Acts 19Acts19

Berean Standard BibleKing James Version

1. The Holy Spirit Received at Ephesus

   (Acts 10:44–48)

2. 1BSBWhile Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciplesKJVKJV: And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
3. 2BSBand 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.”KJVKJV: He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
4. 3BSB“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.KJVKJV: And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
5. 4BSBPaul 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.”KJVKJV: Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
6. 5BSBOn hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.KJVKJV: When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
7. 6BSBAnd when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.KJVKJV: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
8. 7BSBThere were about twelve men in all.KJVKJV: And all the men were about twelve.

9. Paul Ministers in Ephesus

   (Ephesians 1:1–2; Revelation 2:1–7)

10. 8BSBThen Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.KJVKJV: And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
11. 9BSBBut 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.KJVKJV: But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
12. 10BSBThis continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.KJVKJV: And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
13. 11BSBGod did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,KJVKJV: And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
14. 12BSBso that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.KJVKJV: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

15. Seven Sons of Sceva

16. 13BSBNow 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.”KJVKJV: Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
17. 14BSBSeven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.KJVKJV: And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
18. 15BSBBut one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”KJVKJV: And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
19. 16BSBThen 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.KJVKJV: And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
20. 17BSBThis 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.KJVKJV: And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
21. 18BSBMany who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds.KJVKJV: And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
22. 19BSBAnd 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.KJVKJV: Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
23. 20BSBSo the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.KJVKJV: So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

24. The Riot in Ephesus

25. 21BSBAfter these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”KJVKJV: After these things were ended, Paul purposed 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.
26. 22BSBHe sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.KJVKJV: So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
27. 23BSBAbout that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.KJVKJV: And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
28. 24BSBIt began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.KJVKJV: For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
29. 25BSBDemetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.KJVKJV: Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
30. 26BSBAnd 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.KJVKJV: Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
31. 27BSBThere 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.”KJVKJV: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
32. 28BSBWhen the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”KJVKJV: And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
33. 29BSBSoon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.KJVKJV: And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
34. 30BSBPaul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him.KJVKJV: And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
35. 31BSBEven some of Paul’s friends who were officials of the province of Asia sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre.KJVKJV: And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
36. 32BSBMeanwhile 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.KJVKJV: Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
37. 33BSBThe Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.KJVKJV: And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
38. 34BSBBut when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”KJVKJV: But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
39. 35BSBFinally 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?KJVKJV: And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
40. 36BSBSince these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash.KJVKJV: Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
41. 37BSBFor you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.KJVKJV: For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
42. 38BSBSo 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.KJVKJV: Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
43. 39BSBBut if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.KJVKJV: But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
44. 40BSBFor we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.”KJVKJV: For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
45. 41BSBAfter he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.KJVKJV: And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.