Acts 18:19

THE MESSAGE

They landed in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila got off and stayed. Paul left the ship briefly to go to the meeting place and preach to the Jews. They wanted him to stay longer, but he said he couldn't. But after saying good-bye, he promised, "I'll be back, God willing." From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He greeted the church there, and then went on to Antioch, completing the journey. After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples. A man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a Jew, born in Alexandria, Egypt, and a terrific speaker, eloquent and powerful in his preaching of the Scriptures. He was well-educated in the way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm. Apollos was accurate in everything he taught about Jesus up to a point, but he only went as far as the baptism of John. He preached with power in the meeting place. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and told him the rest of the story. When Apollos decided to go on to Achaia province, his Ephesian friends gave their blessing and wrote a letter of recommendation for him, urging the disciples there to welcome him with open arms. The welcome paid off: Apollos turned out to be a great help to those who had become believers through God's immense generosity. He was particularly effective in public debate with the Jews as he brought out proof after convincing proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was in fact God's Messiah.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When they reached Ephesus he left them there, but he himself entered the synagogue and debated with the Jews.

King James Version (1611)
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himselfe entred into the Synagogue, and reasoned with the Iewes.

King James Version
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

English Standard Version
And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

New American Standard Bible
They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

New Century Version
Then they went to Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. While Paul was there, he went into the synagogue and talked with the people.

Amplified Bible
Then they arrived in Ephesus, and he left the others there; but he entered the synagogue and reasoned and debated with the Jews.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
They came to Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Legacy Standard Bible
And they arrived at Ephesus, and he left them there. Now he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

Berean Standard Bible
When they reached Ephesus, Paul parted ways with Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue there and reasoned with the Jews.

Contemporary English Version
The three of them arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He then went into the Jewish meeting place to talk with the people there.

Complete Jewish Bible
They came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself went into the synagogue and held dialogue with the Jews.

Darby Translation
and he arrived at Ephesus, and left them there. But entering himself into the synagogue he reasoned with the Jews.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then they went to the city of Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. While Paul was in Ephesus, he went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then hee came to Ephesus, and left them there: but hee entred into the Synagogue and disputed with the Iewes.

George Lamsa Translation
And they came to Eph''e-sus, and Paul entered into the synagogue and spoke to the Jews.

Good News Translation
They arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He went into the synagogue and held discussions with the Jews.

Lexham English Bible
So they arrived at Ephesus, and those he left behind there, but he himself entered into the synagogue and discussed with the Jews.

Literal Translation
And he came to Ephesus, and he left those there. But he going into the synagogue, he reasoned with the Jews.

American Standard Version
And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

Bible in Basic English
And they came down to Ephesus and he left them there: and he himself went into the Synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.

Hebrew Names Version
He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Yehudim.

International Standard Version
When they arrived in Ephesus, he left them there. Then he went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.

Etheridge Translation
And they came to Ephesos. And Paulos entered the synagogue and discoursed with the Jihudoyee;

Murdock Translation
And they came to Ephesus; and Paul entered the synagogue, and discoursed with the Jews.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he came to Ephesus, and left the there, but he hym selfe entred into the synagogue, & reasoned with ye Iewes.

English Revised Version
And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

World English Bible
He came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he came to Ephesus, and left him there; but he himself going into the synagogue, reasoned with the Jews.

Weymouth's New Testament
They put in at Ephesus, and there Paul left his companions behind. As for himself, he went to the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he cam to Effesie, and there he lefte hem; and he yede in to the synagoge, and disputide with Jewis.

Update Bible Version
And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

New English Translation
When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind there, but he himself went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews.

New King James Version
And he came to Ephesus, and left them there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

New Living Translation
They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews.

New Life Bible
They came to the city of Ephesus. Priscilla and Aquila stayed there. Paul went to the Jewish place of worship and argued with the Jews.

New Revised Standard
When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And they came down to Ephesus; and, as for them, he left them there, - but, himself entering into the synagogue, he reasoned with the Jews.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he came to Ephesus and left them there. But he himself, entering into the synagogue, disputed with the Jews.

Revised Standard Version
And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there; but he himself went into the synagogue and argued with the Jews.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he came to Ephesus and lefte them there: but he him selfe entred into the synagoge and reasoned with the Iewes.

Young's Literal Translation
and he came down to Ephesus, and did leave them there, and he himself having entered into the synagogue did reason with the Jews:

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
& came downe to Ephesus, & lefte them there. But he himselfe wete in to the synagoge, and reasoned with the Iewes.

Mace New Testament (1729)
being arriv'd at Ephesus, he left them there, and went himself to the synagogue, where he disputed with the Jews,

Simplified Cowboy Version
The boat stopped at the port of Ephesus and Paul left his two companions there. While he was there, he once again went to the Jewish church to try to talk some sense into them.

Contextual Overview

¹⁸ Paul stayed a while longer in Corinth, but then it was time to take leave of his friends. Saying his good-byes, he sailed for Syria, Priscilla and Aquila with him. Before boarding the ship in the harbor town of Cenchrea, he had his head shaved as part of a vow he had taken. ¹⁹They landed in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila got off and stayed. Paul left the ship briefly to go to the meeting place and preach to the Jews. They wanted him to stay longer, but he said he couldn't. But after saying good-bye, he promised, "I'll be back, God willing." From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He greeted the church there, and then went on to Antioch, completing the journey. After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples. A man named Apollos came to Ephesus. He was a Jew, born in Alexandria, Egypt, and a terrific speaker, eloquent and powerful in his preaching of the Scriptures. He was well-educated in the way of the Master and fiery in his enthusiasm. Apollos was accurate in everything he taught about Jesus up to a point, but he only went as far as the baptism of John. He preached with power in the meeting place. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and told him the rest of the story. When Apollos decided to go on to Achaia province, his Ephesian friends gave their blessing and wrote a letter of recommendation for him, urging the disciples there to welcome him with open arms. The welcome paid off: Apollos turned out to be a great help to those who had become believers through God's immense generosity. He was particularly effective in public debate with the Jews as he brought out proof after convincing proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was in fact God's Messiah. ²²Corinth After Athens, Paul went to Corinth. That is where he discovered Aquila, a Jew born in Pontus, and his wife, Priscilla. They had just arrived from Italy, part of the general expulsion of Jews from Rome ordered by Claudius. Paul moved in with them, and they worked together at their common trade of tentmaking. But every Sabbath he was at the meeting place, doing his best to convince both Jews and Greeks about Jesus. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was able to give all his time to preaching and teaching, doing everything he could to persuade the Jews that Jesus was in fact God's Messiah. But no such luck. All they did was argue contentiously and contradict him at every turn. Totally exasperated, Paul had finally had it with them and gave it up as a bad job. "Have it your way, then," he said. "You've made your bed; now lie in it. From now on I'm spending my time with the other nations." He walked out and went to the home of Titius Justus, a God-fearing man who lived right next to the Jews' meeting place. But Paul's efforts with the Jews weren't a total loss, for Crispus, the meeting-place president, put his trust in the Master. His entire family believed with him. In the course of listening to Paul, a great many Corinthians believed and were baptized. One night the Master spoke to Paul in a dream: "Keep it up, and don't let anyone intimidate or silence you. No matter what happens, I'm with you and no one is going to be able to hurt you. You have no idea how many people I have on my side in this city." That was all he needed to stick it out. He stayed another year and a half, faithfully teaching the Word of God to the Corinthians. But when Gallio was governor of Achaia province, the Jews got up a campaign against Paul, hauled him into court, and filed charges: "This man is seducing people into acts of worship that are illegal." Just as Paul was about to defend himself, Gallio interrupted and said to the Jews, "If this was a matter of criminal conduct, I would gladly hear you out. But it sounds to me like one more Jewish squabble, another of your endless hairsplitting quarrels over religion. Take care of it on your own time. I can't be bothered with this nonsense," and he cleared them out of the courtroom. Now the street rabble turned on Sosthenes, the new meeting-place president, and beat him up in plain sight of the court. Gallio didn't raise a finger. He could not have cared less. Paul stayed a while longer in Corinth, but then it was time to take leave of his friends. Saying his good-byes, he sailed for Syria, Priscilla and Aquila with him. Before boarding the ship in the harbor town of Cenchrea, he had his head shaved as part of a vow he had taken. They landed in Ephesus, where Priscilla and Aquila got off and stayed. Paul left the ship briefly to go to the meeting place and preach to the Jews. They wanted him to stay longer, but he said he couldn't. But after saying good-bye, he promised, "I'll be back, God willing." From Ephesus he sailed to Caesarea. He greeted the church there, and then went on to Antioch, completing the journey. ²³ After spending a considerable time with the Antioch Christians, Paul set off again for Galatia and Phrygia, retracing his old tracks, one town after another, putting fresh heart into the disciples.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Ephesus: Acts 18:24, Acts 19:1, Acts 19:17, Acts 19:26, Acts 20:16, 1 Corinthians 16:8, Ephesians 1:1, 1 Timothy 1:3, 2 Timothy 1:18, 2 Timothy 4:12, Revelation 1:11, Revelation 2:1

but: Acts 18:4, Acts 17:2, Acts 17:3

Reciprocal: Acts 9:29 - disputed Acts 19:8 - disputing Acts 20:18 - from Acts 25:19 - certain Romans 15:19 - so that

Cross-References

Genesis 18:6
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, "Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread."

Genesis 18:7
Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the men, and stood there under the tree while they ate.

Genesis 18:9
The men said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" He said, "In the tent."

Genesis 18:10
One of them said, "I'm coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man.

Genesis 18:20
God continued, "The cries of the victims in Sodom and Gomorrah are deafening; the sin of those cities is immense. I'm going down to see for myself, see if what they're doing is as bad as it sounds. Then I'll know."

Genesis 18:22
The men set out for Sodom, but Abraham stood in God 's path, blocking his way.

Genesis 18:23
Abraham confronted him, "Are you serious? Are you planning on getting rid of the good people right along with the bad? What if there are fifty decent people left in the city; will you lump the good with the bad and get rid of the lot? Wouldn't you spare the city for the sake of those fifty innocents? I can't believe you'd do that, kill off the good and the bad alike as if there were no difference between them. Doesn't the Judge of all the Earth judge with justice?"

Genesis 18:27
Abraham came back, "Do I, a mere mortal made from a handful of dirt, dare open my mouth again to my Master? What if the fifty fall short by five—would you destroy the city because of those missing five?" He said, "I won't destroy it if there are forty-five."

Genesis 18:30
He said, "Master, don't be irritated with me, but what if only thirty are found?" "No, I won't do it if I find thirty."

Genesis 18:31
He pushed on, "I know I'm trying your patience, Master, but how about for twenty?" "I won't destroy it for twenty."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he came to Ephesus,.... The metropolis of Asia; according to Pliny c, it had been called by many names; at the time of the Trojan war, Alopes, then Ortygia and Morges, also Smyrna Trachea, Samornion and Prelea, and which he calls the work of the Amazons: some say d it was called Ephesus, because Hercules permitted the Amazons to dwell in it, Ephesus in the Greek language signifying "permission"; Pausanias e denies, that the famous temple in it was built by them, but by Ephesus the son of Caystrus, and says that from him the city had its name; though others say it was built by Androclus, the son of Codrus, king of Athens, in the time of David king of Israel; and that having suffered by the sea, it was rebuilt by Lysimachus king of Thrace, who called it after his wife's name Arsinoe; but he being dead, it was called by its ancient name Ephesus: it is now a poor village in the hands of the Turks, and with them goes by the name of Aiasalik; though with others it still has the name of Epheso; the Syriac version reads, "they came"; not only Paul, but Aquila and Priscilla; and certain it is that they came with him thither, since it follows,

and left them there; unless this is to be understood of Cenchrea: this clause is not here read in the Syriac version, but is placed at the end of Acts 18:21, where it reads much better; as that he should leave them at Ephesus, when he departed from thence, than when he first came thither; unless the sense is, that he left them in some part of the city, whilst he went to the Jewish synagogue; since it follows,

but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews; concerning Jesus being the Messiah, and the abrogation of the law; and the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, and not by the deeds of the law: which were the principal things in debate, between him and the Jews: Beza's ancient copy reads, "and the sabbath following he left them there".

c Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 29. d Heraclides de politiis, p. 456. e Achaica sive, l. 7. p. 399.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And he came to Ephesus - See the notes on Revelation 2:1-5. This was a celebrated city in Ionia, in Asia Minor, about 40 miles south of Smyrna. It was chiefly famous for the Temple of Diana, usually reckoned one of the seven wonders of the world. Pliny styles this city the ornament of Asia. In the times of the Romans it was the metropolis of the province of Asia. This city is now under the dominion of the Turks, and is almost in a state of ruin. Dr. Chandler, in his Travels in Asia Mirror, says: “The inhabitants are a few Greek peasants, living in extreme wretchedness, dependence, and insensibility; the representatives of an illustrious people, and inhabiting the wreck of their greatness; some in the substructions of the glorious edifices which they raised; some beneath the vaults of the stadium, once the crowded scene of their diversions; and some in the sepulchres which received their ashes” (Travels, p. 131, Oxford, 1775). The Jews, according to Josephus, were very numerous in Ephesus, and had obtained the privilege of citizenship.

Left them there - That is, Aquila and Priscilla, Acts 18:24-26.

Reasoned with the Jews - See the notes on Acts 17:2.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 18:19. He came to Ephesus — Where it appears he spent but one Sabbath. It is supposed that Paul left Aquila and Priscilla at this place, and that he went on alone to Jerusalem; for it is certain they were at Ephesus when Apollos arrived there. See Acts 18:24; Acts 18:26.

EPHESUS was at the time in which St. Paul visited it, one of the most flourishing cities of Asia Minor. It was situated in that part anciently called Ionia, but now Natolia. It abounded with the most eminent orators, philosophers, c., in the world and was adorned with the most splendid buildings. Here was that famous temple of Diana, reputed one of the seven wonders of the world. This city is now under the dominion of the Turks, and is in a state of almost entire ruin. The temple of Minerva, which had long served as a Christian church, is now so completely ruined that its site cannot be easily determined; though some ruins of the walls are still standing, with five or six marble columns, forty feet in length, and seven in diameter, all of one piece. It still has a good harbour, and is about forty miles from Smyrna. In Chandler's Travels in Asia Minor, some curious information is given concerning this once eminent city. His account concludes thus: "The Ephesians are now a few Greek peasants, living in extreme wretchedness, dependence, and insensibility: the representative of an illustrious people, and inhabiting the wrecks of their greatness: some beneath the vaults of the Stadium, once the crowded scene of their diversions; and some live by the abrupt precipice, in the sepulchres which received the ashes of their ancestors. Such are the present citizens of Ephesus; and such is the condition to which that renowned city has been gradually reduced. Its streets are obscured and overgrown; a herd of goats was driven to it for shelter from the sun at noon; and a noisy flight of crows from the quarries seemed to insult its silence. We heard the partridge call in the area of the theatre, and of the Stadium. The glorious pomp of its heathen worship is no longer remembered; and Christianity, which was there nursed by apostles, and fostered by general councils, until it increased to fulness of stature, barely lingers on, in an existence hardly visible." Travels in Asia Minor, p. 130. Reader! This city was once the capital of Asia Minor; and its ruins alone prove that it has existed: and it was one of those seven Churches to which a letter was expressly dictated by Jesus Christ himself! Ephesus is properly no more! and the Church of Ephesus is blotted put of the map of Christianity! Be silent and adore.