 1 It came to pass that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper region+ and came to Ephesus. Finding certain disciples there, 2 he said to them: Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? And they said to him: We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. 3 Paul said to them: Into what then were you baptized? They said: Into John's baptism. 4 Then Paul said: John truly+ baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues~ and prophesied. 7 All the men there numbered+ about twelve. 8 Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, advocating+ and persuading those who heard him about the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when many of different+ persuasions were hardened against him and did not believe, but spoke evil about the way of Christ before the multitude, Paul left them and separated the disciples away from them, now reasoning+ daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all who lived+ in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God worked+ special miracles~ through Paul's hands. 12 So much so that handkerchiefs and aprons were taken+ from Paul's body to the sick and diseases left+ them and evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some vagabond Jews who were exorcists took it upon themselves to call out the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying: We beg+ you by Jesus whom Paul proclaims+. 14 There were seven sons of Sceva, a Jew and chief of the priests, who did this. 15 But the evil spirit answered and said: Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you? 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit leaped on them and overcame them and prevailed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 All the Jews and Greeks who lived+ in Ephesus knew about this so that fear fell on them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many who believed came and confessed and reported+ their deeds. 19 Many of those who used curious arts~ also brought their books together and burned them before all people. They counted the value+ of those books and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 Therefore, the Word of God grew mightily and prevailed. 21 After these things were fulfilled+, in his spirit, Paul decided to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying: After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22 So he sent word to Macedonia to two of those who had ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. 23 At the same time, there arose no small stir about this faith called the Way meaning believing in Christ and His resurrection. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, made silver shrines for Diana, and this brought no small gain to the craftsmen. 25 So, Demetrius called the workmen of this occupation together and said: Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not only+ at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned many people away, saying that there are no gods that are made with hands. 27 Therefore, not only is our craft in danger of being rejected+, but also the temple of the great goddess whom all of Asia and the world worships could be despised and her magnificence destroyed. 28 When they heard this, they were full of anger+ and cried out saying: Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 So the whole city was filled with confusion. But with one accord the mob ran into the theater and caught Gaius and Aristarchus of Macedonia who were Paul's companions. 30 When Paul wanted+ to go in to the people, the disciples did not allow+ him to do so. 31 Some of the chiefs of Asia who were Paul's friends, sent word to him asking+ him to not venture+ into the theater. 32 Some therefore cried out one thing and some another for the assembly was confused. Most+ did not even understand+ why+ they had come together. 33 They pulled+ Alexander out of the crowd+ and the Jews put him forward. Alexander signaled+ with the hand and would have made his defense to the people, 34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for two hours: Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35 Then the town clerk appeased the people when he said: You men of Ephesus, what man is there that does not understand+ that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great goddess Diana and of the image that fell down from Jupiter? 36 Since these things cannot be successfully spoken against, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of assemblies+ nor blasphemers of your goddess. 38 Therefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the law is open and there are deputies. Let them accuse+ one another. 39 And if you have any other inquiry concerning other matters, it should+ be determined in a lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being called in question for this day's uproar. For there is no justifiable cause that we can give to account for this unruly concourse. 41 When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
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