| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1It was while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul passed through the inland districts and came to Ephesus. He found a few disciples there | 1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there |
| 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered him, "No, we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." | 2and said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." |
| 3He then asked, "Then into what were you baptized?" They answered, "Into John's baptism." | 3So Paul said, "Into what then were you baptized?" "Into John's baptism," they replied. |
| 4Then Paul said, "John baptized when they repented, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." | 4Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." |
| 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. | 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, |
| 6When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in foreign languages and to prophesy. | 6and when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. |
| 7There were about twelve men in all. | 7(Now there were about twelve men in all.) |
| 8He went into the synagogue and spoke there boldly for three months, holding discussions and persuading those who heard him about the kingdom of God. | 8So Paul entered the synagogue and spoke out fearlessly for three months, addressing and convincing them about the kingdom of God. |
| 9But when some people became stubborn, refused to believe, and slandered the Way in front of the people, Paul left them, taking his disciples away with him, and held daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. | 9But when some were stubborn and refused to believe, reviling the Way before the congregation, he left them and took the disciples with him, addressing them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. |
| 10This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord. | 10This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord. |
| 11God continued to do extraordinary miracles through Paul. | 11God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul's hands, |
| 12When handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched his skin were taken to the sick, their diseases left them and evil spirits went out of them. | 12so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. |
| 13Then some Jews who went around trying to drive out demons attempted to use the name of the Lord Jesus on those who had evil spirits, saying, "I command you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches!" | 13But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, "I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." |
| 14Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. | 14(Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.) |
| 15But the evil spirit told them, "Jesus I know, and I am getting acquainted with Paul, but who are you?" | 15But the evil spirit replied to them, "I know about Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?" |
| 16Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them, got the better of them, and so violently overpowered all of them that they fled out of the house naked and bruised. | 16Then the man who was possessed by the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them all into submission. He prevailed against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. |
| 17When this became known to everyone living in Ephesus, Jews and Greeks alike, they all became terrified, and the name of the Lord Jesus began to be held in high honor. | 17This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; fear came over them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. |
| 18Many who became believers kept coming to confess and talk about what they had been doing. | 18Many of those who had believed came forward, confessing and making their deeds known. |
| 19Moreover, many people who had practiced occult arts gathered their books and burned them in front of everybody. They estimated their value and found them to have been worth 50,000 silver coins. | 19Large numbers of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them up in the presence of everyone. When the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins. |
| 20In that way the word of the Lord kept spreading and triumphing. | 20In this way the word of the Lord continued to grow in power and to prevail. |
| 21After these things had happened, Paul decided to go through Macedonia and Achaia and then to go on to Jerusalem. "After I have gone there," he told them, "I must also see Rome." | 21Now after all these things had taken place, Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. He said, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." |
| 22Then he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed in Asia a while longer. | 22So after sending two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia. |
| 23Now about that time a great commotion broke out concerning the Way. | 23At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the Way. |
| 24By making silver shrines of Artemis, a silversmith named Demetrius provided a large income for skilled workers. | 24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought a great deal of business to the craftsmen. |
| 25He called a meeting of these men and others who were engaged in similar trades and said, "Men, you well know that we get a good income from this business. | 25He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business. |
| 26You also see and hear that, not only in Ephesus, but almost all over Asia, this man Paul has won over and taken away a large crowd by telling them that gods made by human hands are not gods at all. | 26And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia, by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all. |
| 27There is a danger not only that our business will lose its reputation but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be brought into disrepute and that she will be robbed of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her." | 27There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness." |
| 28When they heard this, they became furious and began to shout, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" | 28When they heard this they became enraged and began to shout, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" |
| 29The city was filled with confusion, and the people rushed into the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's fellow travelers from Macedonia. | 29The city was filled with the uproar, and the crowd rushed to the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions. |
| 30Paul wanted to go into the crowd, but the disciples wouldn't let him. | 30But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, the disciples would not let him. |
| 31Even some officials of the province of Asia who were his friends sent him a message urging him not to risk his life in the theater. | 31Even some of the provincial authorities who were his friends sent a message to him, urging him not to venture into the theater. |
| 32Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and some another, since the crowd was confused, and most of them didn't know why they were meeting. | 32So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together. |
| 33Some of the crowd concluded it was because of Alexander, since the Jews had pushed him to the front. So Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defense before the people. | 33Some of the crowd concluded it was about Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. Alexander, gesturing with his hand, was wanting to make a defense before the public assembly. |
| 34But when they found out that he was a Jew, they all started to shout in unison for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" | 34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" for about two hours. |
| 35When the city recorder had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who in the world doesn't know that this city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell down from heaven? | 35After the city secretary quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven? |
| 36Since these things cannot be denied, you must be quiet and not do anything reckless. | 36So because these facts are indisputable, you must keep quiet and not do anything reckless. |
| 37For you have brought these men here, although they neither rob temples nor blaspheme our goddess. | 37For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. |
| 38So if Demetrius and his workers have a charge against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They should accuse one another there. | 38If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against someone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there. |
| 39But if you want anything else, it must be settled in the regular assembly, | 39But if you want anything in addition, it will have to be settled in a legal assembly. |
| 40because we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, and there is no good reason we can give to justify this commotion." | 40For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause we can give to explain this disorderly gathering." |
| 41After saying this, he dismissed the assembly. | 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. |
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