1And while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and arrived at Ephesus, where he found several disciples. 2He asked them, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you became believers?” And they answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3And he said to them, “Then what baptism did you receive?” And they said, “The baptism of John.” 4Then Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin; but John himself told the people to believe in the One Who would come after him, that being Christ Jesus.” 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.

8Paul entered the synagogue, and for three months he spoke boldly there, arguing persuasively concerning the kingdom of God. 9But when some became obstinate, rejecting, and speaking evil of their belief, Paul left the synagogue, taking the believers with him, and discussed and debated daily in the lecture hall of one Tyrannus. 10And this continued for about two years; so that all who lived in the province of Asia - both Jews and Greeks - heard the word of the Lord. 11And God gave Paul power to perform extraordinary miracles, 12So that when handkerchiefs or aprons that had even touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and evil spirits were driven out of them.

13Then some vagabond Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We command you by Jesus, Whom Paul preaches.” 14And there were seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva, who did this. 15And the evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16And then the man who had the evil spirit attacked them, leaping upon and overpowering them all, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. 17When this became known to all the Jews and Greeks living at Ephesus; dread fell on them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was then held in high honor. 18And many of those that believed came, and openly confessed their sinful practices. 19And many of those who had used magical arts and sorcery brought their books (scrolls), and burned them in the public square; and they estimated the value of them to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20And so word of God spread and grew in power.

21After all these events, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, Paul felt led by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, and said, “After I have been there, I must also visit Rome.” 22So he sent two of those who served with him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia; while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

23About the same time, a great controversy arose about that Way (the belief in the Lord Jesus). 24Because a certain silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines for the Greek goddess Diana, a lucrative business that generated no small income for those craftsmen, 25Called together those engaged in that occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that our wealth comes from this craft we have. 26And you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this man, Paul, has persuaded many that idols made with hands are not gods; and turned people away; 27So that not only is our craft in danger of coming into disrepute; but that the temple of the great goddess, Diana, with all her magnificence, that all Asia and the world worships, should also be despised.” 28And when they heard this, they were furious, and shouted, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” 29And soon the whole city was in an uproar; and after seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's travelling companions from Macedonia, they all rushed into the theatre. 30And Paul wanted to go in and appear before the people, but the disciples would not let him. 31And even some of the officials of the province of Asia, who were his friends, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theatre. 32For the whole assembly was in confusion; and most did not know why they were there – some shouting one thing, and some shouting another; 33And when the Jews dragged Alexander out in front of the mob, he motioned for silence, and would have made his defense before the people. 34But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Diana (Artemus) of the Ephesians.” 35And after the town-clerk had quieted the people, he (the town-clerk) said, “You men of Ephesus, everyone knows that the city of the Ephesians is a guardian of the great goddess, Artemus, and of her image that fell from heaven. 36And since these things cannot be denied, you ought to calm down, and not to do anything rash. 37For you have brought these men here, who have neither robbed temples, nor blasphemed our goddess. 38So, if Demetrius, and the craftsmen who are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are deputies; let them accuse (charge) one another. 39But if you have any other matters to bring up, it should be settled in a lawful (legal) assembly. 40For, as it is, we are in danger to be called in question for this day's riot, there being no cause or justification for all this commotion.” 41And after he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.