But I am going to come very soon, if that’s the Lord’s will. Then I’ll find out if there’s actually any power behind what these proud people are saying.
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus because didn’t want to spend too much time in the province of Asia. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem because he wanted to be there if possible by the day of Pentecost.
Finally, brothers and sisters, be joyful! Work to make everything right with one another. Encourage one another and agree with each other. Live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
After all this had happened, Paul decided to go over to Macedonia and Achaia and then on to Jerusalem. “And after I’ve been there,” he said, “I must also visit Rome.”
Don’t eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. Don’t drink blood. Don’t eat meat that still has blood in it. And don’t be involved in sexual immorality. You will do well to keep away from such things. Farewell.
He went off a little distance and got down on the ground face first. He prayed, “My Father, if possible, please take this cup of suffering away from me. But let your will be done, not mine.”
When the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about this, they were all overcome with fear. It led them to hold the name of the Lord Jesus in high honor.
If I fought wild animals in Ephesus with nothing more than human hopes, then what did I gain by that? If the dead aren’t raised, “Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we’ll die.”
The voice said, “Write what you see on a scroll and send it to the seven churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
“Write this to the angel of the church in Ephesus: These are the words of the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.