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Paul in Ephesus

19 Now it happened that while (A)Apollos was at (B)Corinth, Paul passed through the (C)upper regions and came to (D)Ephesus and found some disciples. And he said to them, “(E)Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, (F)we have not even heard if the Holy Spirit is being received.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “(G)Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “(H)John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people (I)to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” And when they heard this, they were (J)baptized [a]in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had (K)laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began (L)speaking with tongues and (M)prophesying. Now there were in all about twelve men.

And after he entered (N)the synagogue, he continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them (O)about the kingdom of God. But when (P)some were becoming hardened and were not believing, speaking evil of (Q)the Way before the multitude, he left them and took away (R)the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for (S)two years, so that all who lived in [b](T)Asia heard (U)the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Miracles in Ephesus

11 And God was doing (V)extraordinary [c]miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 (W)so that cloths or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and (X)the evil spirits went out. 13 But also some of the Jewish (Y)exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I implore you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Now seven sons of one named Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them, subdued all of them, and utterly prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in (Z)Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 18 Also, many of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and were burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand [d](AA)pieces of silver. 20 So [e](AB)the word of the Lord (AC)was growing mightily and prevailing.

Riots in Ephesus

21 Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the [f]Spirit to (AD)go to Jerusalem (AE)after he had passed through (AF)Macedonia and (AG)Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, (AH)I must also see Rome.” 22 And having sent into (AI)Macedonia two of (AJ)those who ministered to him, (AK)Timothy and (AL)Erastus, he himself stayed in [g](AM)Asia for a while.

23 Now about that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning (AN)the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of [h]Artemis, (AO)was bringing no little [i]business to the craftsmen; 25 these he gathered together with the workers of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is from this business. 26 And you see and hear that not only in (AP)Ephesus, but in almost all of (AQ)Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable crowd, saying that (AR)things made with hands are not gods. 27 And not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess [j]Artemis be considered as worthless and that she, whom all of (AS)Asia and (AT)the [k]world worship, is even about to be brought down from her majesty.”

28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is [l]Artemis of the (AU)Ephesians!” 29 And the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed [m]with one accord into the theater, dragging along (AV)Gaius and (AW)Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling (AX)companions from (AY)Macedonia. 30 And when Paul wanted to go into the [n]assembly, (AZ)the disciples would not let him. 31 Also some of the [o]Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to [p]venture into the theater. 32 (BA)So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the [q]meeting was in confusion and the majority did not know [r]for what reason they had come together. 33 And some of the crowd [s]concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having (BB)motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the [t]assembly. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single cry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 Now after calming the crowd, the city clerk *said, “Men of (BC)Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? 36 So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither (BD)robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and [u](BE)proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the [v]lawful meeting. 40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no cause for which we can give as an account for this disorderly gathering.” 41 After saying this he dismissed the meeting.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:5 Lit into
  2. Acts 19:10 West coast province of Asia Minor
  3. Acts 19:11 Or works of power
  4. Acts 19:19 A silver piece was approx. a laborer’s daily wage
  5. Acts 19:20 Or according to the power of the Lord the word was growing
  6. Acts 19:21 Or spirit
  7. Acts 19:22 West coast province of Asia Minor
  8. Acts 19:24 Lat Diana
  9. Acts 19:24 Or profit
  10. Acts 19:27 Lat Diana
  11. Acts 19:27 Lit the inhabited earth
  12. Acts 19:28 Lat Diana
  13. Acts 19:29 Or together
  14. Acts 19:30 Lit people
  15. Acts 19:31 Political or religious officials of the province of Asia
  16. Acts 19:31 Lit give himself
  17. Acts 19:32 Gr ekklesia
  18. Acts 19:32 Or on whose account
  19. Acts 19:33 Or advised Alexander
  20. Acts 19:33 Lit people
  21. Acts 19:38 Or provincial governors
  22. Acts 19:39 Or regular

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.[a] 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

The Sons of Sceva

11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit said to them in reply, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leapt on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. 17 When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. 18 Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices. 19 A number of those who practised magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books[b] was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

The Riot in Ephesus

21 Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, ‘After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.’ 22 So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia.

23 About that time no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way. 24 A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans. 25 These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, ‘Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business. 26 You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.’

28 When they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ 29 The city was filled with the confusion; and people[c] rushed together to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s travelling-companions. 30 Paul wished to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let him; 31 even some officials of the province of Asia,[d] who were friendly to him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theatre. 32 Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd gave instructions to Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defence before the people. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours all of them shouted in unison, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ 35 But when the town clerk had quietened the crowd, he said, ‘Citizens of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple-keeper of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven?[e] 36 Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 You have brought these men here who are neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of our[f] goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another. 39 If there is anything further[g] you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.’ 41 When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:9 Other ancient authorities read of a certain Tyrannus, from eleven o’clock in the morning to four in the afternoon
  2. Acts 19:19 Gk them
  3. Acts 19:29 Gk they
  4. Acts 19:31 Gk some of the Asiarchs
  5. Acts 19:35 Meaning of Gk uncertain
  6. Acts 19:37 Other ancient authorities read your
  7. Acts 19:39 Other ancient authorities read about other matters