Bible in a Year.

On day 340, we follow Paul's ministry in Ephesus, including miracles and church growth, in Acts 19. 2 Corinthians 1-2 offers comfort and instruction on forgiveness and reconciliation, showing the depth of God's love. Proverbs 28:22-24 reminds us of the importance of trusting God and being prudent in our actions.

1. And it came to pass, while Apollo was at Corinth, that Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.

2. And he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost.

3. And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John's baptism.

4. Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of penance, saying: That they should believe in him who was to come after him, that is to say, in Jesus.

5. Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6. And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost 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 for the space of three months, disputing and exhorting concerning the kingdom of God.

9. But when some were hardened, and believed not, speaking evil of the way of the Lord, before the multitude, departing from them, he separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

10. And this continued for the space of two years, so that all they who dwelt in Asia, heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Gentiles.

11. And God wrought by the hand of Paul more than common miracles.

12. So that even there were brought from his body to the sick, handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the wicked spirits went out of them.

13. Now some also of the Jewish exorcists who went about, attempted to invoke over them that had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying: I conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth.

14. And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, that did this.

15. But the wicked spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?

16. And the man in whom the wicked spirit was, leaping upon them, and mastering them both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17. And this became known to all the Jews and the Gentiles that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18. And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds.

19. And many of them who had followed curious arts, brought together their books, and burnt them before all; and counting the price of them, they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20. So mightily grew the word of God, and was confirmed.

21. And when these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying: After I have been there, I must see Rome also.

22. And sending into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself remained for a time in Asia.

23. Now at that time there arose no small disturbance about the way of the Lord.

24. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver temples for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen;

25. Whom he calling together, with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade;

26. And you see and hear, that this Paul by persuasion hath drawn away a great multitude, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, saying: They are not gods which are made by hands.

27. So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, but also the temple of great Diana shall be reputed for nothing; yea, and her majesty shall begin to be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28. Having heard these things, they were full of anger, and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29. And the whole city was filled with confusion; and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

30. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31. And some also of the rulers of Asia, who were his friends, sent unto him, desiring that he would not venture himself into the theatre.

32. Now some cried one thing, some another. For the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what cause they were come together.

33. And they drew forth Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews thrusting him forward. And Alexander beckoning with his hand for silence, would have given the people satisfaction.

34. But as soon as they perceived him to be a Jew, all with one voice, for the space of about two hours, cried out: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

35. And when the town clerk had appeased the multitudes, he said: Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Diana, and of Jupiter's offspring.

36. For as much therefore as these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37. For you have brought hither these men, who are neither guilty of sacrilege, nor of blasphemy against your goddess.

38. But if Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts of justice are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.

39. And if you inquire after any other matter, it may be decided in a lawful assembly.

40. For we are even in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no man guilty (of whom we may give account) of this concourse. And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Chapter 1

1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother: to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in all Achaia:

2. Grace unto you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.

4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation; that we also may be able to comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we also are exhorted by God.

5. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound.

6. Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.

7. That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation.

8. For we would not have you ignorant,brethren, of our tribulation, which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure above our strength, so that we were weary even of life.

9. But we had in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.

10. Who hath delivered and doth deliver us out of so great dangers: in whom we trust that he will yet also deliver us.

11. You helping withal in prayer for us: that for this gift obtained for us, by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many in our behalf.

12. For our glory is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity of heart and sincerity of God, and not in carnal wisdom, but in the grace of God, we have conversed in this world: and more abundantly towards you.

13. For we write no other things to you than what you have read and known. And I hope that you shall know unto the end:

14. As also you have known us in part, that we are your glory, as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15. And in this confidence I had a mind to come to you before, that you might have a second grace:

16. And to pass by you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be brought on my way towards Judea.

17. Whereas then I was thus minded, did I use lightness? Or, the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that there should be with me, It is, and It is not?

18. But God is faithful, for our preaching which was to you, was not, It is, and It is not.

19. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us, by me, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, was not, It is and It is not, but, It is, was in him.

20. For all the promises of God are in him, It is; therefore also by him, amen to God, unto our glory.

21. Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us, is God:

22. Who also hath sealed us, and given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.

23. But I call God to witness upon my soul, that to spare you, I came not any more to Corinth: not because we exercise dominion over your faith: but we are helpers of your joy: for in faith you stand.

Chapter 2

1. But I determined this with myself, not to come to you again in sorrow.

2. For if I make you sorrowful, who is he then that can make me glad, but the same who is made sorrowful by me?

3. And I wrote this same to you; that I may not, when I come, have sorrow upon sorrow, from them of whom I ought to rejoice: having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote to you with many tears: not that you should be made sorrowful: but that you might know the charity I have more abundantly towards you.

5. And if any one have caused grief, he hath not grieved me; but in part, that I may not burden you all.

6. To him who is such a one, this rebuke is sufficient, which is given by many:

7. So that on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

8. Wherefore, I beseech you, that you would confirm your charity towards him.

9. For to this end also did I write, that I may know the experiment of you, whether you be obedient in all things.

10. And to whom you have pardoned any thing, I also. For, what I have pardoned, if I have pardoned any thing, for your sakes have I done it in the person of Christ.

11. That we be not overreached by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his devices.

12. And when I was come to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened unto me in the Lord,

13. I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but bidding them farewell, I went into Macedonia.

14. Now thanks be to God, who always maketh us to triumph in Christ Jesus, and manifesteth the odour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15. For we are the good odour of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.

16. To the one indeed the odour of death unto death: but to the others the odour of life unto life. And for these things who is so sufficient?

17. For we are not as many, adulterating the word of God; but with sincerity, but as from God, before God, in Christ we speak.

22. A man, that maketh haste to be rich, and envieth others, is ignorant that poverty shall come upon him.

23. He that rebuketh a man, shall afterward find favour with him, more than he that by a flattering tongue deceiveth him.

24. He that stealeth any thing from his father, or from his mother: and saith, This is no sin, is the partner of a murderer.