1 A nd it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

While Apollos was in the city of Corinth, Paul went through the hill country to get to the city of Ephesus. He found a few followers there.

2 h e said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you put your trust in Christ?” They said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 A nd he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

He asked them, “How were you baptized?” They answered, “The way John baptized.”

4 T hen said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Paul said, “John baptized those who were sorry for their sins and turned from them. He told the people to put their trust in Jesus Who was coming later.”

5 W hen they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The people there were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus when they heard this.

6 A nd when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them. They started to talk in special sounds and to speak God’s Word.

7 A nd all the men were about twelve.

There were about twelve men. Paul Preaches in a Place of Worship and in a School in Ephesus

8 A nd he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

For three months Paul went into the Jewish place of worship and spoke without fear. He taught them things about the holy nation of God.

9 B ut when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

Some let their hearts grow hard. They would not put their trust in Christ. These spoke against the Christian religion in front of other people. Then Paul took the followers away from the others. He taught them each day in the school of Tyrannus.

10 A nd this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

He did this for two years. All the Jews and the Greeks in the countries of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. Paul Does Powerful Works

11 A nd God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

God used Paul to do powerful special works.

12 s o that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Pieces of cloth and parts of his clothes that had been next to his body were put on sick people. Then they were healed of their diseases and demons came out of them.

13 T hen certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

There were Jews who went from city to city trying to put demons out of people. Some of these tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus on those who had demons. They said, “I speak to you in the name of Jesus, the One Paul preaches about.”

14 A nd there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

A Jewish leader of the people by the name of Sceva had seven sons. These sons were trying to do this.

15 A nd the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

The demon said, “I know Jesus. I know about Paul. But who are you?”

16 A nd the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Then the man with the demon jumped on the sons. He had power over them and beat them. They ran out of the house with no clothes on and they were hurt.

17 A nd this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

All the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about it. Because of this all the people became afraid. And the name of the Lord Jesus was held in great honor.

18 A nd many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Many Christians came and told of the wrong things they were doing.

19 M any of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Many of those who did witchcraft gathered their books together and burned them in front of everyone. These books were worth 50, 000 pieces of silver money.

20 S o mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

The Word of the Lord became well-known.

21 A fter 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.

After this, Paul thought he would go through the countries of Macedonia and Greece. Then he would go to Jerusalem. He said, “After I have been there, I must go to the city of Rome also.”

22 S o he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia. Paul stayed in the countries of Asia awhile longer. The Meeting of the Silver Workmen in Ephesus

23 A nd the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

During that time there was much trouble about the Christians.

24 F or a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

A man named Demetrius made small silver buildings for the worship of Diana. His workmen received much money for their work.

25 w hom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

He called his workmen together and other men who made these small silver buildings. He said to them, “Men, you know we make much money from this work.

26 M oreover 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 be no gods, which are made with hands:

Now you hear that Paul has turned away many people in Ephesus as well as in Asia. He tells them that gods made with hands are not gods.

27 s o that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

It could be that our work will not be respected. Not only that, the house of worship for the god of Diana will be worth nothing and her greatness will be destroyed. All the countries of Asia and the world worship her.”

28 A nd when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

They became angry when they heard this and cried out, “Great is Diana of Ephesus.”

29 A nd the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

The whole city was filled with loud cries. They caught Gaius and Aristarchus. These two men from Macedonia were with Paul. They gathered around them at the meeting place in the city.

30 A nd when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

Paul wanted to stand in front of all the people but his followers would not let him.

31 A nd certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

Some of the city leaders who were his friends told him not to go to the meeting.

32 S ome therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

All this time some were crying out one thing and some another. The meeting was all noise. Most of the people did not know why they had come together.

33 A nd they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

Then the Jews pushed Alexander to the front. Alexander held his hand up and was going to speak.

34 B ut when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

As soon as they saw he was a Jew, they cried out with a loud voice for two hours, “Great is Diana of Ephesus!”

35 A nd when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

One of the city leaders stopped the noise. He spoke, “Men of Ephesus, everyone knows our city is where the god of Diana is kept. That is the stone god that fell from the sky.

36 S eeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

Everyone knows this is true, so you must not cry out or do anything foolish.

37 F or ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

The men you brought here do not rob houses of worship or talk against our god.

38 W herefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

If Demetrius and his workmen have something against anyone, we have special days for courts. Let them go to court.

39 B ut if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

If you want anything else, it should be done in another meeting.

40 F or we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

We are in danger of being asked about this trouble today. There is no good reason we can give for this meeting.”

41 A nd when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

When he had said this, he told them to leave.