Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples

1And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples.

2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" "No," they told him, "we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

2And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3"Into what then were you baptized?" he asked them. "Into John's baptism," they replied.

3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”

4Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus."

4And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

5When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in other tongues and to prophesy.

6And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.

7Now there were about twelve men in all.

7There were about twelve men in all.

8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

8And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

9But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples, and conducted discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

9But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.

10This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

10This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

11God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul's hands,

11And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,

12so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.

12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

13Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!"

13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”

14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.

14Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.

15The evil spirit answered them, "I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul--but who are you?"

15But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.

16And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem.

17And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

18And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices,

18Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.

19while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.

19And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20In this way the word of the Lord flourished and prevailed.

20So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

21After these events, Paul resolved by the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. "After I've been there," he said, "It is necessary for me to see Rome as well."

21Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

22After sending to Macedonia two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

22And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

23About that time there was a major disturbance about the Way.

23About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.

24For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen.

24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.

25When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said: "Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.

25These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.

26You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods.

26And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.

27Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin--the very one all of Asia and the world worship."

27And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

28When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions.

29So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.

30Although Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him.

30But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.

31Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture into the amphitheater.

31And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.

32Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

32Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

33Some Jews in the crowd gave instructions to Alexander after they pushed him to the front. Motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people.

33Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.

34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35When the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, "People of Ephesus! What person is there who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven?

35And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?

36Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash.

36Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.

37For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess.

37For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.

38So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.

38If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.

39But if you seek anything further, it must be decided in a legal assembly.

39But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

40In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disturbance."

40For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.”

41After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.

41And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.