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AICNT ACTs Chapter 19

◄ ACTs 19 ► ║ ═ ©

19 Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples.

2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit[fn] when you believed?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 He asked [[them]],[fn] “Then into what were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”

4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in [[Christ]][fn] Jesus.”

5 Having heard, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [[Christ for the forgiveness of sin]].[fn]

6 And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit[fn] came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Entering the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months, discussing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and refused to believe, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and separated the disciples, discussing 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]],[fn] both Jews and Greeks.

11 God performed extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

13 Some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “{I}[fn] adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 [Seven][fn] sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “I know [indeed] Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17 This became known to all Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many of those who had believed came confessing and disclosing their practices.

19 A considerable number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the presence of everyone. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 Thus, {by the power of the Lord, the word grew and strengthened}[fn]

21 When these things were accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit 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 two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for a while in Asia.

23 About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.

24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 He gathered them together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends on this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and that she whom all Asia and the world worship will {be dethroned from her magnificence}.”[fn]

28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions.

30 Paul wanted to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent word to him and urged him not to venture into the theater. 32 Some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

33 But from the crowd they put forward Alexander, the Jews having pushed him forward; and Alexander, having motioned with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the people. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all for about two hours, shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 The city clerk, having quieted the crowd, said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there among men who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great [[goddess]][fn] Artemis and of the image that fell from heaven? 36 Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If, then, 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. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting concerning today's events, there being no cause for which [we] will be able to give an account concerning this commotion.”

41 And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

◄ ACTs 19 ► ║ ═ ©

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