Acts 19
19
Paul Goes to Ephesus
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road to Ephesus. When he arrived, he found some believers there. 2He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
“No,” they answered. “We haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4Paul said, “John baptized people, calling them to turn away from their sins. He told them to believe in the one who was coming after him. Jesus is that one.” 5After hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6Paul placed his hands on them. Then the Holy Spirit came on them. They spoke in languages they had not known before. They also prophesied. 7There were about 12 men in all.
8Paul entered the synagogue. There he spoke boldly for three months. He gave good reasons for believing the truth about God’s kingdom. 9But some of them wouldn’t listen. They refused to believe. In public they said evil things about the Way of Jesus. So Paul left them. He took the believers with him. Each day he talked with people in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years. So all the Jews and Greeks who lived in Asia Minor heard the word of the Lord.
11God did amazing miracles through Paul. 12Even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to those who were sick. When this happened, their sicknesses were healed and evil spirits left them.
13Some Jews went around driving out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to set free those who were controlled by demons. They said, “In Jesus’ name I command you to come out. He is the Jesus that Paul is preaching about.” 14Seven sons of Sceva were doing this. Sceva was a Jewish chief priest. 15One day the evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus. And I know about Paul. But who are you?” 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on Sceva’s sons. He overpowered them all. He gave them a terrible beating. They ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
17The Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about this. They were all overcome with fear. They held the name of the Lord Jesus in high honor. 18Many who believed now came and openly admitted what they had done. 19A number of those who had practiced evil magic brought their scrolls together. They set them on fire out in the open. They added up the value of the scrolls. The scrolls were worth more than someone could earn in two lifetimes. 20The word of the Lord spread everywhere. It became more and more powerful.
21After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem. He went through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been to Jerusalem,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” 22He sent Timothy and Erastus, two of his helpers, to Macedonia. But he stayed a little longer in Asia Minor.
Trouble in Ephesus
23At that time many people became very upset about the Way of Jesus. 24There was a man named Demetrius who made things out of silver. He made silver models of the temple of the goddess Artemis. He brought in a lot of business for the other skilled workers there. 25One day he called them together. He also called others who were in the same kind of business. “My friends,” he said, “you know that we make good money from our work. 26You have seen and heard what this fellow Paul is doing. He has talked to large numbers of people here in Ephesus. Almost everywhere in Asia Minor he has led people away from our gods. He says that the gods made by human hands are not gods at all. 27Our work is in danger of losing its good name. People’s faith in the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be weakened. Now she is worshiped all over Asia Minor and the whole world. But soon she will be robbed of her greatness.”
28When they heard this, they became very angry. They began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29Soon people were making trouble in the whole city. They all rushed into the theater. They dragged Gaius and Aristarchus along with them. These two men had come with Paul from Macedonia. 30Paul wanted to appear in front of the crowd. But the believers wouldn’t let him. 31Some of the officials in Asia Minor were friends of Paul. They sent him a message, begging him not to go into the theater.
32The crowd didn’t know what was going on. Some were shouting one thing and some another. Most of the people didn’t even know why they were there. 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front. They tried to tell him what to say. But he motioned for them to be quiet. He was about to give the people reasons for his actions. 34But then they realized that he was a Jew. So they all shouted the same thing for about two hours. “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” they yelled.
35The city clerk quieted the crowd down. “People of Ephesus!” he said. “The city of Ephesus guards the temple of the great Artemis. The whole world knows this. They know that Ephesus guards her statue, which fell from heaven. 36These facts can’t be questioned. So calm down. Don’t do anything foolish. 37These men haven’t robbed any temples. They haven’t said evil things against our female god. But you have brought them here anyhow. 38Demetrius and the other skilled workers may feel they have been wronged by someone. Let them bring charges. The courts are open. We have our governors. 39Is there anything else you want to bring up? Settle it in a court of law. 40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with a crime. We could be charged with causing all this trouble today. There is no reason for it. So we wouldn’t be able to explain what has happened.” 41After he said this, he sent the people away.
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Acts 19: NIrV
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Acts 19
19
Paul Finds Disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus
1 And it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“traveled through”) has been translated as a finite verb came#Some manuscripts have “and came down” to Ephesus and found some disciples. 2And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“believed”) which is understood as temporal believed?” And they said to him, “But we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit!” 3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into the baptism of John.” 4And Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who was to come after him—that is, in Jesus.” 5And when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal heard this,#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“laid”) Paul laid hands#Some manuscripts have “placed his hands” on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to speak”) in tongues and to prophesy. 7(Now the total number of men was about twelve.)
8So he entered into the synagogue and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“entered”) has been translated as a finite verb was speaking boldly for three months, discussing and attempting to convince#The present tense participle has been translated as a conative present (“attempting to convince”) them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation concerning#Some manuscripts have “of the things concerning” the kingdom of God. 9But when some became hardened and were disobedient, reviling the Way before the congregation, he departed from them and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“departed”) has been translated as a finite verb took away the disciples, leading discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia#A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor) heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Would-be Exorcists
11And God was performing extraordinary#Literally “not the ordinary” miracles by the hands of Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs or work aprons that had touched his skin#Literally “from his skin” were carried away to those who were sick, and their#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.#*The words “of them” are not in the Greek text but are implied 13But some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14(Now seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.) 15But the evil spirit answered and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with, but who are you?” 16And the man who had the evil spirit#Literally “in whom the evil spirit was” leaped on them, subdued all of them, and#*Here “and” is supplied because the two previous participles (“leaped” and “subdued”) have been translated as finite verbs prevailed against them, so that they ran away from that house naked and wounded. 17And this became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was exalted. 18And many of those who had believed came, confessing and disclosing their practices, 19and many of those who practiced magic brought together their#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun books and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“brought together”) has been translated as a finite verb burned them#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation up in the sight of everyone. And they counted up their value and found it was fifty thousand silver coins.#Literally “five ten thousands of silver coins” 20In this way the word of the Lord was growing in power and was prevailing.
A Major Riot in Ephesus
21Now when these things were completed, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, it is necessary for me to see Rome also.” 22So after#*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“sending”) which is understood as temporal sending two of those who were assisting him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed some time in Asia.#A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
23Now there happened at that time no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24For someone named#Literally “by name” Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver replicas of the temple of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen. 25These#Literally “whom” he gathered together, and the workers occupied with such things, and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“gathered together”) has been translated as a finite verb said, “Men, you know that from this business we get our prosperity,#Literally “prosperity is to us” 26and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia#A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor) this man Paul has persuaded and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“has persuaded”) has been translated as a finite verb turned away a large crowd by#*Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saying”) which is understood as means saying that the gods made by hands are not gods. 27So not only is there a danger this line of business of ours will come into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing—and she is about to be brought down even from her grandeur, she whom the whole of Asia#A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor) and the entire world worship!”
28And when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal heard this#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and became full of rage, they began to shout,#*The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to shout”) saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29And the city was filled with the tumult, and with one purpose they rushed into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were traveling companions of Paul. 30But when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“wanted”) Paul wanted to enter into the popular assembly, the disciples would not let him. 31And even some of the Asiarchs#Or “provincial authorities” who were his friends sent word#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation to him and#*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sent”) has been translated as a finite verb were urging him#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation not to risk himself by going into the theater. 32So some were shouting one thing#*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know why#Literally “on account of what” they had assembled. 33And some of the crowd advised#Or “concluded it was about” Alexander, when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“put … forward”) the Jews put him forward. But Alexander, motioning with his#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun hand, was wanting to defend himself to the popular assembly. 34But when they#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“recognized”) which is understood as temporal recognized that he was a Jew, they were shouting with one voice from all of them for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35And when#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had quieted”) which is understood as temporal the city secretary had quieted the crowd, he said, “Ephesian men, for who is there among men who does not know the Ephesian city is honorary temple keeper of the great Artemis and of her#*Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun image fallen from heaven? 36Therefore because#*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“are”) these things are undeniable, it is necessary that you be quiet and do nothing rash! 37For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the court days are observed and there are proconsuls—let them bring charges against one another! 39But if you desire anything further, it will be settled in the lawful assembly. 40For indeed we are in danger of being accused of rioting concerning today, since there#*Here “since” is supplied as a component of the causal genitive absolute participle (“is”) is no cause in relation to which we will be able to give an account concerning this disorderly gathering!” And when he#*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had said”) which is understood as temporal had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.#Verse 41 in the English Bible is included as part of v. 40 in the standard editions of the Greek text
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