Acts 19

1 And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2 He said to them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there was any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said to them, To what then were you baptized? And they said, To John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe on Him which should 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 his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

8 And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

9 But when some were hardened, and did believe, but spoke abusively about that Way (Christ Jesus, which Paul preached) before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelled in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

11 And God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12 So that from his body were brought to the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the (harmful) evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then certain of the wandering Jews, exorcists, attempted to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did this also.

15 And the demon spirit answered and said, Jesus, I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?

16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.

19 Many of them, who also used curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 So the word of God grew mightily and prevailed.

21 After these things ended, Paul purposed in his 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 to Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.

23 And at the same time, there arose no small stir about that Way (of the Lord Jesus).

 

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Diana, (which) brought no small gain to the craftsmen;

25 Whom he called together with the workmen of similar occupation, and said, Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.

26 And you see and hear, that not only in Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that there are no gods, which are made with hands:

27 So that not only is our business in danger of coming to nothing, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.

28 And when they heard this, they were filled with wrath, and cried out, (continually) saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the amphitheater.

30 And when Paul wanted to enter the crowd, the disciples did not allow him.

31 And certain of the chief of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him, desiring him that he would not venture into the amphitheater.

32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the greater part did not know why they had come together.

33 And they drew Alexander (the coppersmith) out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with his hand and would have made his defense to the people.

 

34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice for about the space of two hours (they continually) cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

35 And when the town clerk had calmed down the people, he said, You men of Ephesus, what man is there that does not know how the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell from Jupiter?

36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37 For you have brought here these men, who are neither robbers of churches, nor yet speaking evil of your goddess.

38 Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them accuse one another.

39 But if you desire anything beyond this matter, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

40 For we are in danger of being called into question for this day's uproar, which we will not be able to give a (valid) reason for this commotion.

41 And when he had spoken these things, he dismissed the crowds.