r I have a great opportunity here for work, and there are
many foes.

If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear while among you, for
he is carrying on the Lord's work even as I am. So let no one slight
him, but see him safely on his way that he may come to me, for I am
waiting for him along with the other brothers.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be men, be strong! Let all that
you do be done in love.

The churches of the province in Asia send you greetings. Aquila and
Prisca, with the church that meets in their home, also send you
greetings, and so do all the brothers.

I, Paul, add this greeting with my own hand: "The Love of the Lord Jesus
Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus."

PAUL'S TRIALS AND VICTORIES AT EPHESUS

After spending some time at Antioch Paul went off on a trip to Galatia
and Phrygia to strengthen the faith of all the disciples; then he
returned to Ephesus. There Paul entered the synagogue, and spoke out
fearlessly for three months, arguing and trying to convince people
about the Kingdom of God. But as some were stubborn and refused to be
convinced and publicly slandered the Christian way of thinking and
living, Paul, taking the disciples with him, left the synagogue and
continued his teaching every day in the lecture-room of Tyrannus. This
continued for two years, so that all the people who lived in the
province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the message of the Lord.

And God did wonderful miracles through Paul, and the name of the Lord
Jesus was held in high honor. Many who believed in him came to confess
and to tell all the wicked things they had done.

About that time a great disturbance arose over the Christian way of
teaching and living. A silversmith, by the name of Demetrius, made
silver models of the temple of Artemis which brought much profit to his
workmen. He gathered the workmen together, and others who were in the
same kind of business, and said to them, "Men, you know that we get our
wealth from this business of ours. You also see and hear that, not only
at Ephesus but throughout the whole province of Asia, this Paul has
drawn away many people by telling them that gods made by human hands are
not gods at all. There is danger not only that this business will be
hurt, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be
neglected, and that she will even lose her importance in all the
province of Asia and throughout the world.