19:1 Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper districts down to Ephesus. He found some disciples

19:2 and said, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”“No,” they replied, “we have heard nothing about a Holy Spirit.”

19:3 So he asked, “Then by what name were you immersed?”And they replied, “John’s immersion.”

19:4 “John immersed for the purpose of telling people to change their minds and put their trust in the One coming after him, meaning Jesus,” Paul responded.

19:5 Upon hearing this they were immersed in the name of Master Jesus.

19:6 And when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began to speak in other languages and to prophesy.

19:7 There were about twelve men in all.

19:8 Entering the synagogue, Paul spoke boldly for three months, debating and persuading on matters concerning the kingdom of God.

19:9 But some were obstinate and hostile, and they spoke abusively against the Way in front of the crowd. So Paul left them and separated the disciples from them as well, and debated each day in the hall of Tyrannos.

19:10 This went on for two years, to the point that everyone living in the province of Asia, both Judeans and non-Judeans, heard the Word of the Master.

19:11 God performed extraordinary powers through Paul’s hands.

19:12 For example, when cloths or handkerchiefs that had touched his skin were taken to the infirm, they were cured of their illnesses. Even evil spirits were exorcised.

19:13 But some of the Judeans who traveled around doing exorcisms took it upon themselves to invoke the name of Master Jesus over the possessed: “I exorcise you by Jesus, whom Paul is proclaiming!”

19:14 The ones doing this were seven sons of Sceva, a Judean and ruling priest.

19:15 But the evil spirit snarled, “I do know Jesus, and I’m familiar with Paul, but who are you?”

19:16 Then the possessed person pounced on them. He was too strong for them and overpowered them, and they ran from the house naked and wounded.

19:17 This incident became known to everyone, both Judeans and non-Judeans, living in Ephesus. They were all gripped with fear, and their respect for the name of Master Jesus was intensified.

19:18 Many who had already believed now openly confessed their former practices,

19:19 including a significant number of those who had practiced divination. They collected their books and burned them where everyone could see, and the value of them was estimated to be in the millions.

19:20 So it was with great power that the Word of the Master grew and became strong.

19:21 After all of that happened, Paul was prompted in spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia, and then on to Jerusalem. “And from there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”

19:22 When he had sent two of his attendants (Timothy and Erastus) to Macedonia, he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

19:23 Now around that same time there was a serious controversy about the Way.

19:24 A certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines to Artemis, made quite a nice income for the craftspeople.

19:25 He called a meeting of all who worked in related trades and said, “Folks, you are well aware that our standard of living depends upon this craft.

19:26 And you have seen and heard that this Paul, not only in Ephesus but throughout almost the entire province of Asia, has convinced and drawn away a large number of people, by saying that things made by hands are not gods.

19:27 “Not only does this put our association at risk of being viewed with contempt, it also reduces the temple of the great goddess Artemis to nothing. Her Majesty is about to be demolished— she who is revered by the whole province of Asia and the entire world!”

19:28 Upon hearing this, they were all infuriated and shouted out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

19:29 The whole city was thrown into confusion. They grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus who were traveling companions of Paul, and rushed as one into the theater.

19:30 Now Paul wanted to appear before the people but the disciples would not allow it.

19:31 In addition, some of his friends who were rulers in the province of Asia sent word to him, advising him not to enter the theater.

19:32 The assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing and some another. Most of them didn’t even know why they were gathered there!

19:33 Then the Judeans got together and pushed forward Alexander out from the crowd. He gestured with his hand to signal the crowd that he would make his defense.

19:34 But when they realized he was a Judean, they all shouted together for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

19:35 Then the scripture scholar got the crowd to calm down, and he addressed them: “People of Ephesus! Everyone knows that the city of Ephesus is the custodian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell to us from heaven.

19:36 Since these things cannot be denied, you must compose yourselves and not do anything rash.

19:37 “You brought these men here though they didn’t rob the temple or slander our goddess.

19:38 So then, if Demetrius and his associates have a charge to bring against anyone, the courts are in session and there are regional governors. Let them bring charges against each other!

19:39 But if you have any other matter to bring up, it must be settled by legal assembly.

19:40 As it is, we are liable of being charged for today’s uproar, since we have no grounds to justify it.”