保罗在以弗所传道

19 当亚波罗在哥林多时,保罗已取道内陆重回以弗所,在那里遇见几个门徒。 保罗问他们:“你们信的时候有没有领受圣灵?”

他们说:“没有!我们从来没有听过圣灵的事。”

保罗说:“那么,你们受的是什么洗礼呢?”

他们说:“是约翰的洗礼。”

保罗说:“约翰的洗礼是悔改的洗礼,约翰告诉百姓要信在他以后来的那位——耶稣。”

他们听后,立刻奉主耶稣的名受了洗。 保罗把手按在他们身上时,圣灵便降在他们身上,他们就说方言,讲上帝的信息。 这次共有十二个人。

保罗一连三个月勇敢地在会堂里传道,与人辩论上帝国的事,劝导他们。 可是有些人仍然顽固不信,还当众毁谤上帝的道。保罗便带着门徒离开他们,天天在推喇奴的学堂辩论。 10 这样持续了两年,亚细亚全境的居民,无论是犹太人还是希腊人,都听见了主的道。 11 上帝又借着保罗的手行了一些非凡的神迹, 12 甚至只要将保罗身上的手帕或围裙放在病人身上,病人就痊愈了,邪灵也会离开所附的人。

13 那时,有几个走江湖的犹太术士也想用耶稣的名赶鬼,他们向那些被邪灵附身的人说:“我奉保罗所传讲的耶稣之名,命令你们出来!” 14 做这事的有犹太祭司长士基瓦的七个儿子。

15 邪灵回答说:“耶稣,我认识;保罗,我也知道。但你们是谁?” 16 被邪灵附身的人随即扑向他们,攻击他们,制服了他们,使他们赤着身子带着伤从屋里逃走了。

17 全以弗所的犹太人和希腊人知道了这件事,都惊惧不已。主耶稣的名因此大受尊崇。 18 许多已经信耶稣的人都前来认罪,公开承认自己的恶行。 19 又有许多行邪术的人把他们的书堆在一起,当众焚烧。根据当时的估价,这些书约值五万银币。 20 主的道就这样传开了,大大兴旺起来。

21 这些事以后,保罗决定经过马其顿和亚该亚回到耶路撒冷。他说:“到了那里之后,我必须去罗马看看。” 22 于是,他派提摩太和以拉都两位同工先去马其顿,自己暂时留在亚细亚。

以弗所的骚乱

23 就在这时,由于主的道,以弗所又起了很大的骚乱。 24 一个名叫底米丢的银匠以制造亚底米女神银龛为业,使从事这门生意的工匠获利丰厚。 25 他召集了工匠和同行的人,说:“各位都知道我们靠这一行发财, 26 可是你们都看到了,也听见了,那个保罗在以弗所和亚细亚全境说服、误导了许多人,说什么人手所造的不是神。 27 这样下去,不但我们的行业会遭人贬抑,连亚底米女神庙也会被人轻看,甚至全亚细亚及普世尊崇的女神也会威严扫地!”

28 众人听后,怒气填胸,高声喊叫:“以弗所人的亚底米女神真伟大!” 29 全城陷入一片混乱。众人抓住保罗的两个同伴——马其顿人该犹和亚里达古,拖着他们冲进戏院。 30 保罗想进去,但门徒不许他去。 31 他的好友——亚细亚的几位官员也派人劝他别冒险进入戏院。

32 这时,戏院里面的人都在大喊大叫,混乱不堪。其实大部分人根本不知道自己为什么聚在那里。 33 这时,人群中的犹太人把亚历山大推到前面,请他解释。亚历山大举手示意大家安静,听他发言。 34 但众人认出他是个犹太人,便又开始一起高呼:“以弗所人的亚底米女神真伟大!”这样喊了两个小时。

35 最后,城里的书记官出面调停,说:“各位以弗所市民,谁不知道以弗所城守护着亚底米女神庙和从宙斯那里掉下来的神像呢? 36 既然这是无可否认的事实,你们就该安静,不可鲁莽行事。 37 你们带来的这些人既没有偷庙里的东西,也没有亵渎我们的女神。 38 如果底米丢和他的同行要控告谁,大可到法庭或总督那里提出诉讼。 39 倘若你们还有其他的要求,也可以通过合法的会议解决。 40 今天的骚乱实在没有道理,难免会被查问,到时候我们很难交代。” 41 说完,便叫众人散去。

保罗在以弗所

19 亚波罗在哥林多时,保罗旅行经过内陆地区,来到以弗所。在那里,他找到了耶稣的一些门徒, 对他们说∶“你们信的时候,领受到圣灵了吗?”

他们说∶“我们根本没听说有圣灵这回事。”

他又问∶“那么,你们受到的是什么样的洗礼呢?”

他们回答∶“是约翰的洗礼。”

保罗说∶“约翰告诉人们受洗是表示要改过自新。他告诉那些人们信仰在他之后来的那位,也就是耶稣。”

他们听到这话,就以主耶稣的名义接受了洗礼。 保罗把手放在他们身上时,圣灵便降临在他们身上了 [a]。他们都开始用不同的语言讲话和预言。 大约共有十二个人。

一连三个月,保罗去此会堂大胆地布道,与犹太人辩论,努力劝说他们相信他所讲的上帝王国。 可是,有的人十分顽固,就是不肯相信,还在人们面前恶语攻击此道。于是,保罗离开了他们。他带走了这些门徒。每天他都在推喇奴的礼堂举行讨论。

10 这样如此两年,结果住在亚西亚的所有的人,不论犹太人还是非犹太人都听到了主的信息。

士基瓦的儿子

11 上帝通过保罗之手行了许多不凡的奇迹, 12 以至于他碰过的围裙和手帕都被人拿去送到病人那里,这些人的病便被治好了,邪灵也离开了他们。

13 一些四处走动,驱赶邪灵的犹太人,试图用主耶稣的名义对邪灵附体的人说∶“我以保罗宣讲的主耶稣的名义命令你出来。 14 有一个犹太大祭司,名叫士基瓦,他的七个儿子就在做这种事情。”

15 可是,邪灵却对他们说∶“我认识耶稣,也知道保罗,可你们是谁?”

16 被邪灵缠身的那个人跳到他们身上,制服并打垮了他们所有的人。他们赤身裸体,带着伤跑出了那栋房子。 17 住在以弗所的所有的犹太人和非犹太人都听说了这件事,十分害怕。主耶稣的名更加受人尊敬了。 18 信徒中的许多人都来承认并公开坦白他们以往所做的。 19 很多耍法术的人把他们的书籍收拾到一起,当众烧掉了。他们算了一下那些书的价值,总共值五万块银币。 20 用这种有力的方式,主的话得到了广泛的传播,并越来越成功。

保罗定旅行计划

21 这些事情过后,保罗决定经由马其顿和亚该亚到耶路撒冷去。他说∶“我访问那里后,我还必须上路去看看罗马。” 22 因此,他派他的助手中的两位提摩太和以拉都去了马其顿,而自己则在亚西亚多呆了一段时间。

以弗所的骚乱

23 大约在这时,由于上帝之道在以弗所引发了一场严重的骚乱。 24 有个名叫底米丢的银匠,是制作亚底米 [b]的神龛的,他给当地的手工艺者带来很多益处并揽了不少生意。 25 他召集了这些手工艺者和有关行业的工匠们,对他们说∶“你们大家都知道,我们从事这项工作,收入很好。 26 但是,你们看见并且也听说,保罗这个家伙不仅引诱迷惑了在以弗所的一大批人,而且几乎是引诱了整个亚西亚全省的人。他说,用人类双手造的神根本不是神。 27 因此,不仅仅我们这个行业有落下坏名声的危险,而且,伟大的女神亚底米神的大殿也失去其重要性。不但如此,甚至连女神亚底米的神圣尊严-她在全亚西亚省和全世界受到崇拜,也要毁于一旦。”

28 听到这里,众人狂怒起来。他们开始高喊∶“以弗所人的亚底米,伟大!伟大!” 29 此时城里到处是一片混乱。他们抓住了和保罗同行的马其顿人-该犹和亚里达古,然后挟持着他们涌进了剧场。 30 保罗想走到人群的面前,但是门徒却没让他这么做。 31 那个省的一些领导是保罗的朋友,他们派人传话给他,请他不要冒险进剧场。 32 这时,整个会场一片混乱,人们有的喊这个,有的喊那个,他们大多数人甚至不知道自己为什么在那里。 33 犹太人把亚力山大推到人群前面,他们告诉他该做些什么。亚力山大挥手,想在众人面前做辩护。 34 但是,当人们发现他是犹太人时,便一齐高呼∶“以弗所的亚底米,伟大!”如此长达两个钟头左右。

35 最后,此城的书记官使众人平静下来,他说∶“以弗所的人们!世上谁不知道,以弗所城是伟大的亚底米殿和那块从天而降的圣石 [c]的看守呢? 36 既然这些事是不可否认的,那么你们就必须冷静下来,而不能鲁莽行事, 37 你们把这些人带到这里来,可是,他们并没有抢劫大殿、亵渎我们的女神呀。 38 如果底米丢和与他在一起的手艺人,要告什么人的状,有庭日,而且还有地方总督。让他们把互相起诉的案子带到那里去吧。 39 但是,如果你们有其它的事情要问,也该在例行的会议上解决。 40 但是,由于今天发生的事情,我们在冒被人指控暴乱的危险,我们没有任何理由来为这场骚乱辩护。” 41 说完这些,他就叫众人解散了。

Footnotes

  1. 使 徒 行 傳 19:6 把手放在他们身上: 在此,来表示使徒有上帝的权力或力量,给予人们圣灵的特别力量。
  2. 使 徒 行 傳 19:24 亚底米: 亚细亚米纳人所崇拜的女神。
  3. 使 徒 行 傳 19:35 圣石: 也许是一块陨石或岩石,这些人把它们想成尤如亚底米并崇拜。

在以弗所

19 亚波罗在哥林多的时候,保罗经过内地一带,来到以弗所。他遇见几个门徒, 问他们说:“你们信的时候,受了圣灵没有?”他们说:“没有,连圣灵赐下来这件事,我们也没有听过。” 保罗问:“那么你们受的是甚么洗呢?”他们说:“是约翰的洗礼。” 保罗说:“约翰施的是悔改的洗礼,他告诉人民当信在他以后要来的那一位,就是耶稣。” 他们听见了,就受洗归入主耶稣的名下。 保罗为他们按手,圣灵就降在他们身上,他们就用各种的语言讲话,并且说预言。 他们一共约有十二人。

一连三个月,保罗都到会堂里去,放胆宣讲,辩论 神的国的事,劝导人。 可是有些人心里刚硬,不受劝化,在群众面前毁谤这道,保罗就离开他们,也叫门徒与他们分开。他每天在推喇奴学院跟人辩论。 10 这样过了两年,全亚西亚的居民,无论犹太人或希腊人,都听见了主的道。

士基瓦的七个儿子

11  神借着保罗的手,行了一些不平凡的神迹。 12 甚至有人把保罗贴身的手巾围巾拿去,放在病人身上,病就好了,邪灵也出来了。 13 那时,有几个赶鬼的犹太人,周游各处,擅自用主耶稣的名,向身上有邪灵的人说:“我奉保罗所传的耶稣的名,命令你们出来。” 14 有一个犹太人士基瓦,是祭司长,他的七个儿子都作这事。 15 邪灵回答他们:“耶稣我认识,保罗我也知道;你们是谁?” 16 邪灵所附的那人就扑到他们身上,制伏了两人,胜过了他们,使他们赤着身带着伤,从那房子逃了出来。 17 所有住在以弗所的犹太人和希腊人,都知道这件事;大家都惧怕,尊主耶稣的名为大。 18 也有许多信了的人,来承认和述说自己行过的事。 19 又有许多行巫术的人,把他们的书堆在一起当众烧掉。他们估计书价,才知道共值五万块银子。 20 这样,主的道大有能力地兴旺起来,而且得胜。

以弗所的骚动

21 这些事以后,保罗心里定意要经过马其顿、亚该亚,往耶路撒冷去。他说:“我到了那边以后,也该去罗马看看。” 22 于是从服事他的人中,派了提摩太和以拉都两人去马其顿,自己暂时留在亚西亚。

23 那时,因这道起了大扰乱, 24 有一个银匠,名叫低米丢,是制造亚底米女神银龛的。他让技工们作了不少的生意。 25 他把这些人和同业的工人聚集起来,说:“各位,你们知道,我们是靠这生意赚钱的。 26 现在你们看见了,也听见了,这个保罗不单在以弗所,而且几乎在整个亚西亚,说服了,也带坏了许多人,说:‘人手所做的,都不是神。’ 27 这样,不只我们这一行要给人鄙视,就是大女神亚底米的庙也会给人撇弃,连全亚西亚和普天下所敬拜的女神也要垮台,威荣尽都失掉了。”

28 他们听了,怒气冲冲喊着说:“以弗所人的女神,伟大的亚底米啊!” 29 全城骚动起来,他们捉住了保罗的旅伴马其顿人该犹和亚里达古,齐心冲进了剧场。 30 保罗想要到人群当中去,门徒却不许。 31 还有几位亚西亚的首长,是保罗的朋友,派人来劝他,不要冒险到剧场里去。 32 那时大家叫这个喊那个,乱成一团,大多数的人都不知道聚集的原因。 33 犹太人把亚历山大推到前面,群众中有人把这事的因由告诉他。亚历山大作了一个手势,要向民众申辩。 34 大家一认出他是犹太人,就异口同声高呼:“以弗所人的女神,伟大的亚底米啊!”喊了约有两个钟头。 35 后来,书记官安抚群众说:“以弗所人哪!谁不知道你们的城,是看守大亚底米的庙,又是看守宙斯那里降下的神像的呢? 36 这些事既然是驳不倒的,你们就应当平心静气,不可轻举妄动。 37 你们带来的这些人,既没有行劫庙宇,也没有亵渎我们的女神。 38 如果低米丢和同他一起的技工要控告谁,大可以告上法庭,或呈交总督;让他们彼此控告好了。 39 如果还有其他的事件,可以在合法的集会里,谋求解决。 40 今天的动乱,本来是无缘无故的,我们可能有被控告的危险;关于这次的骚动,我们实在无法解释。” 41 说了这些话,就把群众解散了。

Christians in Ephesus Are Filled with the Holy Spirit

19 While Apollos was in the city of Corinth, Paul went through the hill country to get to the city of Ephesus. He found a few followers there. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you put your trust in Christ?” They said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” He asked them, “How were you baptized?” They answered, “The way John baptized.” Paul said, “John baptized those who were sorry for their sins and turned from them. He told the people to put their trust in Jesus Who was coming later.”

The people there were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus when they heard this. When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them. They started to talk in special sounds and to speak God’s Word. There were about twelve men.

Paul Preaches in a Place of Worship and in a School in Ephesus

For three months Paul went into the Jewish place of worship and spoke without fear. He taught them things about the holy nation of God. Some let their hearts grow hard. They would not put their trust in Christ. These spoke against the Christian religion in front of other people. Then Paul took the followers away from the others. He taught them each day in the school of Tyrannus. 10 He did this for two years. All the Jews and the Greeks in the countries of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.

Paul Does Powerful Works

11 God used Paul to do powerful special works. 12 Pieces of cloth and parts of his clothes that had been next to his body were put on sick people. Then they were healed of their diseases and demons came out of them.

13 There were Jews who went from city to city trying to put demons out of people. Some of these tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus on those who had demons. They said, “I speak to you in the name of Jesus, the One Paul preaches about.” 14 A Jewish leader of the people by the name of Sceva had seven sons. These sons were trying to do this. 15 The demon said, “I know Jesus. I know about Paul. But who are you?” 16 Then the man with the demon jumped on the sons. He had power over them and beat them. They ran out of the house with no clothes on and they were hurt.

17 All the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about it. Because of this all the people became afraid. And the name of the Lord Jesus was held in great honor. 18 Many Christians came and told of the wrong things they were doing. 19 Many of those who did witchcraft gathered their books together and burned them in front of everyone. These books were worth 50,000 pieces of silver money. 20 The Word of the Lord became well-known.

21 After this, Paul thought he would go through the countries of Macedonia and Greece. Then he would go to Jerusalem. He said, “After I have been there, I must go to the city of Rome also.” 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia. Paul stayed in the countries of Asia awhile longer.

The Meeting of the Silver Workmen in Ephesus

23 During that time there was much trouble about the Christians. 24 A man named Demetrius made small silver buildings for the worship of Diana. His workmen received much money for their work. 25 He called his workmen together and other men who made these small silver buildings. He said to them, “Men, you know we make much money from this work. 26 Now you hear that Paul has turned away many people in Ephesus as well as in Asia. He tells them that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 It could be that our work will not be respected. Not only that, the house of worship for the god of Diana will be worth nothing and her greatness will be destroyed. All the countries of Asia and the world worship her.”

28 They became angry when they heard this and cried out, “Great is Diana of Ephesus.” 29 The whole city was filled with loud cries. They caught Gaius and Aristarchus. These two men from Macedonia were with Paul. They gathered around them at the meeting place in the city.

30 Paul wanted to stand in front of all the people but his followers would not let him. 31 Some of the city leaders who were his friends told him not to go to the meeting. 32 All this time some were crying out one thing and some another. The meeting was all noise. Most of the people did not know why they had come together. 33 Then the Jews pushed Alexander to the front. Alexander held his hand up and was going to speak. 34 As soon as they saw he was a Jew, they cried out with a loud voice for two hours, “Great is Diana of Ephesus!”

35 One of the city leaders stopped the noise. He spoke, “Men of Ephesus, everyone knows our city is where the god of Diana is kept. That is the stone god that fell from the sky. 36 Everyone knows this is true, so you must not cry out or do anything foolish. 37 The men you brought here do not rob houses of worship or talk against our god. 38 If Demetrius and his workmen have something against anyone, we have special days for courts. Let them go to court. 39 If you want anything else, it should be done in another meeting. 40 We are in danger of being asked about this trouble today. There is no good reason we can give for this meeting.” 41 When he had said this, he told them to leave.