One Step Closer
Introduction
Introduction
28 After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples,
30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.
31 “If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ”
32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34 They said, “The Lord has need of it.”
35 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it.
36 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road.
37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,
38 shouting:
“BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,
42 saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.
43 “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side,
44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
21 Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
22 And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in eAsia for a while.
23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.
24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen;
25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.
26 “You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of bAsia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that cgods made with hands are no gods at all.
27 “Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of aAsia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”
28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him.
31 Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater.
32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
33 Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven?
36 “So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash.
37 “For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38 “So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and aproconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another.
39 “But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
40 “For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.”
41 After saying this he dismissed the assembly.
23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.
24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen;
25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.
26 “You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of bAsia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that cgods made with hands are no gods at all.
27 “Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of aAsia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”
28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him.
31 Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater.
32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
33 Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven?
36 “So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash.
37 “For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38 “So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and aproconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another.
39 “But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
40 “For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.”
41 After saying this he dismissed the assembly.