使徒行傳 19
保羅在以弗所
1 亞波羅在哥林多的時候，保羅經過了上邊一帶地方，就來到以弗所；在那裏遇見幾個門徒， 2 問他們說：「你們信的時候受了聖靈沒有？」他們回答說：「沒有，也未曾聽見有聖靈賜下來。」 3 保羅說：「這樣，你們受的是甚麼洗呢？」他們說：「是約翰的洗。」 4 保羅說：「約翰所行的是悔改的洗，告訴百姓當信那在他以後要來的，就是耶穌。」 5 他們聽見這話，就奉主耶穌的名受洗。 6 保羅按手在他們頭上，聖靈便降在他們身上，他們就說方言，又說預言t。 7 一共約有十二個人。
8
保羅進會堂，放膽講道，一連三個月，辯論上帝國的事，勸化眾人。 9 後來，有些人心裏剛硬不信，在眾人面前毀謗這道，保羅就離開他們，也叫門徒與他們分離，便在推喇奴的學房天天辯論。 10 這樣有兩年之久，叫一切住在亞細亞的，無論是猶太人，是希臘人，都聽見主的道。
士基瓦的兒子們
11 上帝藉保羅的手行了些非常的奇事； 12 甚至有人從保羅身上拿手巾或圍裙放在病人身上，病就退了，惡鬼也出去了。 13 那時，有幾個遊行各處、念咒趕鬼的猶太人，向那被惡鬼附的人擅自稱主耶穌的名，說：「我奉保羅所傳的耶穌令你們出來！」 14 做這事的，有猶太祭司長士基瓦的七個兒子。 15 惡鬼回答他們說：「耶穌我認識，保羅我也知道。你們卻是誰呢？」 16 惡鬼所附的人就跳在他們身上，勝了其中二人，制伏他們，叫他們赤著身子受了傷，從那房子裏逃出去了。 17 凡住在以弗所的，無論是猶太人，是希臘人，都知道這事，也都懼怕；主耶穌的名從此就尊大了。 18 那已經信的，多有人來承認訴說自己所行的事。 19 平素行邪術的，也有許多人把書拿來，堆積在眾人面前焚燒。他們算計書價，便知道共合五萬塊錢。 20 主的道大大興旺，而且得勝，就是這樣。
以弗所的暴動
21 這些事完了，保羅心裏定意經過了馬其頓、亞該亞，就往耶路撒冷去；又說：「我到了那裏以後，也必須往羅馬去看看。」 22 於是從幫助他的人中打發提摩太、以拉都二人往馬其頓去，自己暫時等在亞細亞。
23 那時，因為這道起的擾亂不小。 24 有一個銀匠，名叫底米丟，是製造亞底米神銀龕的，他使這樣手藝人生意發達。 25 他聚集他們和同行的工人，說：「眾位，你們知道我們是倚靠這生意發財。 26 這保羅不但在以弗所，也幾乎在亞細亞全地，引誘迷惑許多人，說：『人手所做的，不是神。』這是你們所看見所聽見的。 27 這樣，不獨我們這事業被人藐視，就是大女神亞底米的廟也要被人輕忽，連亞細亞全地和普天下所敬拜的大女神之威榮也要消滅了。」
28 眾人聽見，就怒氣填胸，喊著說：「大哉，以弗所人的亞底米啊！」 29 滿城都轟動起來。眾人拿住與保羅同行的馬其頓人該猶和亞里達古，齊心擁進戲園裏去。 30 保羅想要進去，到百姓那裏，門徒卻不許他去。 31 還有亞細亞幾位首領，是保羅的朋友，打發人來勸他，不要冒險到戲園裏去。 32 聚集的人紛紛亂亂，有喊叫這個的，有喊叫那個的；大半不知道是為甚麼聚集。 33 有人把亞歷山大從眾人中帶出來，猶太人推他往前，亞歷山大就擺手，要向百姓分訴； 34 只因他們認出他是猶太人，就大家同聲喊著說：「大哉！以弗所人的亞底米啊。」如此約有兩小時。 35 那城裏的書記安撫了眾人，就說：「以弗所人哪，誰不知道以弗所人的城是看守大亞底米的廟和從宙斯那裏落下來的像呢？ 36 這事既是駁不倒的，你們就當安靜，不可造次。 37 你們把這些人帶來，他們並沒有偷竊廟中之物，也沒有謗讟我們的女神。 38 若是底米丟和他同行的人有控告人的事，自有放告的日子t，也有方伯可以彼此對告。 39 你們若問別的事，就可以照常例聚集斷定。 40 今日的擾亂本是無緣無故，我們難免被查問。論到這樣聚眾，我們也說不出所以然來。」 41 說了這話，便叫眾人散去。
Acts 19
Disciples of John the Baptist at Ephesus
1 Whilet Apollos was in Corinth,s Paul went through the inlandt regionst and came to Ephesus.s Het found some disciples theret2 and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”t They replied,t “No, we have not event heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”3 So Pault said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John’s baptism,” they replied.t4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,s that is, in Jesus.”5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus,6 and when Paul placedt his hands on them, the Holy Spirit cames upon them, and they began to speakt in tongues and to prophesy.t
7 (Now there were about twelve men in all.)s
Paul Continues to Minister at Ephesus
8 So Pault enteredt the synagogues and spoke out fearlesslyt for three months, addressingt and convincingt them about the kingdom of God.s9 But whent some were stubbornt and refused to believe, revilingt the Ways before the congregation, he leftt them and took the disciples with him,t addressingt them every dayt in the lecture hallt of Tyrannus.
10 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia,ts both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.s
The Seven Sons of Sceva
11 God was performing extraordinaryt miracles by Paul’s hands,12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his bodyt were broughtt to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.t13 But some itinerantt Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the namet of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed byt evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warns you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”14 (Now seven sons of a man namedt Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.)s15 But the evil spirit replied to them,t “I know about Jesust and I am acquainted witht Paul, but who are you?”s16 Then the man who was possessed byt the evil spirit jumped ont them and beat them all into submission.t He prevailedt against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus,s both Jews and Greeks; fear came overt them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.t18 Many of those who had believed came forward,t confessing and making their deeds known.ts19 Large numberst of those who had practiced magict collected their bookst and burned them up in the presence of everyone.t Whent the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins.t
20 In this way the word of the Lords continued to grow in powert and to prevail.s
A Riot in Ephesus
21 Now after all these things had taken place,t Paul resolvedt to go to Jerusalem,s passing through Macedonias and Achaia.s He said,t “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”ss
22 So after sendingt two of his assistants,t Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,s he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.t
23 Att that timet a great disturbancet took place concerning the Way.s24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrinest of Artemis,s brought a great dealt of businesss to the craftsmen.25 He gatheredt theset together, along with the workmen in similar trades,s and said, “Men, you know that our prosperityt comes from this business.26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuadedt and turned awayt a large crowd,t not only in Ephesuss but in practically all of the province of Asia,t by sayingt that gods made by hands are not gods at all.ts
27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute,t but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemiss will be regarded as nothing,t and she whom all the province of Asiat and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”ts
28 Whent they heardt this they became enragedt and began to shout,t “Great is Artemiss of the Ephesians!”29 Thet city was filled with the uproar,t and the crowdt rushed to the theaters together,t dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.30 But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly,t the disciples would not let him.31 Even some of the provincial authoritiest who were his friends sentt a messaget to him, urging him not to venturet into the theater.32 So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.t33 Some of the crowd concludedt it was aboutt Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front.t Alexander, gesturingt with his hand, was wanting to make a defenses before the public assembly.t34 But when they recognizedt that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison,t “Great is Artemiss of the Ephesians!” for about two hours.s35 After the city secretaryt quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what persont is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keepert of the temple of the great Artemiss and of her image that fell from heaven?ts36 So because these factst are indisputable,t you must keep quiett and not do anything reckless.t37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robberst nor blasphemers of our goddess.s38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaintt against someone, the courts are opent and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.t39 But if you want anything in addition,t it will have to be settledt in a legal assembly.t40 Fort we are in danger of being charged with riotingt today, since there is no cause we can give to explaint this disorderly gathering.”t
41 Aftert he had saidt this,t he dismissed the assembly.s