Acts

The Holy Spirit Received at Ephesus

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

2and 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.

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

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

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

7There were about twelve men in all.

Paul Ministers in Ephesus

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

9But 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 Tyrannus.

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

11God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,

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

Seven Sons of Sceva

13Now 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.”

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

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

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

17This 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.

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

19And 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.

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

The Riot in Ephesus

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

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

23About that time there arose a great disturbanceabout the Way.

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

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

26And 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.

27There 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.”

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

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

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

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

32Meanwhile 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.

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

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

35Finally 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 Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?

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

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

38So 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.

39But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.

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

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

1And it came to pass, while Apollo was at Corinth, that Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.

2And 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.

3And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John’s baptism.

4Then 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.

5Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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

7And all the men were about twelve.

8And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and exhorting concerning the kingdom of God.

9But 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.

10And 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.

11And God wrought by the hand of Paul more than common miracles.

12So 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.

13Now 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.

14And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, that did this.

15But the wicked spirit, answering, said to them: Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?

16And 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.

17And 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.

18And many of them that believed, came confessing and declaring their deeds.

19And 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.

20So mightily grew the word of God, and was confirmed.

21And 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.

22And sending into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself remained for a time in Asia.

23Now at that time there arose no small disturbance about the way of the Lord.

24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver temples for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen;

25Whom he calling together, with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade;

26And 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.

27So 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.

28Having heard these things, they were full of anger, and cried out, saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29And 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.

30And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31And some also of the rulers of Asia, who were his friends, sent unto him, desiring that he would not venture himself into the theatre.

32Now some cried one thing, some another. For the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what cause they were come together.

33And 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.

34But 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.

35And 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.

36For as much therefore as these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37For you have brought hither these men, who are neither guilty of sacrilege, nor of blasphemy against your goddess.

38But 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.

39And if you inquire after any other matter, it may be decided in a lawful assembly.

40For 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.

41This translation does not include this passage.