9sing the kingdom of God (e). But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but fpake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and feparated the difciples, difputing daily in the 10 fchool of one Tyrannus (ƒ). And this continued by the space of two years; fo that all they which dwelt in Afia, heard the word of the Lord Jefus, 11 both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought fpecial 12 miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the fick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the difeafes departed from them, and the evil fpirits went out of thein.

13

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcifts, took upon them to call over them which had evil fpirits, the name of the Lord Jefus, faying, We ad14 jure you by Jefus whom Paul preacheth. And there were feven fons of one Sceva a Jew, and chief of the 15 priests, which did fo. And the evil spirit answered

and faid, Jefus I know, and Paul I know; but who 16 are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leapt on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, fo that they fled out of that house na17 ked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks alfo dwelling at Ephefus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jefus was 18 magnified. And many that believed came, and con19 feffed, and fhewed their deeds. Many alfo of them

which ufed curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand 20 pieces of filver (g). So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed.

(e) See Chap. i. 3.

(f) Ufing the school-room for a church, where he difcourfed to the converts, and likewise satisfied the doubts, and answered the objections, of others.

(g) Computed to amount in English money, to one thousand fix hundred and fourteen pounds and upwards..

21 After

21

After these things were ended, Paul purpofed in the fpirit, when he had paffed through Macedonia, and Achaia, to go to Jerufalem, faying, After I have 22 been there, I must also fee Rome. So he fent into Macedonia two of them (b) that miniftered unto him, Timotheus and Eraftus; but he himself itayed in Afia 23 for a feason. And the fame time there arose no small 24 ftir about that way (i). For a certain man named Demetrius, a filver-fmith, which made (k) filver fhrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the crafts25 men. Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and faid, Sirs, ye know that by 26 this craft we have our wealth: Moreover, ye fee and hear, that not alone at Ephefus, but almoft throughout all Afia, this Paul hath perfuaded and turned away much people, faying, that they be no 27 gods which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be fet at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana fhould be despised, and her magnificence fhould be destroy28 ed, whom all Afia, and the world, worshippeth. And when they heard thefe fayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, faying, Great is Diana of the 29 Ephefians. And the whole city was filled with confufion and having caught Gaius, and Ariftarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rufhed with one accord into the theatre. And when 30 Paul would have entered in (1) unto the people, the 31 difciples fuffered him not. And certain of the chief of Afia, which were his friends, fent unto him, defiring him that he would not adventure himself into

(h) Two of his conftant attendants.

(i) That way is the doctrine of Chriftianity. See Chap. ix. 2. (k) Silver models of the temple of Diana, with her image; fuch as are made and fold at this day, of the famous image of the virgin Mary at Loretto in Italy.

(4) To have made a public defence for himself, and his two friends, whom they had dragged into the theatre.

i

32 the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and fome another, for the affembly was confufed, and the moft part knew not wherefore they were come to33 gether. And they drew Alexander out of the mul titude (m), the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have 34 made his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the fpace of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of 35 the Ephefians. And when the town-clerk had appeafed the people, he faid, Ye men of Ephefus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephefians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupi36 ter (n)? Seeing then that these things cannot be spo

ken againft, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing 37 rafhly. For ye have brought hither thefe men, which

are neither robbers of churches (0), nor yet blaf38 phemers of your goddefs. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are

(m) The Jews malicioufly thruft him forward, that they might expofe him to the rage of the people.

(n) The Heathens worshipped a multitude of gods, and at the head of all placed their great god Jupiter, as governor of the reft. It is no wonder then, that they had fo great a veneration for the image which they fuppofed he fent them from heaven. This was but according to the abfurdities of their religion; but that any, who call themselves Chriftians, fhould fo far give up their reafon as to pay religious honour to fuch pretended heavenly images and pictures, as the Romanifts are taught to do, is a lamentable proof of the moft abject credulity, difgraceful in the higheft degree, not only to the divine revelation of Chriftianity, but to the common principles of the human mind.

(0) As if what had been faid by St. Paul against the worship of images, made with hands, could not affect their cafe, who were worshippers of an image which they were perfuaded was not made with hands, but came down from heaven. The town-clerk feems to have given this artful turn to St. Paul's argument, only with a view to pacify the people.

39 deputies;

39 deputies; let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it fhall 40 be determined in a lawful aflembly. For we are in danger to be called in queftion for this day's uproar, there being no caufe whereby we may give an að41 count of this concourfe. And when he had thus spoken, he difmiffed the aflembly.

CHA P. XX.

I AND after the uproar was ceafed, Paul called unto him the difciples, and embraced them, and de2 parted for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over thofe parts, and had given them much 3 exhortation, he came into Greece, And there abode three months and when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to fail into Syria, he purpofed to re4 turn through Macedonia. And there accompanied him into Afia, Sopater of Berea; and of the Theffalonians, Ariftarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Afia, Tychicus and 5 Trophimus. Thefe going before, tarried (a) for us 6 at Troas. And we failed away from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we abode feven days. And upon the first day of the week, when the difciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and con8 tinued his fpeech until midnight. And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were 9 gathered together. And there fat in a window (b) a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen in

7

(a) They waited for St. Paul and St. Luke.

(b) In thofe warm countries the windows are not glazed, and the fhutters are feldom clofed, except to keep out rain; Eutychus therefore, having no fupport behind, fell down from the third flory.

to

to a deep fleep and as Paul was long preaching, he funk down with fleep, and fell down from the third loft, 10 and was taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him, faid, Trouble not II yourselves; for his life is in him. When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, 12 fo he departed. And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

13 And we (c) went before to ship, and failed unto

Affos, there intending to take in Paul: for fo had he 14 appointed, minding himself to go a foot. And when

he met with us at Affus, we took him in, and came 15 to Mitylene. And we failed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and 16 the next day we came to Miletus. For Paul had determined to fail by Ephesus, because he would not fpend the time in Afia: for he hafted, if it were pos- . fible for him, to be at Jerufalem the day of Pentecoft.

17

And from Miletus he fent to Ephefus, and called 18 the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Afia, after what manner I have 19 been with you at all feafons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations (d) which befel me by the lying in wait 20 of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have fhewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from houfe to houfe, 21 Teftifying both to the Jews, and alfo to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord 22 Jefus Chrift. And now behold, I go bound in the

() We of St. Paul's company.

(d) Trials and fufferings, as Luke xxii. 28.

spirit