Acts 19

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples

2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” “No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.

4 Paul explained: “John’s baptism was indeed a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.”

5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

9 But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of a man named Tyrannus.

10 This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord Jesus.

11 God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,

12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were brought to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.

13 Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I command you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”

14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”

16 Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.

17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

18 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.

19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

20 So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.

21 After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”

22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.

24 It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.

25 Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.

26 And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.

27 There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.”

28 When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29 Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

30 Paul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him.

31 Even some of Paul’s friends who were officials of the province of Asia sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre.

32 Meanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there.

33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.

34 But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great goddess Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?

36 Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash.

37 For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed your goddess.

38 So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.

39 But if you are seeking anything concerning other matters, it must be settled in a legal assembly.

40 For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.”

41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

1 ¶ 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.

1 And it came to pass, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul went through the upper countries, and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples.

2 To whom said he, Have ye received the Holy Ghost, when ye believed? And they said unto him, Neither have we heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them: Into what then were ye baptized? They said: In the baptism of John.

4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, and told the people that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on JESUS, that he was the Christ.

5 And when they heard it, they were baptized in the name of the LORD JEsu.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, speaking with tongues, and prophesying.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

8 And he went into the synagogue, and preached freely three months, teaching and persuading them of the kingdom of God.

9 And when some were hardened, and believed not, and spake evil of the way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, and spake daily in the synagogue of one called Tyrannus.

10 And these things were two years: so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of JESUS the LORD, both Jews and Greeks.

11 And God wrought no small deeds by the hands of Paul,

12 So that of his skin also they put sweatcloths and boils upon the sick, and the pestilences departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 And certain of the Jews that were about, being conjurors, refrained from calling the name of JESUS the LORD upon them that had evil spirits, saying: We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth.

14 And there were seven sons of a certain Jew, Skeva the high priest, which did these things.

15 But the evil spirit answered and said, I know JEsum, and I know Paul: but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped upon them, and had power over them, and cast them under him: so that they fled out of the same house naked and wounded.

17 And these things were made known unto all them that dwelt at Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks: and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the LORD JEsu was magnified.

18 There came also many of them that believed, and confessed and declared the things which they had wrought.

19 And many of them that had wrought a rash art gathered the books together, and burned them publicly, and reckoned the value thereof, and found fifty thousand pennies.

20 So mightily grew the word of the LORD, and prevailed.

21 When this was accomplished, Paul purposed in his mind to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and to walk toward Jerusalem, saying, After that, when I have been there, I must see Rome also.

22 And sent two to minister unto him, Timotheus and Erastus. Timotheus and Erastus, into Macedonia: but he tarried a while in Asia.

23 But about the same time there arose a not small movement over this way.

24 For one named Demetrius, a goldsmith, made temples of silver unto Diana, and made no small gain for them of the craft.

25 These he gathered together, and the assistants of the same craft, and said, Men, ye know that we have great access of this trade.

26 And ye see and hear, that not only in Ephesus, but also almost throughout all Asia, this Paul maketh many people foolish, persuading, saying, There are no gods made with hands.

27 Not only will our commerce come to nothing, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana will be esteemed as nothing, and her majesty will perish, to whom all Asia and the world worship.

28 And when they heard it, they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying: Great is the Diana of the Ephesians!

29 And the whole city was filled with tumult. And they rushed with one accord to the scene, and seized Gaius and Aristarchus of Macedonia, Paul's companions.

30 But when Paul desired to go among the people, the disciples would not suffer him.

31 Some also of the rulers of Asia, which were good friends to Paul, sent unto him, exhorting him that he go not into the scene.

32 Some cried out so, and some another; and the church was astray, and most of them knew not why they were gathered together.

33 And some of the people drew Alexander forth, when the Jews thrust him out. But Alexander waved his hand, and would answer for himself before the people.

34 And when they knew that he was a Jew, there arose a voice from all, and cried out at two hours: Great is Diana of the Ephesians!

35 And when the chancellor had quieted the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not that the city of Ephesus is the nurse of the great goddess Diana, and of the heavenly image?

36 Forasmuch then as these things are irrefragable, ye shall be quiet, and do nothing rash.

37 you have brought these people here who are neither robbers of the church nor blasphemers of your goddess.

38 And if Demetrius, and they that are with him of the craft, have any claim against any man, then there shall be judgment, and there shall be governors: let them sue one another.

39 But if ye would do otherwise, it may be done in a proper church.

40 For we are in danger of being accused for this present outrage, and yet there is no cause to excuse us for this outrage. And when he had said these things, he sent the congregation away.