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible
Aa
Return to Index

Today's Bible Reading :: Acts 18 - 20 (ESV)

Acts 18Listen to the passage

Acts 19Listen to the passage

Acts 20Listen to the passage

Acts 18

Paul in Corinth

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:1

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:1 - After this Paul[fn] left Athens and went to Corinth.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:2

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:2 - 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,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:3

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:3 - and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:4 - And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:5

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:5 - When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:6

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:6 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:7

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:7 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:8

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:8 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:9

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:9 - And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:10 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:11

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:11 - And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:12

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:12 - But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews[fn] made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:13

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:13 - saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:14

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:14 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:15

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:15 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:16

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:16 - And he drove them from the tribunal.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:17

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:17 - 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.

Paul Returns to Antioch

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:18

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:18 - After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers[fn] and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:19

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:19 - And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:20

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:20 - When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:21

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:21 - But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:22

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:22 - When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:23

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:23 - 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.

Apollos Speaks Boldly in Ephesus

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:24

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:24 - Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:25

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:25 - He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit,[fn] he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:26

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:26 - He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:27

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:27 - 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,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 18:28

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:28 - for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
ESV Footnotes
Greek he
Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14 (twice), 28
Or brothers and sisters; also verse 27
Or in the Spirit

Acts 19

Paul in Ephesus

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:1

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:1 - And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland[fn] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:2

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:2 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:3

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:3 - And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:4 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:5

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:5 - On hearing this, they were baptized in[fn] the name of the Lord Jesus.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:6

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:6 - And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:7

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:7 - There were about twelve men in all.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:8

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:8 - And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:9

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:9 - 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.[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:10 - This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The Sons of Sceva

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:11

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:11 - And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:12

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:12 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:13

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:13 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:14

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:14 - Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:15

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:15 - But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:16

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:16 - And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all[fn] of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:17

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:17 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:18

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:18 - Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:19

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:19 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:20

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:20 - So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

A Riot at Ephesus

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:21

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:21 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:22

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:22 - And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:23

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:23 - About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:24

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:24 - For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:25

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:25 - These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:26

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:26 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:27

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:27 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:28

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:28 - When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:29

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:29 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:30

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:30 - But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:31

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:31 - And even some of the Asiarchs,[fn] who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:32

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:32 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:33

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:33 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:34

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:34 - 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!”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:35

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:35 - 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?[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:36

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:36 - Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:37

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:37 - For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:38

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:38 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:39

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:39 - But if you seek anything further,[fn] it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:40

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:40 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 19:41

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:41 - And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
ESV Footnotes
Greek upper (that is, highland)
Or into
Some manuscripts add from the fifth hour to the tenth (that is, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Or both
That is, high-ranking officers of the province of Asia
The meaning of the Greek is uncertain
Some manuscripts seek about other matters

Acts 20

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:1

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:1 - After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:2

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:2 - When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:3

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:3 - There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews[fn] as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:4

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:4 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:5

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:5 - These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:6

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:6 - 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.

Eutychus Raised from the Dead

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:7

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:7 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:8

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:8 - There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:9

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:9 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:10

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:10 - 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.”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:11

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:11 - And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:12

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:12 - And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:13

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:13 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:14

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:14 - And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:15

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:15 - And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and[fn] the day after that we went to Miletus.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:16

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:16 - 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.

Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:17

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:17 - Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:18

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:18 - 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,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:19

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:19 - serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:20

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:20 - how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:21

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:21 - testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:22

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:22 - And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by[fn] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:23

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:23 - except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:24

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:24 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:25

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:25 - And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:26

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:26 - Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:27

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:27 - for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:28

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:28 - 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,[fn] which he obtained with his own blood.[fn]

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:29

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:29 - I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:30

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:30 - and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:31

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:31 - Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:32

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:32 - 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.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:33

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:33 - I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:34

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:34 - You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:35

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:35 - In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:36

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:36 - And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:37

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:37 - And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,

Tools

Unchecked Copy Box Act 20:38

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 20:38 - being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.
See the ESV Preface
ESV Footnotes
Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 19
Some manuscripts add after remaining at Trogyllium
Some manuscripts omit Christ
Or bound in
Some manuscripts of the Lord
Or with the blood of his Own
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2025 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
ESV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
ESV
Daily Devotionals

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan