Acts 19

1 AND it came to pass, while Apollo was at Corinth, that Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.2 And he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost.3 And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John's baptism.4 Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of penance, saying: That they should believe in him who was to come after him, that is to say, in Jesus.5 Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6 And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.7 And all the men were about twelve.8 And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and exhorting concerning the kingdom of God.9 But when some were hardened, and believed not, speaking evil of the way of the Lord, before the multitude, departing from them, he separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.10 And this continued for the space of two years, so that all they who dwelt in Asia, heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Gentiles.11 And God wrought by the hand of Paul more than common miracles.12 So that even there were brought from his body to the sick, handkerchiefs and aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the wicked spirits went out of them.13 Now some also of the Jewish exorcists who went about, attempted to invoke over them that had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying: I conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth.14 And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, that did this.15 But the wicked spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?16 And the man in whom the wicked spirit was, leaping upon them, and mastering them both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.17 And this became known to all the Jews and the Gentiles that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.18 And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds.19 And many of them who had followed curious arts, brought together their books, and burnt them before all; and counting the price of them, they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.20 So mightily grew the word of God, and was confirmed.21 And when these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying: After I have been there, I must see Rome also.22 And sending into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself remained for a time in Asia.23 Now at that time there arose no small disturbance about the way of the Lord.24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver temples for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen;25 Whom he calling together, with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade;26 And you see and hear, that this Paul by persuasion hath drawn away a great multitude, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, saying: They are not gods which are made by hands.27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, but also the temple of great Diana shall be reputed for nothing; yea, and her majesty shall begin to be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.28 Having heard these things, they were full of anger, and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.29 And the whole city was filled with confusion; and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.31 And some also of the rulers of Asia, who were his friends, sent unto him, desiring that he would not venture himself into the theatre.32 Now some cried one thing, some another. For the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what cause they were come together.33 And they drew forth Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews thrusting him forward. And Alexander beckoning with his hand for silence, would have given the people satisfaction.34 But as soon as they perceived him to be a Jew, all with one voice, for the space of about two hours, cried out: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.35 And when the town clerk had appeased the multitudes, he said: Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great Diana, and of Jupiter's offspring.36 For as much therefore as these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.37 For you have brought hither these men, who are neither guilty of sacrilege, nor of blasphemy against your goddess.38 But if Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts of justice are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.39 And if you inquire after any other matter, it may be decided in a lawful assembly.40 For we are even in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no man guilty (of whom we may give account) of this concourse. And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

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