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ACTS 19 1
And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed
through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, “Did you
receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have
not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them,
“Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John
indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they
should believe on Him who would 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
hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues
and prophesied. 7
Now the men were about twelve in all. 8
And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning
and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
9 But when some were
hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the
multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily
in the school of Tyrannus. 10
And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the
word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 Now God worked unusual
miracles by the hands of Paul, 12
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick,
and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
13 Then some of the
itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the
Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the
Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14
Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15 And the evil spirit
answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
16 Then the man in whom the
evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against
them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 This became known both
to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and
the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18
And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
19 Also, many of those who
had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the
sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty
thousand pieces of silver. 20
So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
21 When these things were
accomplished, 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 those who ministered to him, Timothy and
Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.
23
And about that time there arose a great commotion about the
Way. 24 For a
certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of
Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.
25 He called them together
with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we
have our prosperity by this trade. 26
Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost
all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that
they are not gods which are made with hands.
27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of
falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may
be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world
worship.” 28 Now
when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great
is Diana of the Ephesians!” 29
So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater
with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s
travel companions. 30
And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow
him. 31 Then some of
the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he
would not venture into the theater. 32
Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was
confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
33 And they drew Alexander
out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned
with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.
34 But when they found out
that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great
is Diana of the Ephesians!” 35
And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus,
what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple
guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from
Zeus? 36 Therefore,
since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing
rashly. 37 For you
have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor
blasphemers of your goddess. 38
Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone,
the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against
one another. 39 But
if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful
assembly. 40 For we
are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no
reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”
41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed
the assembly.
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