ACT 19
19
Paul in Ephesus
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul travelled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They responded, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 Paul asked, "Into what, then, were you baptised?" They said, "Into John's baptism."
4 Paul explained, "John baptised with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him—that is, in Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
7 There were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, engaging in discussions and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some became hardened and refused to believe, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, conducting daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the Lord's message.
11 God was performing extraordinary miracles through Paul's hands,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits departed.
13 Some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I command you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims!"
14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
15 But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I recognise, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"
16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus. Fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour.
18 Many who had become believers came forward, confessing and disclosing their practices.
19 A considerable number of those who had practised magic arts brought their books together and burned them publicly. When they calculated their value, the total came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 In this way the Lord's message flourished powerfully and prevailed.
21 After these events had occurred, Paul resolved in the Spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
22 He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he remained in Asia for a while longer.
23 About that time, a serious disturbance arose concerning the Way.
24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought considerable business to the craftsmen.
25 He called them together, along with workers in related trades, and said, "Men, you understand that our prosperity comes from this business.
26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus but throughout almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.
27 There is danger not only that our trade will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and she will be deprived of her magnificence—she whom all of Asia and the world worship."
28 When they heard this, they became enraged and began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
29 The city was filled with confusion. They rushed together into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's travelling companions.
30 Though Paul wanted to go before the assembly, the disciples would not let him.
31 Even some of the Asiarchs, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture into the theater.
32 Meanwhile, the assembly was in chaos. Some were shouting one thing, others something else, and most of them did not even know why they had gathered.
33 Some of the crowd gave instructions to Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. Alexander motioned with his hand, wanting to make a defence before the people.
34 But when they recognised that he was a Jew, a single cry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said, "Men of Ephesus, what person does not know that the city of Ephesus is the temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the image that fell from heaven?
36 Since these facts are undeniable, you must remain calm and not do anything rash.
37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38 So if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another there.
39 But if you seek anything further, it must be resolved in the legal assembly.
40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting for today's events, since there is no justification we can give for this disorderly gathering."
41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.
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ACT 19: AFINT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
ACT 19
19
Paul in Ephesus
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul travelled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They responded, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3 Paul asked, "Into what, then, were you baptised?" They said, "Into John's baptism."
4 Paul explained, "John baptised with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him—that is, in Jesus."
5 When they heard this, they were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
7 There were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, engaging in discussions and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some became hardened and refused to believe, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, conducting daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the Lord's message.
11 God was performing extraordinary miracles through Paul's hands,
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits departed.
13 Some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I command you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims!"
14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.
15 But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I recognise, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"
16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus. Fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour.
18 Many who had become believers came forward, confessing and disclosing their practices.
19 A considerable number of those who had practised magic arts brought their books together and burned them publicly. When they calculated their value, the total came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 In this way the Lord's message flourished powerfully and prevailed.
21 After these events had occurred, Paul resolved in the Spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
22 He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he remained in Asia for a while longer.
23 About that time, a serious disturbance arose concerning the Way.
24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought considerable business to the craftsmen.
25 He called them together, along with workers in related trades, and said, "Men, you understand that our prosperity comes from this business.
26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus but throughout almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.
27 There is danger not only that our trade will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and she will be deprived of her magnificence—she whom all of Asia and the world worship."
28 When they heard this, they became enraged and began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
29 The city was filled with confusion. They rushed together into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's travelling companions.
30 Though Paul wanted to go before the assembly, the disciples would not let him.
31 Even some of the Asiarchs, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture into the theater.
32 Meanwhile, the assembly was in chaos. Some were shouting one thing, others something else, and most of them did not even know why they had gathered.
33 Some of the crowd gave instructions to Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. Alexander motioned with his hand, wanting to make a defence before the people.
34 But when they recognised that he was a Jew, a single cry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said, "Men of Ephesus, what person does not know that the city of Ephesus is the temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the image that fell from heaven?
36 Since these facts are undeniable, you must remain calm and not do anything rash.
37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38 So if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another there.
39 But if you seek anything further, it must be resolved in the legal assembly.
40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting for today's events, since there is no justification we can give for this disorderly gathering."
41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).