The Holy Spirit Received at Ephesus (Acts 10:44–48)
1 WBS And it came to pass, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper region, came to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples, BSB BSB: While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
2 WBS He said to them, Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there is any 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 WBS And he said to them, 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 WBS Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people, That they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, on Christ 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 WBS 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 WBS And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in 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 WBS And all the men were about twelve. BSB BSB: There were about twelve men in all.
Paul Ministers in Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1–2; Revelation 2:1–7)
8 WBS And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading 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 WBS But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one 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 WBS And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, 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 WBS And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: BSB BSB: God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
12 WBS So that from his body were brought to the sick, handkerchiefs, or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went 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 WBS Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them who had evil spirits, the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We 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 WBS And there were seven sons of one Sceva a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did so. BSB BSB: Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15 WBS And the evil spirit answered and said, 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 WBS 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. 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 WBS 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. 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 WBS Many also of them who 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. 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 WBS So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed. BSB BSB: So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail.
The Riot in Ephesus 21 WBS 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 WBS So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. 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 WBS And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. BSB BSB: About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
25 WBS Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft 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 WBS Moreover, ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away many people, saying, that they are 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 WBS So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; 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 worshipeth. 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 WBS And when they heard these sayings , they were full of 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 WBS And when Paul would have entered in to the people, the disciples suffered him not. BSB BSB: Paul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him.
31 WBS And certain of the chief of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into 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 WBS Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not 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 WBS And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense to 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 WBS 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. 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 WBS Seeing then that these things cannot be contradicted, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. BSB BSB: Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash.
37 WBS For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. BSB BSB: For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.
38 WBS Wherefore, if Demetrius and the artificers who are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead 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 WBS But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. BSB BSB: But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.
40 WBS For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause by which we may give an 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 WBS And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. BSB BSB: After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.