Paul
In Ephesus
While
Apollos was at Corinth,
Paul
took the road through the interior
And
arrived at Ephesus.
There
he found some Disciples and asked them.
2
'DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHEN
YOU BELIEVED?'
They
answered,
'NO,
WE HAVE NOT EVEN HEARD
THAT
THERE IS A HOLY SPIRIT.'
3
So Paul asked,
'THEN
WHAT BAPTISM DID YOU RECEIVE?'
'JOHN'S
BAPTISM' they replied.
4
Paul said,
'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
On hearing this,
THEY
WERE BAPTIZED INTO THE NAME
OF
THE LORD JESUS.
6
WHEN PAUL PLACED HIS HANDS ON THEM,
THE
HOLY SPORIT CAME ON THEM,
AND
THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES AND PROPHESIED.
7
There were about twelve men in all.
8
Paul entered the Synagogue
And
spoke Boldly there for three months,
ARGUING
PERSUASIVELY ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
9
BUT SOME OF THEM BECAME OBSTINATE;
THEY
REFUSE TO BELIEVE
AND
PUBLICLY MALIGNED THE WAY.
So
Paul left them.
He
took the Disciples with him
And
had Discussions Daily in the Lecture Hall of Tyrannus.
10
This went on for two years,
So
that all the Jews and Greeks
Who
lived in the Province of Asia
Heard
the Word of the Lord.
GOD DID EXTRAORDINARY MIRACLES THROUGH PAUL.
12
HANDKERCHIEFS AND APRONS
THAT
HAD TOUCHED HIM
WERE
TAKEN TO THE SICK,
AND
THEIR ILLNESSES WERE CURED
AND
THE EVIL SPIRITS LEFT THEM.
13
Some Jews who went around
Driving
out Evil spirits
Tried
to invoke the Name of the Lord Jesus
Over
those who were Demon-possessed.
They
would say,
'IN
THE NAME OF JESUS, WHOM PAUL PREACHES,
I
COMMAND YOU TO COME OUT.'
14
Seven sons of Sceva,
A
Jewish Chief Priest, were doing this.
15
The Evil spirit answered them,
'JESUS
I KNOW AND PAUL I KNOW ABOUT,
BUT
WHO ARE YOU?'
16
THEN THE MAN WHO HAD THE EVIL SPIRIT
JUMPED
ON THEM AND OVER POWERED THEM ALL.
HE
GAVE THEM SUCH A BEATING
THAT
THEY RAN OUT OF THE HOUSE
NAKED
AND BLEEDING.
17
When this became known
To
the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,
THEY
WERE ALL SEIZED WITH FEAR,
AND
THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS
WAS
HELD IN HIGH HONOR.
18
Many of those who Believed
NOW
CAME AND OPENLY CONFESSED THEIR EVIL DEEDS.
19
A number who had Practiced Sorcery
Brought
their scrolls together
And
burned them Publicly.
When
they calculated the value of the scrolls,
The
total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
(A
drachma was a silver coin worth about a day's wages)
20
IN THIS WAY THE WORD OF THE LORD
SPREAD
WIDELY AND GREW IN POWER.
21
After all this had hapo0ened,
Paul
decide to go to Jerusalem,
Passing
through Macedonia and Achaia.
'After
I have been there,'
I
MUST VISIT ROME ALSO.'
22
He sent two of his helpers,
Timothy
and Erastus, to Macedonia,
While
he stayed in the Province of Asia a little longer.
The
Riot In Ephesus
23
About that time
THERE
AROSE A GREAT DISTURBANCE ABOUT THE WAY.
24
A silversmith named Demetrius,
Who
made Silver Shrines of Artemis,
Brought
in no little business for the craftsmen.
25
He called them together,
Along
with the workmen in related trades, and said:
Men
you know we receive a good income from this business.
26
And you see and hear how this fellow Paul
Has
convinced
AND
LED ASTRAY LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE
HERE
IN EPHESUS
AND
PRACTICALLY THE WHOLE PROVINCE OF ASIA.
He
says
THAT
MAN-MADE GODS ARE NO GODS AT ALL.
27
There is Danger not only
That
our trade will lose its good name,
But
also that the Temple of the Great Goddess Artemis
Will
be Discredited,
And
the goddess herself,
Who
is worshiped throughout the Province of Asia
And
the World,
WILL
BE ROBBED OF HER DIVINE MAJESTY.'
28
When they heard this,
THEY
WERE FURIOUS AND BEGAN SHOUTING:
'GREAT
IS ARTEMIS OF THE EPHESIANS!'
29
SOON THE WHOLE CITY WAS IN AN UPROAR.
The
people seized Gaius and Aristarchus,
Paul's
traveling companions from Macedonia,
AND
RUSHED AS ONE MAN INTO THE THEATER.
30
Paul wanted to appear before the Crowd,
But
the Disciples would not let him.
31
Even some of the Officials of the Province,
Friends
of Paul, sent him a message
Begging
him not to venture into the Theater.
32
The Assembly was in Confusion:
Some
were shouting one thing, some another.
Most
of the people
Did
not even know why they were there.
33
The Jews pushed Alexander to the front,
And
some of the Crowd shouted instructions to him.
He
motioned for silence
In
order to make a Defense before the people.
34
But when they realized he was a Jew,
They
all shouted in unison for about two hours:
'GREAT
IS ARTEMIS OF THE EPHESIANS!'
35
The City Clerk quieted the Crowed and said:
Men
of Ephesus,
Doesn't
the World know that the City of Ephesus
Is
the Guardian of the Temple of the Great Artemis
And
of her Image, which fell from heaven?
36
Therefore, since these facts are undeniable,
You
ought to be quiet and not do anything Rash,
37
You have brought here men here,
Though
they have neither Robbed Temples
Nor
Blasphemed our goddess.
38
If, then Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen
Have
a Grievance against anybody,
The
Courts are open and there are Proconsuls.
They
can Press Charges.
39
If there is anything further you want to bring up,
It
must be settled in a Legal Assembly.
40
As it is,
We
are in danger of being Charged with Rioting
Because
of today's events.
In
that case we would not be able to account for this Commotion,
Since
there is no reason for it.'
41
After he had said this,
He
Dismissed the Assembly.
(Acts
19)
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