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Paul speaks in Ephesus about Jesus

19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul travelled through the region of Asia. He arrived in Ephesus and he found some believers there. 2 Paul asked them, ‘When you believed the message about Jesus, did you receive God's Holy Spirit?’

The believers answered, ‘We did not even know that there is a Holy Spirit.’

3 So Paul asked them, ‘When someone baptized you, what kind of baptism was that?’

‘We received the baptism that John spoke about,’ they answered.

4 Then Paul said, ‘John baptized people who knew that they had done wrong things. They wanted to stop doing these things. But John also said to the people, “You must believe in the man who will come soon.” This person is Jesus.’ 5 When the believers in Ephesus understood this, Paul baptized them. This showed that they now believed in the Lord Jesus. 6 Then Paul put his hands on each believer's head. When he did this, the Holy Spirit came down on them. They spoke in different languages and they spoke messages from God. 7 There were about 12 men there.

8 For three months, Paul went to the Jewish meeting place in Ephesus on their day of rest. He was not afraid to speak to the people there. He talked strongly with them about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them did not accept what Paul said. They refused to believe the message about Jesus. Some of them said bad things against the Way of the Lord Jesus and many people in the group heard this. So Paul stopped speaking to people in that meeting place. He left there and he took with him the other believers. Every day he talked with people in another place. It was a large room, where a man called Tyrannus usually taught people. 10 Paul taught the people there for two years. During that time, all the people who lived in Asia region heard the message about the Lord Jesus. This included Jews and Gentiles.

The sons of Sceva tell bad spirits to leave people

11 God was helping Paul to do special miracles. 12 Because of this, people were taking pieces of cloth and clothes that Paul gave to them. Paul had used these things, and people took them to those who were ill. After they touched these cloths, the sick people would become well again. Bad spirits also left them.

13 There were some Jewish men who travelled about to different places. They caused bad spirits to leave people. Some of them wanted to use the name of the Lord Jesus when they did this. These Jews said to the bad spirits, ‘We tell you to come out of these people. We say this with the authority of Jesus, the man that Paul teaches people about.’

14 Sceva was a leader of the Jewish priests in that place. He had seven sons who were telling bad spirits to come out of people. They used the name of Jesus when they did this. 15 But one day the bad spirit in a man said to them, ‘I know who Jesus is. I also know about Paul. But I do not know who you are.’ 16 The man who had the bad spirit in him then jumped up. He fought with the seven sons and he was too strong for them. He hurt them badly and he tore their clothes off. So the sons ran away from the man's house. Their bodies were bleeding and they wore no clothes.

17 All the Jews and Gentiles who lived in Ephesus heard about this. They became very afraid. Now they respected the name of the Lord Jesus very much. They knew that he was very powerful. 18 Many of the believers agreed that they had done wicked things. They told other believers about this. 19 Some of them had used magic to do powerful things. These people brought all their special books and they burned them in a fire. Everybody saw what they did. The books had cost a lot of money. The value of all the books was 50,000 silver coins. 20 As a result of this, more and more people heard the good news about the Lord Jesus. The message was powerful and people's lives changed.

Bad troubles happen in Ephesus

21 After these things happened, Paul decided that he should go to Jerusalem. But first he wanted to visit the believers in Macedonia and Greece. He said, ‘After I have been to Jerusalem, I must also go to Rome.’ 22 At that time, Timothy and Erastus were helping Paul with his work. Paul sent them to Macedonia while he stayed longer in Asia region.

23 Soon after that, there was bad trouble in Ephesus. Some people began to speak strongly against the Way of the Lord Jesus. 24 In Ephesus there was a man called Demetrius. He used silver to make beautiful things. He made models that looked like the temple of Artemis. [ a ] He paid a lot of money to people who did this work for him. 25 So he told all his workers to meet with him. He also asked other workers to come, who did the same kind of work. He said to all these men, ‘Men, you know that our work has caused us to become rich. 26 Also, you can see what this man Paul is doing. You have heard his message. Many people here in Ephesus, and in nearly all the places in Asia region, believe what he says. Paul teaches people this: “Anything that men have made is not really a god.” 27 If people continue to believe Paul's message, it will be very bad for us. People will say bad things against our work. The house of our god Artemis will not be important any more. People will even think that Artemis herself is not a great god. As it is now, people in all of Asia region and everywhere else worship her. We do not want that to change.’

28 When the workers heard Demetrius, they became very angry. They all shouted, ‘Our god Artemis of Ephesus is very great!’ 29 More and more people in the whole city began to shout. There was trouble everywhere. Gaius and Aristarchus had been travelling with Paul. They had come with him from Macedonia. Some people from the crowd took hold of Gaius and Aristarchus. They pulled them quickly to the big public meeting place in the middle of the city. [ b ]

30 Paul himself wanted to go there. He wanted to speak to the crowd. But the other believers would not let him do that. 31 Some Roman officers in that region were Paul's friends. They also sent a message to him. They said to him, ‘Please, do not go to the meeting place.’

32 The crowd of people in the meeting place continued to shout loudly. Some people were shouting one thing and other people were shouting something different. Not many of the people even knew why they had all met together. 33 There was a Jewish man called Alexander in the crowd. The Jews pushed him to the front of the crowd. He raised his hands towards the people, so that they would be quiet. He wanted to explain to them that he and his Jewish friends had not caused the trouble. 34 But the crowd knew that Alexander was a Jew. So they continued to shout the same words for about two hours. All together they shouted, ‘Our god Artemis of Ephesus is very great!’

35 After two hours, an important officer of the city caused the crowd to be quiet. He said, ‘People of Ephesus! Everybody knows about our god Artemis who has her temple here in Ephesus. People come here to worship her. Her special stone that fell from the sky is also here in Ephesus. We take care of all her things. Everybody knows that! 36 Nobody can say that this is not true. So be careful! Do not quickly do anything that is silly. 37 You have brought Gaius and Aristarchus here to the city officers' meeting place. But what bad thing have they done? They have not robbed the house of Artemis. They have not said bad things against her. 38 Perhaps Demetrius and his workers think that someone has done a bad thing to them. If they think that, they should let a judge decide. There are officers for the government who will do this. If someone has done a wrong thing, people should tell a judge.

39 So, if you want to argue about these problems any more, do it properly. Go to the place where the judges meet. 40 Today, there is a crowd of people who are shouting and fighting. The Roman rulers may hear about what has happened. They will say that we have done bad things. We could not explain to them the reason why there is all this trouble.’ 41 When the officer had said all this, he said to the crowd, ‘All of you should go home now.’

Footnotes

  1. 19:24 Artemis was a female god that the Ephesians worshipped.
  2. 19:29 In this place, the Roman people met together to watch many different things.

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos was in the city of Corinth, Paul was visiting some places on his way to Ephesus. In Ephesus he found some other followers of the Lord. 2 He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

These followers said to him, “We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit!”

3 Paul asked them, “So what kind of baptism did you have?”

They said, “It was the baptism that John taught.”

4 Paul said, “John told people to be baptized to show they wanted to change their lives. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.”

5 When these followers heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 Then Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them. They began speaking different languages and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in this group.

8 Paul went into the synagogue and spoke very boldly. He continued doing this for three months. He talked with the Jews, trying to persuade them to accept what he was telling them about God’s kingdom. 9 But some of them became stubborn and refused to believe. In front of everyone, they said bad things about the Way. So Paul left these Jews and took the Lord’s followers with him. He went to a place where a man named Tyrannus had a school. There Paul talked with people every day. 10 He did this for two years. Because of this work, everyone in Asia, Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

The Sons of Sceva

11 God used Paul to do some very special miracles. 12 Some people carried away handkerchiefs and clothes that Paul had used and put them on those who were sick. The sick people were healed, and evil spirits left them.

13-14 Some Jews also were traveling around forcing evil spirits out of people. The seven sons of Sceva, one of the leading priests, were doing this. These Jews tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to make the evil spirits go out of people. They all said, “By the same Jesus that Paul talks about, I order you to come out!”

15 But one time an evil spirit said to these Jews, “I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”

16 Then the man who had the evil spirit inside him jumped on these Jews. He was much stronger than all of them. He beat them up and tore their clothes off. They all ran away from that house.

17 All the people in Ephesus, Jews and Greeks, learned about this. They were all filled with fear and gave great honor to the Lord Jesus. 18 Many of the believers began to confess, telling about all the evil things they had done. 19 Some of them had used magic. These believers brought their magic books and burned them before everyone. These books were worth about 50,000 silver coins. [ a ] 20 This is how the word of the Lord was spreading in a powerful way, causing more and more people to believe.

Paul Plans a Trip

21 After this, Paul made plans to go to Jerusalem. He planned to go through the regions of Macedonia and Achaia, and then go to Jerusalem. He thought, “After I visit Jerusalem, I must also visit Rome.” 22 Timothy and Erastus were two of his helpers. Paul sent them ahead to Macedonia. But he stayed in Asia for a while.

Trouble in Ephesus

23 But during that time there was some trouble in Ephesus about the Way. This is how it all happened: 24 There was a man named Demetrius. He worked with silver. He made little silver models that looked like the temple of the goddess Artemis. The men who did this work made a lot of money.

25 Demetrius had a meeting with these men and some others who did the same kind of work. He told them, “Men, you know that we make a lot of money from our business. 26 But look at what this man Paul is doing. Listen to what he is saying. He has convinced many people in Ephesus and all over Asia to change their religion. He says the gods that people make by hand are not real. 27 I’m afraid this is going to turn people against our business. But there is also another problem. People will begin to think that the temple of the great goddess Artemis is not important. Her greatness will be destroyed. And Artemis is the goddess that everyone in Asia and the whole world worships.”

28 When the men heard this, they became very angry. They shouted, “Great is Artemis, the goddess of Ephesus!” 29 The whole city was thrown into confusion. The people grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, men from Macedonia who were traveling with Paul, and rushed all together into the stadium. 30 Paul wanted to go in and talk to the people, but the Lord’s followers did not let him go. 31 Also, some leaders of the country who were friends of Paul sent him a message telling him not to go into the stadium.

32 Some people were shouting one thing and others were shouting something else. The meeting was very confused. Most of the people did not know why they had come there. 33 Some Jews made a man named Alexander stand before the crowd, and they told him what to say. Alexander waved his hand, trying to explain things to the people. 34 But when the people saw that Alexander was a Jew, they all began shouting the same thing. For two hours they continued shouting, “Great is Artemis of Ephesus! Great is Artemis of Ephesus! Great is Artemis …!”

35 Then the city clerk persuaded the people to be quiet. He said, “Men of Ephesus, everyone knows that Ephesus is the city that keeps the temple of the great goddess Artemis. Everyone knows that we also keep her holy rock. [ b ] 36 No one can deny this, so you should be quiet. You must stop and think before you do anything else.

37 “You brought these men [ c ] here, but they have not said anything bad against our goddess. They have not stolen anything from her temple. 38 We have courts of law and there are judges. Do Demetrius and those men who work with him have a charge against anyone? They should go to the courts. Let them argue with each other there.

39 “Is there something else you want to talk about? Then come to the regular town meeting of the people. It can be decided there. 40 I say this because someone might see this trouble today and say we are rioting. We could not explain all this trouble, because there is no real reason for this meeting.” 41 After the city clerk said this, he told the people to go home.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:19 silver coins Probably Greek drachmas. One coin was worth the average pay for one day’s work.
  2. Acts 19:35 holy rock Probably a meteorite or rock that the people thought looked like Artemis and worshiped.
  3. Acts 19:37 men Gaius and Aristarchus, the men traveling with Paul.

19 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, 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 overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

21 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 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26 Moreover 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 be no gods, which are made with hands:

27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, 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 in travel, 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 certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

34 But when they knew 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 appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Paul in Ephesus

19 Now it happened that while ( A ) Apollos was in ( B ) Corinth, Paul passed through the ( C ) upper country and came to ( D ) Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “ ( E ) Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “On the contrary, ( F ) we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “ ( G ) Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “ ( H ) John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people ( I ) to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were ( J ) baptized [ a ] in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had ( K ) laid hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began ( L ) speaking with tongues and ( M ) prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 And he entered ( N ) the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, having discussions and persuading them ( O ) about the kingdom of God. 9 But when ( P ) some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of [ b ] ( Q ) the Way before the [ c ] people, he withdrew from them and took ( R ) the disciples away with him , and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for ( S ) two years, so that all who lived in [ d ] ( T ) Asia heard ( U ) the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Miracles at Ephesus

11 God was performing ( V ) extraordinary [ e ] miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 ( W ) so that handkerchiefs 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 [ f ] use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, “I order you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14 Now there were seven sons of [ g ] Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, doing this. 15 But the evil spirit responded and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know of Paul, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit, pounced on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all who lived in ( Z ) Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; 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 began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they added up the prices of [ h ] the books and found it to be fifty thousand [ i ] ( AA ) pieces of silver. 20 So [ j ] ( AB ) the word of the Lord ( AC ) was growing and prevailing mightily.

21 Now after these things were finished, Paul resolved in [ k ] the 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 after he sent into ( AI ) Macedonia two of ( AJ ) those who assisted him, ( AK ) Timothy and ( AL ) Erastus, he himself stayed in [ l ] ( AM ) Asia for a while.

23 About that time [ m ] a major disturbance occurred in regard to [ n ] ( AN ) the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of [ o ] Artemis, ( AO ) was bringing [ p ] considerable [ q ] business to the craftsmen; 25 he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades , and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity [ r ] depends upon this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in ( AP ) Ephesus, but in almost all of [ s ] ( AQ ) Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that [ t ] ( AR ) gods made by hands are not gods at all . 27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess [ u ] Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of [ v ] ( AS ) Asia and ( AT ) the [ w ] world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began shouting, saying, “Great is [ x ] Artemis of the ( AU ) Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging along ( AV ) Gaius and ( AW ) Aristarchus, Paul’s ( AX ) Macedonian traveling ( AY ) companions. 30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, ( AZ ) the disciples would not let him. 31 Also some of the [ y ] Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him and repeatedly urged him not to [ z ] venture into the theater. 32 ( BA ) So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the [ aa ] assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know [ ab ] for what reason they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd [ ac ] 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 assembly. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is [ ad ] Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of ( BC ) Ephesus, what person is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great [ ae ] Artemis and of the image which fell down from [ af ] the sky? 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 ) temple robbers 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 [ ag ] ( BE ) proconsuls are available ; have them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the [ ah ] lawful [ ai ] assembly. 40 For indeed, we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events , since there is no real reason for it , and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41 After saying this he dismissed the [ aj ] assembly.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:5 Lit into
  2. Acts 19:9 See John 14:6
  3. Acts 19:9 Lit multitude
  4. Acts 19:10 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  5. Acts 19:11 Or works of power
  6. Acts 19:13 I.e., as an incantation
  7. Acts 19:14 Lit some Sceva
  8. Acts 19:19 Lit them
  9. Acts 19:19 Prob. Greek drachmas; a drachma was a day’s wages for a laborer
  10. Acts 19:20 Or according to the power of the Lord the word was growing
  11. Acts 19:21 Or his spirit
  12. Acts 19:22 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  13. Acts 19:23 Lit no small
  14. Acts 19:23 See John 14:6
  15. Acts 19:24 Lat Diana
  16. Acts 19:24 Lit no little
  17. Acts 19:24 Or profit
  18. Acts 19:25 Lit is from
  19. Acts 19:26 See note v 22
  20. Acts 19:26 Lit those
  21. Acts 19:27 Lat Diana
  22. Acts 19:27 See note v 22
  23. Acts 19:27 Lit the inhabited earth
  24. Acts 19:28 Lat Diana
  25. Acts 19:31 I.e., political or religious officials of the province of Asia
  26. Acts 19:31 Lit give himself
  27. Acts 19:32 Gr ekklesia
  28. Acts 19:32 Or on whose account
  29. Acts 19:33 Or advised Alexander
  30. Acts 19:34 Lat Diana
  31. Acts 19:35 Lat Diana
  32. Acts 19:35 Lit Zeus ; Lat Jupiter
  33. Acts 19:38 Or provincial governors
  34. Acts 19:39 Or regular
  35. Acts 19:39 Gr ekklesia
  36. Acts 19:41 Gr ekklesia

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos ( A ) was at Corinth, ( B ) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. ( C ) There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit ( D ) when [ a ] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

4 Paul said, “John’s baptism ( E ) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ( F ) 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ( G ) 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, ( H ) the Holy Spirit came on them, ( I ) and they spoke in tongues [ b ] ( J ) and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Paul entered the synagogue ( K ) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. ( L ) 9 But some of them ( M ) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. ( N ) So Paul left them. He took the disciples ( O ) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, ( P ) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia ( Q ) heard the word of the Lord. ( R )

11 God did extraordinary miracles ( S ) through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured ( T ) and the evil spirits left them.

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits ( U ) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus ( V ) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, ( W ) they were all seized with fear, ( X ) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. [ c ] 20 In this way the word of the Lord ( Y ) spread widely and grew in power. ( Z )

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided [ d ] to go to Jerusalem, ( AA ) passing through Macedonia ( AB ) and Achaia. ( AC ) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” ( AD ) 22 He sent two of his helpers, ( AE ) Timothy ( AF ) and Erastus, ( AG ) to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia ( AH ) a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. ( AI ) 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. ( AJ ) 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus ( AK ) and in practically the whole province of Asia. ( AL ) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. ( AM ) 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ( AN ) 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius ( AO ) and Aristarchus, ( AP ) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, ( AQ ) and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples ( AR ) would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. ( AS ) Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned ( AT ) for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ( AU )

35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, ( AV ) doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples ( AW ) nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen ( AX ) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. ( AY ) They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:2 Or after
  2. Acts 19:6 Or other languages
  3. Acts 19:19 A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.
  4. Acts 19:21 Or decided in the Spirit
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