Shared Word Translation
Acts 19
Paul in Ephesus
And it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper regions and came to Ephesus and found certain disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “We have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
And hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were speaking in tongues and prophesying. And all the men were about twelve.
And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the kingdom of God. But when some were becoming hardened and were disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
And this continued for two years, so that all those dwelling in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
The Sons of Sceva
And God was doing extraordinary works of power through the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.
But some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists attempted to name over those who had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Now seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
But answering, the evil spirit said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but you—who are you?” And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastering them all, he prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
And this became known to all those dwelling in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.
Many also of those who had believed were coming, confessing and declaring their practices. And many of those who had practiced magic brought together their books and burned them in the sight of all; and they calculated their value and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.
The Riot at Ephesus
Now after these things were completed, Paul purposed in the Spirit, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” And sending into Macedonia two of those who were ministering to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
And about that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, making silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen, whom he gathered together, along with the workers in such things, and said,
And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable crowd, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.
And not only is there danger for us that this trade may come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and even her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worship, may be deposed from her greatness.”
And hearing this, they were filled with rage and were crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” And the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.
And Paul was wanting to enter into the assembly, but the disciples were not allowing him. And some also of the Asiarchs, being friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.
Therefore some were crying out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. And from the crowd they put forward Alexander, whom the Jews were pushing forward; and Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the people.
But recognizing that he was a Jew, one voice arose from them all as they cried out for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
And the town clerk, quieting the crowd, says, “Men of Ephesus, who is there among men who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Artemis and of the image that fell from heaven? Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.
For you have brought these men, who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. Therefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a case against anyone, courts are open and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it will be settled in the lawful assembly.
For we are in danger of being accused of rioting concerning today, there being no cause by which we will be able to give an account of this disorder.”
And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.