| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples | 1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples |
| 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." | 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” “No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” |
| 3So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. | 3“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied. |
| 4Paul 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." | 4Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” |
| 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. | 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. |
| 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. | 6And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. |
| 7There were about twelve men in all. | 7There were about twelve men in all. |
| 8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. | 8Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. |
| 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused 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. | 9But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. |
| 10This 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. | 10This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord. |
| 11God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, | 11God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul, |
| 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. | 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them. |
| 13Some 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 the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." | 13Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I bind you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.” |
| 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. | 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. |
| 15One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?" | 15Eventually, one of the evil spirits answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” |
| 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. | 16Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. The attack was so violent that they ran out of the house naked and wounded. |
| 17When 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. | 17This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, and fear came over all of them. So the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. |
| 18Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. | 18Many who had believed now came forward, confessing and disclosing their deeds. |
| 19A 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. | 19And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. When the value of the books was calculated, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. |
| 20In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. | 20So the word of the Lord powerfully continued to spread and prevail. |
| 21After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." | 21After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.” |
| 22He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer. | 22He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia. |
| 23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. | 23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. |
| 24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. | 24It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen. |
| 25He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: "You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. | 25Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. |
| 26And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. | 26And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. |
| 27There 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." | 27There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.” |
| 28When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" | 28When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” |
| 29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. | 29Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. |
| 30Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. | 30Paul wanted to go before the assembly, but the disciples would not allow him. |
| 31Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater. | 31Even some of Paul’s friends who were officials of the province of Asia sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre. |
| 32The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. | 32Meanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there. |
| 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. | 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people. |
| 34But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" | 34But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” |
| 35The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Fellow Ephesians, doesn't all 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? | 35Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? |
| 36Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. | 36Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash. |
| 37You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. | 37For you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess. |
| 38If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. | 38So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there. |
| 39If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. | 39But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly. |
| 40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." | 40For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.” |
| 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. | 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. |
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