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。

保羅在以弗所傳道

19 當亞波羅在哥林多時,保羅已取道內陸重回以弗所,在那裡遇見幾個門徒。 保羅問他們:「你們信的時候有沒有領受聖靈?」

他們說:「沒有!我們從來沒有聽過聖靈的事。」

保羅說:「那麼,你們受的是什麼洗禮呢?」

他們說:「是約翰的洗禮。」

保羅說:「約翰的洗禮是悔改的洗禮,約翰告訴百姓要信在他以後來的那位——耶穌。」

他們聽後,立刻奉主耶穌的名受了洗。 保羅把手按在他們身上時,聖靈便降在他們身上,他們就說方言,講上帝的信息。 這次共有十二個人。

保羅一連三個月勇敢地在會堂裡傳道,與人辯論上帝國的事,勸導他們。 可是有些人仍然頑固不信,還當眾毀謗上帝的道。保羅便帶著門徒離開他們,天天在推喇奴的學堂辯論。 10 這樣持續了兩年,亞細亞全境的居民,無論是猶太人還是希臘人,都聽見了主的道。 11 上帝又藉著保羅的手行了一些非凡的神蹟, 12 甚至只要將保羅身上的手帕或圍裙放在病人身上,病人就痊癒了,邪靈也會離開所附的人。

13 那時,有幾個走江湖的猶太術士也想用耶穌的名趕鬼,他們向那些被邪靈附身的人說:「我奉保羅所傳講的耶穌之名,命令你們出來!」 14 做這事的有猶太祭司長士基瓦的七個兒子。

15 邪靈回答說:「耶穌,我認識;保羅,我也知道。但你們是誰?」 16 被邪靈附身的人隨即撲向他們,攻擊他們,制伏了他們,使他們赤著身子帶著傷從屋裡逃走了。

17 全以弗所的猶太人和希臘人知道了這件事,都驚懼不已。主耶穌的名因此大受尊崇。 18 許多已經信耶穌的人都前來認罪,公開承認自己的惡行。 19 又有許多行邪術的人把他們的書堆在一起,當眾焚燒。根據當時的估價,這些書約值五萬銀幣。 20 主的道就這樣傳開了,大大興旺起來。

21 這些事以後,保羅決定經過馬其頓和亞該亞回到耶路撒冷。他說:「到了那裡之後,我必須去羅馬看看。」 22 於是,他派提摩太和以拉都兩位同工先去馬其頓,自己暫時留在亞細亞。

以弗所的騷亂

23 就在這時,由於主的道,以弗所又起了很大的騷亂。 24 一個名叫底米丟的銀匠以製造亞底米女神銀龕為業,使從事這門生意的工匠獲利豐厚。 25 他召集了工匠和同行的人,說:「各位都知道我們靠這一行發財, 26 可是你們都看到了,也聽見了,那個保羅在以弗所和亞細亞全境說服、誤導了許多人,說什麼人手所造的不是神。 27 這樣下去,不但我們的行業會遭人貶抑,連亞底米女神廟也會被人輕看,甚至全亞細亞及普世尊崇的女神也會威嚴掃地!」

28 眾人聽後,怒氣填胸,高聲喊叫:「以弗所人的亞底米女神真偉大!」 29 全城陷入一片混亂。眾人抓住保羅的兩個同伴——馬其頓人該猶和亞里達古,拖著他們衝進戲院。 30 保羅想進去,但門徒不許他去。 31 他的好友——亞細亞的幾位官員也派人勸他別冒險進入戲院。

32 這時,戲院裡面的人都在大喊大叫,混亂不堪。其實大部分人根本不知道自己為什麼聚在那裡。 33 這時,人群中的猶太人把亞歷山大推到前面,請他解釋。亞歷山大舉手示意大家安靜,聽他發言。 34 但眾人認出他是個猶太人,便又開始一起高呼:「以弗所人的亞底米女神真偉大!」這樣喊了兩個小時。

35 最後,城裡的書記官出面調停,說:「各位以弗所市民,誰不知道以弗所城守護著亞底米女神廟和從宙斯那裡掉下來的神像呢? 36 既然這是無可否認的事實,你們就該安靜,不可魯莽行事。 37 你們帶來的這些人既沒有偷廟裡的東西,也沒有褻瀆我們的女神。 38 如果底米丟和他的同行要控告誰,大可到法庭或總督那裡提出訴訟。 39 倘若你們還有其他的要求,也可以通過合法的會議解決。 40 今天的騷亂實在沒有道理,難免會被查問,到時候我們很難交代。」 41 說完,便叫眾人散去。

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。

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions [C the mountainous northern route through the interior of Phrygia; 18:23] to Ephesus [C a major city in western Asia Minor; 18:23]. There he found some ·followers [disciples] and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit ·when [or after] you believed?”

They said, “We have never even heard ·of [or that there is] a Holy Spirit.”

So he asked, “·What kind of baptism did you have [L Into what were you baptized]?”

They said, “·It was the baptism that John taught [L Into John’s baptism].” [C These followers of John the Baptist either (1) knew only of John’s ministry but had not heard that Jesus was the Messiah, or less likely, (2) believed in Jesus as Messiah, but had not been baptized in his name to receive the Holy Spirit.]

Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of ·changed hearts and lives [repentance; C in preparation for the Messiah]. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.”

When they heard this, they were baptized ·in [or into] the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul ·laid [placed] his hands on them [C a ritual of blessing and/or conferring of authority], and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They began speaking ·different languages [or in tongues; ecstatic utterance] and prophesying. There were about twelve people in this group.

Paul went into the synagogue and spoke out ·boldly [confidently; fearlessly] for three months. He ·talked [reasoned; argued] with the people and persuaded them ·to accept the things he said about [L concerning] the kingdom of God. But some of them became ·stubborn [hardened]. They refused to believe and ·said evil things about [slandered; cursed] ·the Way of Jesus [L the Way; C another name for the Christian movement; 9:2; 18:25; 22:4] before ·all the people [the crowd]. So Paul left them, and taking the ·followers [disciples] with him, he went to the ·school [lecture hall] of a man named Tyrannus. There Paul ·talked [discussed; reasoned; debated] with people every day 10 for two years. Because of his work, ·everyone who lived in [the whole population of] the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

The Sons of Sceva

11 God ·used Paul to do [L through the hands of Paul did] some ·very special [extraordinary] miracles. 12 Some people took ·handkerchiefs [face cloths] and ·clothes [work aprons; or hand towels] ·that Paul had used [that had touched Paul; L from his skin] and put them on the sick. When they did this, ·the sick were healed [L the diseases left them] and evil spirits ·left [L came out of] them.

13 But some ·people also were traveling around and making evil spirits go out of people [L traveling/itinerant Jewish exorcists…]. They tried to ·use [invoke; L name] the name of the Lord Jesus to force the evil spirits out. They would say, “By the same Jesus that Paul ·talks about [L preaches; proclaims], I ·order [command; adjure] you to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a ·leading [L Jewish chief] priest, were doing this.

15 But one time ·an [L the] evil spirit said to them, “I know Jesus, and I ·know about [recognize] Paul, but who are you?”

16 Then the man who had the evil spirit ·jumped on [leaped on; attacked] them. Because he ·was so much stronger than all of them [violently overpowered them], they ran away from the house naked and ·hurt [wounded]. 17 All the people [L who lived] in Ephesus—Jews and Greeks—learned about this and were filled with fear and ·gave great honor to [praised/magnified the name of] the Lord Jesus. 18 Many of ·the believers [those who now believed] began to confess openly and ·tell all the evil things they had done [L disclose their (evil/magical) practices]. 19 ·Some [or A significant number] of them who had ·used magic [practiced sorcery/witchcraft] brought their magic ·books [or scrolls] and burned them before everyone. Those books were worth about fifty thousand silver coins [C probably drachmas, each worth a day’s wages].

20 ·So in a powerful way [L In this way; Thus] the word of the Lord kept spreading and ·growing [or grew strong; prevailed].

21 After these things [L had been fulfilled/accomplished], Paul decided [L in his spirit; or in the Spirit] to go to Jerusalem, planning to go through Macedonia [C northern Greece] and Achaia [C southern Greece] and then on to Jerusalem. He said, “After I have been ·to Jerusalem [L there], I must also ·visit [L see] Rome.” 22 Paul sent Timothy and Erastus, two of his ·helpers [assistants], ahead to Macedonia, but he himself stayed in [C the province of] Asia for a while.

Trouble in Ephesus

23 And during [or about; at] that time, there was ·some serious trouble [L no small disturbance] in Ephesus about ·the Way of Jesus [L the Way; C another name for the Christian movement; 9:2; 18:25; 22:4]. 24 A man named Demetrius, who worked with silver, made little silver ·models that looked like the temple [L shrines; C probably reliefs depicting the goddess in her temple] of the goddess Artemis [C Greek goddess of fertility, worshiped particularly in Ephesus]. ·Those who did this work [The artisans/craftsmen] made much money [L had no little business]. 25 ·Demetrius [L He] had a meeting with them and ·some others [L workers] who did ·the same kind of work [or similar trades]. He told them, “Men, you know that ·we make a lot of money [our wealth/livelihood comes] from this business. 26 But ·look at [L you have seen and heard] what this man Paul is doing. He has ·convinced [persuaded] and ·turned away [or led astray] many people, not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of [C the province of] Asia! He says the gods made by human hands are not ·real [L gods (at all); Is. 44:9–20; 46:1–7; 1 Cor. 8:4–6]. 27 There is a danger that our business will ·lose its good name [be discredited], but there is also another danger: People will begin to think that the temple of the great goddess Artemis is not important, and the goddess herself, whom everyone in [C the province of] Asia and the whole world worships, will ·lose [be deposed of/stripped of] her majesty [magnificence; greatness].

28 When the others heard this, they became ·very angry [enraged; furious] and shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 The whole city ·became confused [was filled with confusion; was in an uproar]. The people grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus [20:4; 27:2; Col. 4:10; Philem. 24], who were from Macedonia and were traveling with Paul, and ·ran [rushed together] to the theater. 30 Paul wanted to ·go in and talk to the crowd [appear before the assembly], but the ·followers [disciples] did not let him. 31 Also, some ·leaders of Asia [provincial authorities; L of the Asiarchs; C a group of wealthy political leaders who had religious functions] who were friends of Paul sent him a message, ·begging [urging; encouraging] him not to ·go [venture; take the risk of going] into the theater. 32 Some people were shouting one thing, and some were shouting another. The ·meeting [assembly] was completely confused; most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 The Jews ·pushed forward [put in front] a man named Alexander, and some of them [C either the crowd or the Jews] ·told him to explain [or gave him advice on what to say; or assumed he was responsible for the trouble]. Alexander ·waved [gestured with] his hand [C for silence] so he could ·explain things to [or make a defense before] the ·people [crowd]. 34 But when they ·saw [recognized] that Alexander was a Jew [C Jews opposed idol worship, so the crowd was suspicious of him], they all shouted ·the same thing [in unison; L with one voice] for two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 Then the city clerk [C the head of the assembly and the senior local official] quieted [calmed down] the crowd. He said, “·People of Ephesus [L Men, Ephesians], ·everyone knows [L who does not know…?] that Ephesus is the city that ·keeps [guards] the temple of the great goddess Artemis and her ·holy stone [or image; or statue] that fell from heaven [C probably a meteorite that resembled the many-breasted image of Artemis]. 36 Since no one can say this is not true, you should ·be quiet [keep calm]. ·Stop and think before you do anything [Do nothing reckless/rash]. 37 You brought these men here, but they have not ·said anything evil against [L blasphemed] our goddess or ·stolen anything from [or committed sacrilege against] her temple. 38 If Demetrius and ·those who work [L the artisans/craftmen] with him have a ·charge [complaint; grievance; L word] against anyone, ·they should go to the courts and judges [L the courts are open/in session and there are proconsuls] where they can ·argue with [or bring charges against] each other. 39 If there is something else you want to talk about, it ·can [or must] be decided at the ·regular town meeting of the people [legal assembly; C which met three times a month]. 40 I say this because [L we are in danger that] some people might see this trouble today and ·say that we are [accuse us of; charge us with] rioting. We could not explain this, because there is no real reason for this ·meeting [or uproar; commotion].” 41 After the city clerk said these things, he ·told the people to go home [L dismissed the assembly].