1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2He said to them: »Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?« They said: »We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit.« 3Paul asked: »What kind of baptism did you get?« They replied: »It was the baptism John taught.« 4Paul said: »John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people they should believe in Jesus, the one who came after John.« 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6Paul laid his hands on them and Holy Spirit came upon them. They spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7There were twelve men in all. 8He entered the synagogue and spoke boldly reasoning and persuading about the kingdom of God. He did this for three months. 9Some were obstinate and publicly maligned The Way before the crowds. He departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10This continued for two years so that all who lived in this part of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 11God did special miracles by the hands of Paul. 12Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched his body were put on the sick and the evil spirits went away. 13Some Jews went around driving out evil spirits saying: »In the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches I command you to come out!« 14And there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, and a chief priest, who did this. 15The evil spirit answered and said to them: »Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?« 16The man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, and overpowered them. He gave them such a beating that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17This became known to all both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. They were all afraid. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18Many of the believers confessed openly about the evil things they had done. 19Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books and burned them in the sight of everyone. When they totaled the value of them it came to about fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20The word of God kept on growing and prevailed. 21After this ended Paul was directed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he passed through Macedonia and Achaia. He said: »After I have been there, I must also see Rome.« 22He sent two of his helpers Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia. He stayed in Asia for a while. 23A great disturbance occurred about The Way. 24A man named Demetrius, a silversmith made silver shrines of Diana. He brought a lot of business to the craftsmen. 25They gathered together along with similar related workmen, and said: »Sirs, You know we receive a good income from this business. 26»You see and hear that Paul, in Ephesus and throughout all Asia, has persuaded and turned away many people. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27»There is danger that our trade will lose its good name. The temple of the great goddess Artemis Diana would then become useless. The goddess who is worshiped in all Asia would be robbed of her divine majesty.« 28When they heard this they were filled with anger. They shouted: »Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.« 29The city was filled with the confusion. They rushed with one accord into the theatre and seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel. 30Paul wanted to enter the theatre with the people but his disciples would not permit it. 31Some of the officials and his friends sent him a message begging him not to enter the theatre. 32Some cried one thing and others another for the crowd was in confusion. Most of them did not know why they assembled. 33The crowd of Jews thrust Alexander forward. Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted to make a defense to the people. 34They perceived that he was a Jew and all with one voice shouted for two hours: »Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.« 35The city recorder quieted the crowd. He said: »You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36»Seeing that these things are indisputable it is fitting that you keep calm and do nothing rash. 37»You brought these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38»If Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him have a grievance against any man, the courts are open, and there are judges. Let them accuse one another. 39»But if you seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40»For indeed we are in danger to be charged with rioting sedition because of today’s events. We would not be able to account for this ruckus for there is no reason for it.« 41When he finished speaking he dismissed the assembly.