The Holy Spirit Received at Ephesus (Acts 10:44–48)
1 RV And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: BSB BSB: While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
2 RV and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given . 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 RV And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism. BSB BSB: “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
4 RV And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on 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 RV And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. BSB BSB: On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 RV And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, 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 RV And they were in all 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 RV And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning 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 RV 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. 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 RV And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt 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 RV And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: BSB BSB: God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
12 RV insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out. 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 RV But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them which had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 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 RV And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, which did this. BSB BSB: Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 RV And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? BSB BSB: But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
16 RV And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that 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 RV And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 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 RV And not a few of them that practised curious arts brought their books together, and burned them in the sight of all: and they counted the price of them, and found it 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 RV So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed. BSB BSB: So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
The Riot in Ephesus 21 RV Now 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. 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 RV And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, 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 RV And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way. BSB BSB: About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
25 RV whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth. 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 RV And 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: 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 RV and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 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 RV And when they heard this, they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. BSB BSB: When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
30 RV And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. BSB BSB: Paul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him.
31 RV And certain also of the chief officers of Asia, being his friends, sent unto him, and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre. 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 RV Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were 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 RV And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people. 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 RV But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana 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 RV Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash. BSB BSB: Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash.
37 RV For ye have brought hither these men, which 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 RV If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, 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 RV But if ye 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 RV For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day’s riot, there being no cause for it : and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse. 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 RV And when he had thus spoken, 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.