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Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul took a route through the interior and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you came to believe?”

They replied, “We’ve not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Then he said, “What baptism did you receive, then?”

They answered, “John’s baptism.”

Paul explained, “John baptized with a baptism by which people showed they were changing their hearts and lives. It was a baptism that told people about the one who was coming after him. This is the one in whom they were to believe. This one is Jesus.” After they listened to Paul, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in other languages and prophesying. Altogether, there were about twelve people.

Paul went to the synagogue and spoke confidently for the next three months. He interacted with those present and offered convincing arguments concerning the nature of God’s kingdom. Some people had closed their minds, though. They refused to believe and publicly slandered the Way. As a result, Paul left them, took the disciples with him, and continued his daily interactions in Tyrannus’ lecture hall. 10 This went on for two years, so that everyone living in the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the Lord’s word.

11 God was doing unusual miracles through Paul. 12 Even the small towels and aprons that had touched his skin were taken to the sick, and their diseases were cured and the evil spirits left them.

13 There were some Jews who traveled around throwing out evil spirits. They tried to use the power of the name of the Lord Jesus against some people with evil spirits. They said, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you!” 14 The seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 The evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus and I’m familiar with Paul, but who are you?” 16 The person who had an evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all with such force that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus. Everyone was seized with fear and they held the name of the Lord Jesus in the highest regard.

18 Many of those who had come to believe came, confessing their past practices. 19 This included a number of people who practiced sorcery. They collected their sorcery texts and burned them publicly. The value of those materials was calculated at more than someone might make if they worked for one hundred sixty-five years.[a] 20 In this way the Lord’s word grew abundantly and strengthened powerfully.

21 Once these things had come to an end, Paul, guided by the Spirit, decided to return to Jerusalem, taking a route that would carry him through the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia. He said, “After I have been there, I must visit Rome as well.” 22 He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he remained awhile in the province of Asia.

23 At that time a great disturbance erupted about the Way. 24 There was a silversmith named Demetrius. He made silver models of Artemis’ temple, and his business generated a lot of profit for the craftspeople. 25 He called a meeting with these craftspeople and others working in related trades and said, “Friends, you know that we make an easy living from this business. 26 And you can see and hear that this Paul has convinced and misled a lot of people, not only in Ephesus but also throughout most of the province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands aren’t really gods. 27 This poses a danger not only by discrediting our trade but also by completely dishonoring the great goddess Artemis. The whole province of Asia—indeed, the entire civilized world—worships her, but her splendor will soon be extinguished.”

28 Once they heard this, they were beside themselves with anger and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29 The city was thrown into turmoil. They rushed as one into the theater. They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from the province of Macedonia. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the assembly, but the disciples wouldn’t allow him. 31 Even some officials of the province of Asia, who were Paul’s friends, sent word to him, urging him not to risk going into the theater. 32 Meanwhile, the assembly was in a state of confusion. Some shouted one thing, others shouted something else, and most of the crowd didn’t know why they had gathered. 33 The Jews sent Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd directed their words toward him. He gestured that he wanted to offer a defense before the assembly, 34 but when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” This continued for about two hours.

35 The city manager brought order to the crowd and said, “People of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you must calm down. Don’t be reckless. 37 The men you brought here have neither robbed the temple nor slandered our goddess. 38 Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftspeople with him have a charge against anyone, the courts are in session and governors are available. They can press charges against each other there. 39 Additional disputes can be resolved in a legal assembly. 40 As for us, we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since we can’t justify this unruly gathering.” 41 After he said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:19 Or fifty thousand silver drachmen (a drachme is equivalent in value to a denarion, a typical day’s wage).

19 And de it happened ginomai that while en · ho Apollos Apollōs was eimi at en Corinth Korinthos, Paul Paulos went dierchomai through the ho inland anōterikos regions meros and came erchomai to eis Ephesus Ephesos. · kai There he found heuriskō some tis disciples mathētēs and te said legō to pros them autos, “ Did you receive lambanō the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma when you believed pisteuō?” They ho · de said to pros him autos, “ Why alla, we have akouō not oude even heard akouō if ei there is eimi a Holy hagios Spirit pneuma.” So te Paul asked legō, “ Into eis what tis then oun were you baptized baptizō?” And de they ho replied legō, “ Into eis the ho baptism baptisma of John Iōannēs.” Paul Paulos said legō, · de John Iōannēs baptized baptizō with a baptism baptisma of repentance metanoia, telling legō the ho people laos to hina believe pisteuō in eis the ho one coming erchomai after meta him autos, that houtos is eimi, in eis · ho Jesus Iēsous.” Upon hearing akouō this, · de they were baptized baptizō in eis the ho name onoma of the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous. And kai when Paul Paulos laid epitithēmi his ho hands cheir on them autos, · ho the ho Holy hagios Spirit pneuma came erchomai · ho on epi them autos, and te they spoke laleō in tongues glōssa and kai prophesied prophēteuō. And de the ho men anēr were eimi in all pas about hōsei twelve dōdeka.

And de he went eiserchomai into eis the ho synagogue synagōgē and spoke parrēsiazomai boldly for epi three treis months mēn, reasoning dialegomai and kai persuading peithō them concerning peri the ho things of the ho kingdom basileia of ho God theos. But de when hōs some tis became stubborn sklērynō and kai refused apeitheō to believe, speaking kakologeō evil of the ho Way hodos before enōpion the ho congregation plēthos, he withdrew aphistēmi from apo them autos, taking aphorizō the ho disciples mathētēs with him, and continued daily kata hēmera to discourse dialegomai in en the ho lecture scholē hall of Tyrannus Tyrannos. 10 This houtos · de went ginomai on for epi two dyo years etos, so hōste that all pas the ho residents katoikeō of · ho Asia Asia heard akouō the ho word logos of the ho Lord kyrios, both te Jews Ioudaios and kai Greeks Hellēn.

11 They were no ou ordinary tynchanō miracles dynamis · ho that · ho God theos was doing poieō by dia the ho hands cheir of Paul Paulos, 12 so hōste that · kai handkerchiefs soudarion and ē aprons simikinthion were carried apopherō off from apo · ho his autos body chrōs for epi the ho sick astheneō, and kai diseases nosos were driven apallassō away by apo them autos · ho · ho and te evil ponēros spirits pneuma · ho came ekporeuomai out . 13 But de some tis also kai of the ho itinerant perierchomai Jews Ioudaios, exorcists exorkistēs, tried epicheireō to invoke onomazō the ho name onoma of the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous over epi those ho having echō · ho evil ponēros spirits pneuma, · ho saying legō, “ I adjure horkizō you hymeis by that ho Jesus Iēsous whom hos Paul Paulos proclaims kēryssō.” 14 There were eimi · de seven hepta sons hyios of a tis man named Sceva Skeuas, a Jewish Ioudaios high archiereus priest , who were doing poieō this houtos. 15 But de the ho evil ponēros spirit pneuma answering apokrinomai · ho said legō to them autos, · ho Jesus Iēsous I know ginōskō, and kai · ho Paul Paulos I recognize epistamai, but de who tis are eimi you hymeis?” 16 And kai the ho man anthrōpos in en whom hos was eimi the ho evil ponēros spirit pneuma · ho leaped ephallomai on epi them autos, took katakyrieuō control and overpowered ischuō all amphoteroi seven of kata them autos, so hōste that they fled ekpheugō, naked gymnos and kai wounded traumatizō, out ek of · ho that ekeinos house oikos. 17 And de this houtos became ginomai known gnōstos to all pas the Jews Ioudaios and kai Greeks Hellēn who ho lived katoikeō in · ho Ephesus Ephesos. And kai fear phobos fell epipiptō upon epi them autos all pas, and kai the ho name onoma of the ho Lord kyrios Jesus Iēsous was exalted megalynō. 18 Also te many polys of ho those who had become believers pisteuō kept coming erchomai, confessing exomologeomai and kai divulging anangellō · ho their autos practices praxis. 19 And de a number hikanos of ho those who had practiced prassō · ho magic periergos arts collected sympherō their ho books biblos and burned katakaiō them up in enōpion the sight of all pas. And kai they calculated sympsēphizō the ho value timē of them autos and kai found heuriskō it to be fifty thousand myrias pieces of silver argyrion. 20 So houtōs the ho word logos of the ho Lord kyrios continued to spread auxanō and kai grow ischuō in kata power kratos.

21 Now de after hōs all these things houtos had taken plēroō place , Paul Paulos resolved tithēmi · ho in en · ho spirit pneuma to pass dierchomai through · ho Macedonia Makedonia and kai Achaia Achaia and go poreuō on to eis Jerusalem Hierosolyma, saying legō, “ After meta · ho I egō have been ginomai there ekei, I egō must dei also kai see Rome Rhōmē.” 22 So de after sending apostellō to eis · ho Macedonia Makedonia two dyo of those ho who were helping diakoneō him autos, Timothy Timotheos and kai Erastus Erastos, he himself autos stayed epechō for a time chronos in eis · ho Asia Asia.

23 About kata that ekeinos time kairos there broke out ginomai · de · ho no ou little oligos disturbance tarachos concerning peri the ho Way hodos. 24 For gar a man tis named onoma Demetrius Dēmētrios, a silversmith argyrokopos, who made poieō silver argyrous shrines naos of Artemis Artemis, brought parechō no ou little oligos business ergasia to the ho craftsmen technitēs. 25 He called them hos together synathroizō with kai · ho workmen ergatēs in peri · ho similar toioutos trades, and said legō, “ Men anēr, you know epistamai that hoti from ek this houtos · ho trade ergasia · ho prosperity euporia comes eimi to us hēmeis. 26 And kai you see theōreō and kai hear akouō that hoti not ou only monon in Ephesus Ephesos but alla in almost schedon all pas of ho Asia Asia · ho this houtos Paul Paulos has persuaded peithō and turned methistēmi away a considerable hikanos number ochlos of people , saying legō that hoti gods ho made ginomai by dia hand cheir are eimi not ou gods theos at all. 27 There is danger kindyneuō not ou only monon · de that this houtos trade meros of ours hēmeis · ho will fall erchomai into eis disrepute apelegmos, but alla also kai that the ho temple hieron of the ho great megas goddess thea Artemis Artemis is in danger of being regarded logizomai as eis worthless outheis and te her autos magnificence megaleiotēs in danger of mellō · kai being destroyed kathaireō, · ho she whom hos all holos · ho Asia Asia and kai the ho world oikoumenē worship sebō.”

28 When they heard akouō · de · kai this, they were ginomai filled plērēs with anger thumos and began to cry krazō out , saying legō, “ Great megas is · ho Artemis Artemis of the Ephesians Ephesios!” 29 So kai the ho city polis was filled pimplēmi with the ho confusion synchusis, and te they rushed hormaō with a single homothumadon purpose into eis the ho theater theatron, dragging synarpazō with them Gaius Gaios and kai Aristarchus Aristarchos, Macedonians Makedōn, traveling-companions synekdēmos of Paul Paulos. 30 But de when Paul Paulos wanted boulomai to go eiserchomai in among eis the ho people dēmos, the ho disciples mathētēs would not ou let eaō him autos. 31 And de also kai some tis of the ho Asiarchs Asiarchēs, being eimi friendly philos to him autos, sent pempō to pros him autos and urged parakaleō him not to commit didōmi himself heautou to eis the ho theater theatron. 32 So then oun some allos were shouting krazō one allos thing tis, some another, for gar the ho assembly ekklēsia was eimi in confusion syncheō, and kai · ho most polys of them did not ou know oida why tis they had assembled synerchomai. 33 And de some ek of the ho crowd ochlos prompted symbibazō Alexander Alexandros, the ho Jews Ioudaios pushing proballō him autos forward. · ho And de Alexander Alexandros motioned kataseiō with his ho hand cheir and wanted thelō to make apologeomai a defense to the ho crowd dēmos. 34 But de when they recognized epiginōskō that hoti he was eimi a Jew Ioudaios, a single heis cry phōnē went ginomai up from ek them pas all as hōs they cried out krazō for about epi two dyo hours hōra, “ Great megas is · ho Artemis Artemis of the Ephesians Ephesios!” 35 And de when the ho city clerk grammateus had quieted katastellō the ho crowd ochlos, he said phēmi, “ Men anēr of Ephesus Ephesios, what tis man anthrōpos is eimi there who hos does not ou know ginōskō that the ho city polis of the Ephesians Ephesios is eimi the temple neōkoros keeper of the ho great megas Artemis Artemis and kai of ho her image that fell from heaven diopetēs? 36 So oun, since these things houtos are eimi indisputable anantirrētos, you hymeis must dei eimi be hyparchō quiet katastellō and kai do prassō nothing mēdeis rash propetēs. 37 For gar you have brought agō · ho these houtos men anēr, who are neither oute temple hierosylos robbers nor oute blasphemers blasphēmeō against · ho our hēmeis goddess theos. 38 If ei then oun Demetrius Dēmētrios and kai the ho craftsmen technitēs with syn him autos have echō a complaint logos against pros anyone tis, the courts agoraios are open agō, and kai there are eimi proconsuls anthypatos. Let them bring charges enkaleō against one allēlōn another there. 39 But de if ei you want epizēteō anything tis in addition peraiterō, it shall be settled epilyō in en the ho legal ennomos assembly ekklēsia. 40 For gar indeed kai we are in danger kindyneuō of being charged enkaleō in connection peri with this ho day’ s sēmeron riot stasis, there being hyparchō no mēdeis cause aitios for peri it hos; and we will not ou be able dynamai to give apodidōmi an explanation logos for peri · ho this houtos commotion systrophē.” And kai having said legō this houtos, he dismissed apolyō the ho assembly ekklēsia.