The Holy Spirit Received at Ephesus (Acts 10:44–48)
1 UEB It came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to the city of Ephesus, and found certain disciples there. BSB BSB: While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
2 UEB Paul said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said to him, "No, we did not even hear about the Holy Spirit." BSB BSB: 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 UEB Paul said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John's baptism." BSB BSB: “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
4 UEB So Paul replied, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus." BSB BSB: 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 UEB When the people heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. BSB BSB: On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 UEB Then when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in other languages and prophesied. BSB BSB: And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
7 UEB In all they were about twelve men. BSB BSB: There were about twelve men in all.
Paul Ministers in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1–2; Revelation 2:1–7)
8 UEB Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. BSB BSB: Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
9 UEB But when some Jews were hardened and disobedient, they began to speak evil of the Way before the crowd. So Paul left them and took the disciples from him, reasoning with them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. BSB BSB: 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 UEB This continued for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. BSB BSB: This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.
11 UEB God was doing mighty deeds by the hands of Paul, BSB BSB: God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
12 UEB so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses left them and the evil spirits came out of them. BSB BSB: so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
Seven Sons of Sceva 13 UEB But there were Jewish exorcists traveling through the area. They called on the name of the Lord Jesus so they could have power over evil spirits when they said, "By the Jesus whom Paul proclaims, I command you to come out." BSB BSB: 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 UEB The Jewish high priest, whose name was Sceva, had seven sons who were doing this. BSB BSB: Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 UEB An evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" BSB BSB: But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16 UEB The evil spirit in the man leaped on the exorcists and overpowered them and beat them up. Then they fled out of that house naked and wounded. BSB BSB: 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 UEB This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. They became very afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was honored. BSB BSB: 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.
19 UEB Many who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of everyone. When they counted the value of them, it was fifty thousand pieces of silver. BSB BSB: 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.
20 UEB So the word of the Lord spread very widely in powerful ways. BSB BSB: So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
The Riot in Ephesus 21 UEB Now after Paul completed his ministry in Ephesus, he decided in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem; he said, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." BSB BSB: After 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.”
22 UEB Paul sent to Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, who had helped him. But he himself stayed in Asia for a while. BSB BSB: He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.
23 UEB At about that time there was no small disturbance in Ephesus concerning the Way. BSB BSB: About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
25 UEB So he gathered together the workmen of that occupation and said, "Sirs, you know that in this business we make much money. BSB BSB: 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 UEB You see and hear that, not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people. He is saying that there are no gods that are made with hands. BSB BSB: 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 UEB Not only is there danger that our trade will no longer be needed, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be considered worthless. Then she would even lose her greatness, she whom all Asia and the world worships." BSB BSB: 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 UEB When they heard this, they were filled with anger and cried out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians." BSB BSB: When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
30 UEB Paul wanted to enter in among the crowd of people, but the disciples prevented him. BSB BSB: Paul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him.
31 UEB Also, some of the officials of the province of Asia who were his friends sent him a message strongly requesting him not to enter the theater. BSB BSB: Even 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.
32 UEB Some people were shouting one thing, and some another, for the crowd was in confusion. Most of them did not even know why they had come together. BSB BSB: 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 UEB Some of the crowd informed Alexander, whom the Jews were pushing to the front, and so Alexander motioned with his hand, wanting to give an explanation to those who were assembled. BSB BSB: 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 UEB But when they became aware that he was a Jew, they all cried out for about two hours with one voice, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians." BSB BSB: But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
36 UEB Seeing then that these things are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. BSB BSB: Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash.
37 UEB For you have brought these men to this court who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. BSB BSB: For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.
38 UEB Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have an accusation against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another. BSB BSB: 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 UEB But if you seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. BSB BSB: But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.
40 UEB For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot. There is no cause for this disorder, and we will not be able to explain it." BSB BSB: 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 UEB When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. BSB BSB: After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.