Acts 19
1 It came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to the city of Ephesus, and found certain disciples there.
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he came across some disciples.
2 Paul said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we did not even hear about the Holy Spirit.”
He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 Paul said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”
So Paul said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”
4 So Paul replied, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
Then Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.”
5 When the people heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 Then when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in other languages and prophesied.
And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
7 In all they were about twelve men.
There were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
Over a period of three months Paul would go into the synagogue and speak boldly, reasoning and persuading the people about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some Jews were hardened and disobedient, they began to speak evil of the Way before the crowd. So Paul left them and took the disciples from him, reasoning with them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
But some became hardened and refused to believe, speaking evil of the Way in front of the congregation. So Paul left them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the lecture hall of a man named Tyrannus.
10 This continued for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
This continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord Jesus.
11 God was doing mighty deeds by the hands of Paul,
Now God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
so that even cloths or aprons that had touched his skin were placed upon the sick, and their diseases left them, and evil spirits came out of them.
13 But there were Jewish exorcists traveling through the area. They called on the name of the Lord Jesus so they could have power over evil spirits when they said, “By the Jesus whom Paul proclaims, I command you to come out.”
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. They would say, “We adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
14 The Jewish high priest, whose name was Sceva, had seven sons who were doing this.
Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.
15 An evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
But one day an evil spirit responded, “I know Jesus, and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?”
16 The evil spirit in the man leaped on the exorcists and overpowered them and beat them up. Then they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from the house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. They became very afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was honored.
When this became known to all the Jews and Greeks who dwelt in Ephesus, fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.
18 Also, many of the believers came and confessed and admitted the evil things they had done.
Many who had become believers came forward, confessing and disclosing their practices,
19 Many who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of everyone. When they counted the value of them, it was fifty thousand pieces of silver.
while many who practiced magical arts brought their books together and began burning them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was added up, the total came to fifty thousand silver coins.
20 So the word of the Lord spread very widely in powerful ways.
In this way the word of the Lord was increasing and prevailing mightily.
21 Now after Paul completed his ministry in Ephesus, he decided in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem; he said, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
After these things had taken place, Paul resolved in his spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go on to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must see Rome also.”
22 Paul sent to Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, who had helped him. But he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed in Asia for a period of time.
23 At about that time there was no small disturbance in Ephesus concerning the Way.
About that time a great disturbance arose concerning the Way.
24 A certain silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver statues of Artemis, brought in much business for the craftsmen.
For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a great deal of business to the craftsmen.
25 So he gathered together the workmen of that occupation and said, “Sirs, you know that in this business we make much money.
He gathered these men together, along with those who worked in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our wealth is derived from this business.
26 You see and hear that, not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people. He is saying that there are no gods that are made with hands.
You also see and hear that, not only in Ephesus, but in nearly all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable crowd, saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.
27 Not only is there danger that our trade will no longer be needed, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be considered worthless. Then she would even lose her greatness, she whom all Asia and the world worships.”
Not only is there the danger that this trade of ours might come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis might be regarded as nothing, and that her magnificence might be brought down, whom all Asia and the world worship.”
28 When they heard this, they were filled with anger and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”
When they heard this, they were filled with rage and began crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29 The whole city was filled with confusion, and the people rushed together into the theater. They had seized Paul's travel companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, who came from Macedonia.
So the whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the amphitheater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions.
30 Paul wanted to enter in among the crowd of people, but the disciples prevented him.
Although Paul wanted to go into the public assembly, the disciples would not let him.
31 Also, some of the officials of the province of Asia who were his friends sent him a message strongly requesting him not to enter the theater.
Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were friends of Paul, sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the amphitheater.
32 Some people were shouting one thing, and some another, for the crowd was in confusion. Most of them did not even know why they had come together.
Now some were shouting one thing, and some were shouting another, for the assembly was confused, and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
33 Some of the crowd informed Alexander, whom the Jews were pushing to the front, and so Alexander motioned with his hand, wanting to give an explanation to those who were assembled.
So the Jews put forward Alexander, who was then brought before the crowd. Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing to make a defense to the public assembly.
34 But when they became aware that he was a Jew, they all cried out for about two hours with one voice, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”
But when they realized 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 When the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven?
When the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis and of the image that fell down from Zeus?
36 Seeing then that these things are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.
Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash.
37 For you have brought these men to this court who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have an accusation against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.
So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another.
39 But if you seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
But if you seek anything concerning other matters, it must be settled in the lawful assembly.
40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot. There is no cause for this disorder, and we will not be able to explain it.”
For we are in danger of being charged with rioting in connection with today's events, since there is no reason we can give to account for this disorderly gathering.”
41 When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
And after saying this, he dismissed the assembly.
