| 1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul
having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain
disciples: 2 and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye
believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear
whether the Holy Spirit was given. 3 And he said, Into what then
were ye baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism. 4 And Paul said,
John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that
they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.
5 And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord
Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came
on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And they were in
all about twelve men. 8 And he entered into the synagogue, and spake
boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to
the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened
and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed
from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of
Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for the space of two years; so that all
they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 insomuch
that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons,
and the evil spirits went out. 13 But certain also of the strolling Jews,
exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the
name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did
this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know,
and Paul I know, but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit
was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so
that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became
known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon
them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many also of
them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. 19 And
not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together
and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and
found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of
the Lord and prevailed. 21 Now 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.
22 And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him,
Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23 And about
that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way. 24 For a certain
man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought
no little business unto the craftsmen; 25 whom he gathered together, with
the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business
we have our wealth. 26 And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but
almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much
people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands: 27 and not
only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that
the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she
should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world
worshippeth. 28 And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and
cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesus. 29 And the city was
filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre,
having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in
travel. 30 And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the
disciples suffered him not. 31 And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his
friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the
theatre. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the
assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were
come together. 33 And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the
Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would
have made a defense unto the people. 34 But when they perceived that he
was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great
is Diana of the Ephesians. 35 And when the townclerk had quieted the
multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not
that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of
the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36 Seeing then that these
things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers
of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius, and
the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts
are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another. 39 But if
ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular
assembly. 40 For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this
day's riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall
not be able to give account of this concourse. 41 And when he had thus
spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
Genesis - Public
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