Acts

19 And it came to pass while Apollos was in Corinth Paul passing through the upper parts came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples;

2 and he said unto them—Holy Spirit received ye when ye believed? And they [said] unto him—Nay! not even whether there is Holy Spirit did we hear.

3 And he said—Into what then were ye immersed? And they said—Into John’s immersion.

4 Then said Paul—John immersed with an immersion of repentance, unto the people saying That on him who was coming after him they should believe,—that is on Jesus.

5 And when they heard [this] they were immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus;

6 and Paul laying hands upon them the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

8 And entering into the synagogue he was speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the kingdom of God.

9 But when some were hardening themselves and refusing to be persuaded, speaking evil of the Way before the throng withdrawing from them he separated the disciples; day by day reasoning in the school of Tyrannus.

10 And this took place for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

11 Mighty works also, not the ordinary, God was working through the hands of Paul;

12 so that even unto the sick were being carried from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases were departing from them and the wicked spirits were going out.

13 But certain also of the wandering Jews exorcists took in hand to be naming over them that had the wicked spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying—I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul proclaimeth!

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a High-priest who this thing were doing.

15 But the wicked spirit answering said unto them—Jesus [indeed] I am getting to know and Paul I well-know,—but who are ye?

16 And the man in whom was the wicked spirit springing upon them mastering them both prevailed against them, so that naked and wounded fled they out of that house.

17 And this became known to all—both Jews and Greeks—who were dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified.

18 Many also of them who had believed were coming making open confession and renouncing their practices.

19 And a good many of them who had practised the curious arts bringing together the books were burning them before all; and they reckoned up the prices of them, and found them fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 Thus with might the Lord’s word was growing and prevailing.

21 Now when these things were fulfilled Paul purposed in his spirit going through Macedonia and Achaia to be journeying unto Jerusalem, saying—After I have been there Rome also must I see!

22 And sending off into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus he himself held on awhile in Asia.

23 And there arose during that season no small disturbance concerning the Way.

24 For one Demetrius by name, a silversmith making [silver] shrines, of Diana used to bring unto the craftsmen no little business;

25 gathering whom together and them who in such things wrought he said—Men! ye well know that by this business we have our prosperity;

26 and ye perceive and hear that not only in Ephesus but well-nigh in all Asia this Paul hath persuaded and turned away a considerable multitude, saying that they are no gods which with hands are made.

27 And not only is there danger that this our heritage into ill-repute may come but even that the temple of the great Goddess Diana for nothing may be counted; also that even on the point of being pulled down may be Her Majesty, whom all Asia and the habitable world do worship.

28 Now hearing this and becoming full of wrath they began crying aloud, saying—Great is Diana of the Ephesians!

29 And the city was filled with the confusion; they rushed also with one accord into the theatre, carrying off with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow-travellers of Paul.

30 But Paul being minded to enter in among the populace the disciples would not suffer him.

31 Moreover certain of the Asiarchs also being his friends sending unto him were beseeching him not to adventure himself into the theatre.

32 Others indeed were crying out something else; for the assembly had become confused, and the greater part knew not for what cause they had come together.

33 Howbeit out of the multitude they bare aloft one Alexander, the Jews thrusting him forward; Alexander however waving his hand was wishing to make his defence unto the populace.

34 But recognising that he was a Jew one voice arose from all for about two hours, as they cried aloud—Great is Diana of the Ephesians!

35 Howbeit the town-clerk having calmed the multitude saith—Ephesians! why who is there of mankind that doth not acknowledge the city of Ephesians to be temple-keeper of the Great Diana, and of the [image] that fell from Jupiter?

36 As these things then cannot be denied it is needful that ye be calmed at once and nothing rash be doing.

37 For ye have brought these men, neither as temple-robbers, nor as defaming our goddess.

38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have against anyone an accusation courts are being held and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another!

39 But if after something further ye are seeking in the regular assembly shall it be settled.

40 For we are even in danger of being accused of riot concerning this day, no cause at all existing by reference to which we shall be able to give a reason for this concourse.

41 And these things having said he dismissed the assembly.