Acts 19:1-41

NSB^{(i) 1} While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country to Ephesus, and found some disciples. ² He said to them: »Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?« They said: »We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit.« ³ Paul asked: »What kind of baptism did you get?« They replied: »It was the baptism John taught.« ⁴ Paul said: »John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people they should believe in Jesus, the one who came after John.« ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ Paul laid his hands on them and Holy Spirit came upon them. They spoke with tongues and prophesied. ⁷ There were twelve men in all. ⁸ He entered the synagogue and spoke boldly reasoning and persuading about the kingdom of God. He did this for three months. ⁹ Some were obstinate and publicly maligned The Way before the crowds. He departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This continued for two years so that all who lived in this part of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. ¹¹ God did special miracles by the hands of Paul. ¹² Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched his body were put on the sick and the evil spirits went away. ¹³ Some Jews went around driving out evil spirits saying: »In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches I command you to come out!« ¹⁴ And there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, and a chief priest, who did this. ¹⁵ The evil spirit answered and said to them: »Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?« ¹⁶ The man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, and overpowered them. He gave them such a beating that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ This became known to all both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. They were all afraid. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. ¹⁸ Many of the believers confessed openly about the evil things they had done. ¹⁹ Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books and burned them in the sight of everyone. When they totaled the value of them it came to about fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ The word of God kept on growing and prevailed. ²¹ After this ended Paul was directed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he passed through Macedonia and Achaia. He said: »After I have been there, I must also see Rome.« ²² He sent two of his helpers Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. He stayed in Asia for a while. ²³ A great disturbance occurred about The Way. ²⁴ A man named Demetrius, a silversmith made silver shrines of Diana. He brought a lot of business to the craftsmen. ²⁵ They gathered together along with similar related workmen, and said: »Sirs, You know we receive a good income from this business. ²⁶ »You see and hear that Paul, in Ephesus and throughout all Asia, has persuaded and turned away many people. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. ²⁷ »There is danger that our trade will lose its good name. The temple of the great goddess Artemis (Diana) would then become useless. The goddess who is worshiped in all Asia would be robbed of her divine majesty.« ²⁸ When they heard this they were filled with anger. They shouted: »Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.« ²⁹ The city was filled with the confusion. They rushed with one accord into the theatre and seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel. ³⁰ Paul wanted to enter the theatre with the people but his disciples would not permit it. ³¹ Some of the officials and his friends sent him a message begging him not to enter the theatre. ³² Some cried one thing and others another for the crowd was in confusion. Most of them did not know why they assembled. ³³ The crowd of Jews thrust Alexander forward. Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted to make a defense to the people. ³⁴ They perceived that he was a Jew and all with one voice shouted for two hours: »Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.« ³⁵ The city recorder quieted the crowd. He said: »You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? ³⁶ »Seeing that these things are indisputable it is fitting that you keep calm and do nothing rash. ³⁷ »You brought these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. ³⁸ »If Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him have a grievance against any man, the courts are open, and there are judges. Let them accuse one another. ³⁹ »But if you seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. ⁴⁰ »For indeed we are in danger to be charged with rioting (sedition) because of today’s events. We would not be able to account for this ruckus for there is no reason for it.« ⁴¹ When he finished speaking he dismissed the assembly.