Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 19
Disciples of John Receive the Spirit
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you trusted?” They answered, “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul asked, “Then into what were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to trust in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They began speaking in other languages and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.
The Word Spreads Throughout Asia
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading people about God’s kingdom. But when some became hardened and refused to trust, speaking evil about the Way before the crowd, Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and began reasoning every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that everyone living in Asia heard the Lord’s word, both Jewish and Greek people.
The Name of Jesus Is Not a Technique
God was doing extraordinary works of power through Paul’s hands, so that even cloths or work aprons that had touched his skin were carried to the sick, and their diseases left them and evil spirits came out. Some traveling Jewish exorcists also tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over people with evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize—but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them so that they ran from the house naked and wounded. This became known to everyone living in Ephesus, Jewish and Greek people alike. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Many who had trusted came confessing and openly reporting their practices. A large number who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in front of everyone. They calculated their value and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. In this way the Lord’s word grew powerfully and prevailed.
Paul Sets His Direction toward Jerusalem and Rome
After these things were completed, Paul resolved in the Spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia and then go to Jerusalem. He said, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, while he stayed in Asia for a time.
The Riot over Artemis
About that time a serious disturbance arose concerning the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius made silver shrines of Artemis and brought substantial business to the craftsmen. He gathered them together, along with other workers in the same trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business. You see and hear that not only in Ephesus but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable crowd, saying that gods made by human hands are not gods. There is danger not only that our trade will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing and that she herself, whom all Asia and the world worship, will be stripped of her greatness.” When they heard this, they were filled with rage and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The city was filled with confusion, and the crowd rushed together into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. Paul wanted to enter the assembly, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the Asiarchs who were his friends sent word urging him not to risk entering the theater. The assembly was in confusion: some shouted one thing and some another, and most did not even know why they had gathered. Some people in the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jewish people pushed forward. Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted to make a defense before the people. But when they recognized that he was Jewish, they all shouted together for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The city clerk quieted the crowd and said, “People of Ephesus, who among humanity does not know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven? Since these things are undeniable, you should remain calm and do nothing rash. You have brought these men here even though they are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. If Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another there. If you are seeking anything beyond that, it must be settled in the lawful assembly. We are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today, since there is no cause we can give to justify this disorder.” After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.