Acts 19
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul took the inland route and arrived in Ephesus where he found some believers.
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 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No, we haven't heard anything about a Holy Spirit,” they told him.
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 “So what baptism did you receive?” he asked. “John's baptism,” they replied.
And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John’s baptism.
4 “John baptized with the baptism of repentance,” said Paul. He told the people that they should trust in the one who would come after him—that is, they should trust in Jesus.
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 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 After Paul had placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7 There were about twelve of them in total.
And all the men were about twelve.
8 Paul went to the synagogue and over the course of the next three months spoke boldly to those who were there, discussing with them and trying to convince them about the kingdom of God.
And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and exhorting concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But some of them were stubborn, and refused to accept. They denounced the Way to the crowd. So Paul gave up on them and left the synagogue, taking the believers with him. Then he had discussions every day at the hall of Tyrannus.
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 This went on for the next two years, with the result that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
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 God performed unusual miracles through Paul,
And God wrought by the hand of Paul more than common miracles.
12 so much so that they took handkerchiefs or aprons Paul had touched to heal the sick and to drive out evil spirits.
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 Some Jews who were going around exorcising decided to use the name of the Lord Jesus when they drove out evil spirits. They'd say, “I command you to leave in the name of the Jesus that Paul talks about.”
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 The ones doing this were the seven sons of Sceva, a Jew and a chief priest.
And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, that did this.
15 But one day an evil spirit responded, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”
But the wicked spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?
16 The man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered all of them. He beat them so severely that they ran out of the house, naked and badly injured.
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 People living in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, heard about this. They were all in awe at what had happened, and the name of the Lord Jesus gained great respect.
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 Many came to trust in the Lord and confessed their sins, openly admitting their evil practices.
And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds.
19 A number of those who used to practice sorcery collected their books on magic and brought them to be burned publicly. They worked out how much the books were worth, and the total was fifty thousand silver coins.
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 In this way the word of the Lord grew strong and spread widely.
So mightily grew the word of God, and was confirmed.
21 Some time after this Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing first through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I've been there, I'll have to go to Rome,” he said.
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 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.
And sending into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself remained for a time in Asia.
23 It was about this time that serious problems occurred regarding the Way.
Now at that time there arose no small disturbance about the way of the Lord.
24 A man called Demetrius, a silversmith, was producing small silver replicas of the temple of the goddess Artemis. This business brought in a great deal of work for such craftsmen.
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver temples for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen;
25 Demetrius called them together, along with others who worked in similar trades, and said, “Fellow-workers, you know that it's through this business we make our money.
Whom he calling together, with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade;
26 As you're no doubt aware from what you've seen and heard—not just here in Ephesus, but throughout almost the whole of Asia—this man Paul has convinced and misled many people, telling them that there are no such things as gods made by human hands.
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 It's not just a question that our business will be in danger of losing respect, but that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be considered worthless. Artemis herself would be dethroned from her high position as the one whom everyone in Asia and the whole world worships.”
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 When they heard this they became furious, and shouted out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Having heard these things, they were full of anger, and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 The city was in complete chaos. People rushed towards the amphitheatre, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions who were from Macedonia.
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 Paul thought he should confront the mob, but the other believers would not let him.
And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 Some of the provincial officials, who were Paul's friends, also sent a message begging him not to go into the amphitheatre.
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 Some were shouting one thing, and some something else, for the crowd that had gathered was in total confusion—most of them had no idea why they were there.
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 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand for them to be quiet, wanting to explain things to the people.
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 when they realized he was a Jew, they all took up a chant that lasted for about two hours, shouting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
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 After the town clerk had managed to quiet the mob down, he told them, “People of Ephesus, who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven?
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 Since these facts can't be denied, you should stay calm—don't do anything rash.
For as much therefore as these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 You have brought these men here, but they haven't robbed any temples or blasphemed against our goddess.
For you have brought hither these men, who are neither guilty of sacrilege, nor of blasphemy against your goddess.
38 So if Demetrius and the other craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, then go to the authorities and the courts. They can press charges there.
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 If there's anything else, it can be taken to the legal assembly.
And if you inquire after any other matter, it may be decided in a lawful assembly.
40 In fact we ourselves are in danger of being accused of being responsible for this riot today, since there was no reason for it, and we can't justify why it happened.”
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.
41 When he had finished speaking, he dismissed the crowd.
And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
