Aug. 1, 2
Acts 19
Act 19:1 It happened
that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the
upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.
Act 19:2 He said to
them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They said to him, "No, we haven't even heard that there is a
Holy Spirit."
Act 19:3 He said, "Into
what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's
baptism."
Act 19:4 Paul said,
"John indeed 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 Jesus."
Act 19:5 When they
heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 When Paul had
laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke
with other languages and prophesied.
Act 19:7 They were
about twelve men in all.
Act 19:8 He entered
into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months,
reasoning and persuading about the things concerning the Kingdom of
God.
Act 19:9 But when some
were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the
multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples,
reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Act 19:10 This
continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard
the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Act 19:11 God worked
special miracles by the hands of Paul,
Act 19:12 so that even
handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick,
and the evil spirits went out.
Act 19:13 But some of
the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over
those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying,
"We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches."
Act 19:14 There were
seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
Act 19:15 The evil
spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are
you?"
Act 19:16 The man in
whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overpowered them, and
prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and
wounded.
Act 19:17 This became
known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell
on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Act 19:18 Many also of
those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.
Act 19:19 Many of those
who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned
them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found
it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Act 19:20 So the word
of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
Act 19:21 Now after
these things had ended, Paul determined in the spirit, when he had
passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying,
"After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
Act 19:22 Having sent
into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he
himself stayed in Asia for a while.
Act 19:23 About that
time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.
Act 19:24 For a certain
man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of
Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,
Act 19:25 whom he
gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said,
"Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
Act 19:26 You see and
hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this
Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are
no gods, that are made with hands.
Act 19:27 Not only is
there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that
the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing,
and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships."
Act 19:28 When they
heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, "Great
is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
Act 19:29 The whole
city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into
the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia,
Paul's companions in travel.
Act 19:30 When Paul
wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn't allow him.
Act 19:31 Certain also
of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to
venture into the theater.
Act 19:32 Some
therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in
confusion. Most of them didn't know why they had come together.
Act 19:33 They brought
Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward.
Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to
the people.
Act 19:34 But when they
perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about
two hours cried out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
Act 19:35 When the town
clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, "You men of Ephesus,
what man is there who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is
temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which
fell down from Zeus?
Act 19:36 Seeing then
that these things can't be denied, you ought to be quiet, and to do
nothing rash.
Act 19:37 For you have
brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor
blasphemers of your goddess.
Act 19:38 If therefore
Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against
anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them press
charges against one another.
Act 19:39 But if you
seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular
assembly.
Act 19:40 For indeed we
are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot, there
being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn't be able to give an account
of this commotion."
Act 19:41 When he had
thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.