保罗在以弗所

19 阿波罗哥林多的时候,保罗经过内陆地区,来到以弗所城,在那里他遇见一些门徒, 问他们:“你们信的时候,是否领受了圣灵?”

他们告诉他:“其实我们也没有听说过是否有圣灵。”

保罗又问:“那么,你们受的是什么洗呢?”

他们说:“是约翰的洗礼。”

保罗说:“约翰所施的是悔改的洗礼,他告诉民众当相信在他以后来的那一位,就是相信耶稣[a]。”

他们听了,就受洗[b]归入了主耶稣的名[c] 接着,保罗按手在他们身上,圣灵就临到了他们。他们就说起殊言[d],又说预言。 他们一共约有十二个人。

在特拉诺斯学堂

保罗进了会堂,放胆传道,一连三个月讲论并劝导人相信那些有关神国的事。 后来,当有些人心里刚硬、不肯信从,在会众面前诽谤这道[e]的时候,保罗就离开他们,把门徒们分别出来,天天在特拉诺斯讲堂里讲论。 10 这样持续了两年,结果所有住在亚细亚省的人,无论是犹太人或希腊人,都听到了主[f]的福音[g]

在以弗所驱赶邪灵

11 神藉着保罗的手,行了一些不寻常的神迹, 12 甚至有人把保罗身上的手巾和围裙拿去,放在病人身上,疾病就从他们身上消退了,邪灵也[h]出去了。

13 可是有一些四处游历的犹太驱魔师,向那些有邪灵附身的人,擅自称呼主耶稣的名,说:“我藉着保罗所传的耶稣,吩咐你们出来[i]。” 14 有一个名叫斯克瓦犹太祭司长,他的七个儿子都在做这种事。 15 邪灵回答他们,说:“耶稣我认识,保罗我也知道!但你们呢?你们是谁?” 16 有邪灵附身的那个人就跳到他们身上,压制了所有的人[j],胜过了他们,以致他们赤着身带着伤,从那房子逃了出去。 17 所有住在以弗所犹太人和希腊人,都知道了这件事,恐惧就临到了他们每个人,主耶稣的名因此被尊为大。 18 而且许多信徒都来,承认并述说自己的所作所为。 19 又有许多行邪术的人,把他们的书籍拿到一处,当众烧掉。他们估算了那些书的价值,发现共值[k]五万个银币[l] 20 这样,主的福音[m]就大有能力地不断扩展[n],不断得胜。

以弗所的骚乱

21 这些事过了以后,保罗受了圣灵的感动决定要经过马其顿省和亚该亚省,到耶路撒冷去。他说:“我到那里以后,也必须去罗马看看。” 22 于是他派了提摩太以拉斯托两个服事他的人到马其顿省去,自己暂时留在亚细亚省。

23 就在这时候,为了这道发生了不小的骚动。 24 原来,有一个名叫迪米特斯的银匠,是制造阿蒂米丝女神[o]银龛[p]的,给工匠们带来不少的生意。 25 迪米特斯召集了他们,以及周围同行的工人,说:“各位,你们知道,我们是由这生意发财的。 26 可是你们看见了也听见了,这个保罗不仅在以弗所也几乎在全亚细亚省,说服、引诱了一大群人,说‘人手所造的不是神’。 27 这样,不仅我们这行业有被轻蔑的危险,连伟大女神阿蒂米丝的庙也要被看为什么都不是,并且这受全亚细亚省和普天下敬拜的女神的威荣,也要被毁灭了。”

28 众人听了,就满腔怒火,喊叫说:“以弗所人伟大的阿蒂米丝!” 29 于是满城一片混乱。他们抓住与保罗同来的马其顿盖尤斯亚里达古,一齐冲进剧场。 30 保罗虽然想要进到民众当中,但门徒们不让他去。 31 还有一些亚细亚省的官员,是保罗的朋友,也派人劝他不要自己冒险到剧场去。 32 这时候,有人喊这个、有人喊那个,因为集会的人一片混乱,大多数人不知道为了什么缘故聚集。 33 犹太人把亚历山大推到前面的时候,人群中有些人要他说话。亚历山大就挥一下手,想要对民众申辩。 34 可是大家一认出他是犹太人,就同声呼喊:“以弗所人伟大的阿蒂米丝!”大约喊了两个小时。

35 后来,城里的书记官安抚了民众,说:“各位以弗所人哪,到底有什么人不知道以弗所城是伟大[q]阿蒂米丝庙和那从天落下的神像的[r]看守者呢? 36 所以这些事既然是不能否认的,你们就必须冷静下来,不要做任何妄为的事。 37 你们带来的这些人,既没有偷取庙里的东西,也没有亵渎我们[s]的女神。 38 既然如此,如果迪米特斯和与他一起的工匠们要控告谁,法庭是开着的,省长也在,让他们彼此控告吧! 39 但如果你们有什么别的要求,要在合法的集会中解决。 40 关于今天的事,本来没有正当的理由,我们实际上就有被控告为暴乱的危险。我们无法对这次骚动做出交代。” 41 说了这些话,他就遣散了集会的人。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行传 19:4 耶稣——有古抄本作“耶稣基督”。
  2. 使徒行传 19:5 受洗——或译作“受浸”。
  3. 使徒行传 19:5 受洗归入了主耶稣的名——或译作“奉主耶稣的名受了洗”。
  4. 使徒行传 19:6 殊言——原文直译“舌头”;传统译法作“方言”。
  5. 使徒行传 19:9 道——或译作“路”。
  6. 使徒行传 19:10 主——有古抄本作“主耶稣”。
  7. 使徒行传 19:10 福音——原文直译“话语”或“道”。
  8. 使徒行传 19:12 有古抄本附“从他们身上”。
  9. 使徒行传 19:13 出来——辅助词语。
  10. 使徒行传 19:16 所有的人——或译作“两个人” 。
  11. 使徒行传 19:19 共值——辅助词语。
  12. 使徒行传 19:19 五万个银币——原文为“50,000银子”或“50,000银钱”;价值相当于50,000锥克玛。1锥克玛=约1日工资的希腊银币。
  13. 使徒行传 19:20 福音——原文直译“话语”或“道”。
  14. 使徒行传 19:20 扩展——原文直译“生长”。
  15. 使徒行传 19:24 女神——辅助词语。
  16. 使徒行传 19:24 阿蒂米丝女神银龛——原文直译“阿蒂米丝的银龛”。
  17. 使徒行传 19:35 有古抄本附“女神”。
  18. 使徒行传 19:35 神像的——辅助词语。
  19. 使徒行传 19:37 我们——有古抄本作“你们”。

19 And it befell [Forsooth it was done], when Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul when he had gone the higher coasts, he came to Ephesus [came to Ephesus], and found some of the disciples.

And he said to them, Whether ye that believe have received the Holy Ghost? And they said to him, But neither have we heard, if the Holy Ghost is. [And he said to them, If ye have received the Holy Ghost believing? And they said to him, But neither we have heard, if the Holy Ghost is.]

And he said, Therefore in what thing be ye baptized? And they said, In the baptism of John.

And Paul said, John baptized the people in the baptism of penance, and taught, that they should believe in him that was to coming after him, that is, in Jesus. [Forsooth Paul said, John baptized in baptism of penance the people, saying, that they should believe into him that was to come after him, that is, into Jesus.]

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

And when Paul had laid on them his hands, the Holy Ghost came into them [the Holy Ghost came on them], and they spake with languages, and prophesied.

And all were almost twelve men.

And he went into the synagogue, and spake with trust three months, disputing and treating of the kingdom of God [disputing and softly moving of the kingdom of God].

But when some were harded, and believed not, and cursed the way of the Lord before the multitude, he went away from them, and separated the disciples, and disputed in the school of a mighty man each day.[a]

10 This was done by two years, so that all that dwelled in Asia heard the word of the Lord, Jews and heathen men.

11 And God did works of power not small by the hand of Paul, [God did virtues not little by the hand of Paul,]

12 so that on sick men the napkins [the sudaria, or girdles], were borne from his body, and sicknesses departed from them, and wicked spirits went out.

13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists went about, and assayed to call the name of the Lord Jesus Christ on them that had evil spirits, and said[b], I conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were [some] seven sons of a Jew, Sceva, a prince of priests, that did this thing.

15 But the evil spirit answered, and said to them, I know Jesus, and I know Paul; but who be ye?

16 And the man in which was the worst devil, leaped on them, and had victory on both [and having lordship of both], and was strong against them, that they naked and wounded fled away from that house.

17 And this thing was made known to all the Jews and heathen men, that dwelled at Ephesus; and dread fell down on them all, and they magnified the name of the Lord Jesus.

18 And many men believed, and came [And many of them believing came], acknowledging and telling their deeds.

19 And many of them that followed curious things, brought together books, and burned them before all men; and when the prices of those were acounted [and the prices of them acounted], they found money of fifty thousand pence;

20 so strongly the word of God waxed, and was confirmed.

21 And when these things were filled [Soothly these things fulfilled], Paul purposed in spirit, after that Macedonia was passed and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, and said, For after that I shall be there, it behooveth me also to see Rome [saying, For after that I shall be there, it behooveth me to see also Rome].

22 And he sent into Macedonia two men, that ministered to him, Timothy, and Erastus, and he dwelled [he dwelt] for a time in Asia.

23 And a great troubling was made in that day, of the way of the Lord. [Therefore there was made in that day a troubling not least, in the way of the Lord.]

24 For a man, Demetrius by name, a worker in silver, made silver houses to Diana, and gave to craftsmen much winning;[c]

25 which he called together [and] them that were such manner workmen [whom he called together, and them that were such manner workmen], and said, Men, ye know that of this craft winning is to us;

26 and ye see and hear, that this Paul counseleth and turneth away much people, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, and said, that they be not gods, that be made with hands.[d]

27 And not only this part shall be in peril to us, to come into reproof, but also the temple of the great Diana shall be acounted into nought [shall be counted into nought]; yea, and the majesty of her shall begin to be destroyed [but and the majesty of her shall be destroyed], whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28 When these things were heard, they were filled with ire, and cried, and said, Great is the Diana of the Ephesians. [These things heard, they be full-filled with ire, and cried, saying, Great the Diana of Ephesians.]

29 And the city was filled with confusion, and they made an assault with one will into the theatre [the theatre, or common beholding place], and took Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, fellows of Paul.

30 And when Paul would have entered into the people, the disciples suffered not.

31 And also some of the princes of Asia, that were his friends, sent to him, and prayed [praying], that he should not give himself into the theatre.

32 And other men cried other thing [Soothly other men cried other things]; for the church was confused, and many knew not for what cause they were come together.

33 But of the people they drew away one Alexander, while Jews putted him forth [Soothly of the company they withdrew some man Alexander, Jews putting him]. And Alexander asked with his hand silence, and would yield a reason to the people.

34 And as they knew that he was a Jew, one voice of all men was made, crying as by twain hours [crying as by two hours], Great is Diana of Ephesians.

35 And when the scribe, that is, a town clerk, had ceased the people, he said, Men of Ephesus, what man is he, that knoweth not, that the city of Ephesians is the worshipper of the great Diana, and of the child of Jupiter?

36 Therefore when it may not be gainsaid to these things, it behooveth you to be ceased [Therefore when it may not be against-said to these things, it behooveth you to be ceased, or assuaged], and to do nothing follily;

37 for ye have brought these men, neither sacrilegers, neither blaspheming your goddess.

38 That if Demetrius, and the workmen that be with him, have cause against any man, there be courts, and dooms, and judges; accuse they each other. [That if Demetrius, and the workmen that be with him, have cause against any man, coming together of dooms be done, and proconsuls, or justices, be; accuse they them together.]

39 If ye seek aught of any other thing, it may be absolved in the lawful church. [If ye seek aught of any other thing, it may be assoiled in the lawful church.]

40 For why we be in peril to be reproved of this day's dissension, since no man is guilty, of whom we be able to yield reason of this running together. [For why and we be in peril to be reproved of this day's sedition, or dissension, since no man is guilty, of whom we may yield reason of this running together.]

41 And when he had said this thing, he let the people go. [And when he had said this thing, he left, or delivered, the church.]

Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:9 Soothly when some were endured, or made hard, and believed not, cursing the way of the Lord before the multitude, he went away from them, and parted the disciples, each day disputing in the school of some tyrant, or strong man.
  2. Acts 19:13 Forsooth and some of the Jewish exorcists, or conjurers, going about, attempted to in-call the name of the Lord Jesus Christ on them that had evil spirits, saying
  3. Acts 19:24 Forsooth some man, Demetrius by name, an argentary, making silveren houses to Diana, that is, a false goddess, gave to craftsmen not little winning;
  4. Acts 19:26 and ye see and hear, that not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, this Paul counseleth and turneth away much company, saying, that they be not gods, that be made by hands.