[an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. |
2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” |
3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3“Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” |
4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” |
5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. |
6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. |
7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7There were about twelve men in all. Paul Ministers in Ephesus |
8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. |
9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. |
10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord. |
11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. |
12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. |
13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” |
14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. |
15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” |
16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. |
17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. |
18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. |
19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. |
20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. |
21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!” |
22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia. The Riot in Ephesus |
23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. |
24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. |
25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. |
26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! |
27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!” |
28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” |
29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. |
30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. |
31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater. |
32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. |
33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. |
34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” |
35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. |
36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. |
37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess. |
38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38“If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. |
39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. |
40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” |
41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41 Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed. |
[an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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