BSB ACTs Chapter 19

The Holy Spirit Received at Ephesus

(Acts 10:44–48)

19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior [and] came to Ephesus. [There] he found some disciples

2 and asked them, Did you receive [the] Holy Spirit when you became believers?” “No,” [they answered] we have not even heard that there is [a] Holy Spirit.”

3 “Into what, then, were you baptized?” [Paul] asked. The baptism of John,” they replied.

4 Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the [One] coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”

5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And [when] Paul laid [his] hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

Paul Ministers in Ephesus

(Ephesians 1:1–2, Revelation 2:1–7)

8 Then [Paul] went into the synagogue [and] spoke boldly [there] for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe [and] publicly maligned the Way, [Paul] took [his] disciples [and] left [the synagogue] to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in [the province of] Asia,[fn] Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.

11 God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs[fn] and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.

Seven Sons of Sceva

13 Now [there were] some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I command you [by] Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 But [one day] the evil spirit responded “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them [and] overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded.

17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. [So] the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought [their] books [and] burned [them] in front of everyone. [When] the value of [the books] was calculated, [the total came to] fifty thousand drachmas.[fn] 20 So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.

The Riot in Ephesus

21 After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit[fn] to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, I must see Rome as well.” 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, [while] he stayed for a time in [the province of] Asia.

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance[fn] about the Way. 24 [ It began with] a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business[fn] to the craftsmen.

25 [Demetrius] assembled [the craftsmen], along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our [source of] prosperity. 26 And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole [province of] Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made [gods] are no gods [at all]. 27 [There is] danger not only [that] our business will fall into disrepute, but also [that] the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—[she] who is worshiped by all [ the province of ] Asia and the [whole] world.”

28 [When] [the men] heard [this], they were enraged [and] began shouting “Great [is] Artemis of [the] Ephesians!” 29 [Soon] the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with [them] Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

30 Paul wanted to go before the assembly, [but] the disciples would not allow him. 31 Even some of [Paul’s] friends who were officials of [the province of] Asia[fn] sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre.

32 Meanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing [and some another], and most [of them] did not [even] know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander {forward} to explain himself, and [he] motioned for silence so he could make [his] defense to the people. 34 But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours “Great [is] Artemis of [the] Ephesians!”

35 Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd [and] declared, “Men [of] Ephesus, doesn’t [everyone] know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of [her image], which fell from heaven? 36 Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash. 37 For you have brought these men {here}, [though they have] neither robbed [our] temple nor blasphemed our goddess.

38 So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, [the] courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another [ there ]. 39 But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s [events], [and] we have no justification to account for this commotion.”

41 [After] he had said [this], he dismissed the assembly.