Acts 19

Paul Finds Disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus

1 And it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions and camet to Ephesus and found some disciples.2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “But we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit!”3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into the baptism of John.”4 And Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who was to come after him—that is, in Jesus.”5 And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6 And when Paul laid handst on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.

7 (Now the total number of men was about twelve.)
8 So he entered into the synagogue and was speaking boldly for three months, discussing and attempting to convincet them concerningt the kingdom of God.9 But when some became hardened and were disobedient, reviling the Way before the congregation, he departed from them and took away the disciples, leading discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

10 And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asiat heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Would-be Exorcists

11 And God was performing extraordinaryt miracles by the hands of Paul,12 so that even handkerchiefs or work aprons that had touched his skint were carried away to those who were sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches!”14 (Now seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.)15 But the evil spirit answered and said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with, but who are you?”16 And the man who had the evil spiritt leaped on them, subdued all of them, and prevailed against them, so that they ran away from that house naked and wounded.17 And this became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was exalted.18 And many of those who had believed came, confessing and disclosing their practices,19 and many of those who practiced magic brought together their books and burned them up in the sight of everyone. And they counted up their value and found it was fifty thousand silver coins.t

20 In this way the word of the Lord was growing in power and was prevailing.

A Major Riot in Ephesus

21 Now when these things were completed, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, it is necessary for me to see Rome also.”

22 So after sending two of those who were assisting him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed some time in Asia.t
23 Now there happened at that time no little disturbance concerning the Way.24 For someone namedt Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver replicas of the temple of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen.25 Theset he gathered together, and the workers occupied with such things, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we get our prosperity,t26 and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asiat this man Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd by saying that the gods made by hands are not gods.

27 So not only is there a danger this line of business of ours will come into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing—and she is about to be brought down even from her grandeur, she whom the whole of Asiat and the entire world worship!”
28 And when they heard this and became full of rage, they began to shout, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”29 And the city was filled with the tumult, and with one purpose they rushed into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were traveling companions of Paul.30 But when Paul wanted to enter into the popular assembly, the disciples would not let him.31 And even some of the Asiarchst who were his friends sent word to him and were urging him not to risk himself by going into the theater.32 So some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know whyt they had assembled.33 And some of the crowd advisedt Alexander, when the Jews put him forward. But Alexander, motioning with his hand, was wanting to defend himself to the popular assembly.34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they were shouting with one voice from all of them for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”35 And when the city secretary had quieted the crowd, he said, “Ephesian men, for who is there among men who does not know the Ephesian city is honorary temple keeper of the great Artemis and of her image fallen from heaven?36 Therefore because these things are undeniable, it is necessary that you be quiet and do nothing rash!37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the court days are observed and there are proconsuls—let them bring charges against one another!39 But if you desire anything further, it will be settled in the lawful assembly.

40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused of rioting concerning today, since there is no cause in relation to which we will be able to give an account concerning this disorderly gathering!” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.t

Acts 19

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples:2 and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given.3 And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism.4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.5 And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.7 And they were in all about twelve men.8 And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.10 And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:12 insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the evil spirits went out.13 But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.15 And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and 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, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.18 Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.19 And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.20 So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.21 Now after 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 also see Rome.22 And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.23 And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;25 whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.26 And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:27 and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.28 And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesus.29 And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.30 And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.31 And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.33 And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defense unto the people.34 But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.35 And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?36 Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.37 For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.38 If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.39 But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.40 For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day’s riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.