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Acts

Describes the early Christian church's formation and spread, from Jerusalem to Rome, focusing on the work of the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 19

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

*One day, when Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled along the northern coasts and arrived in Ephesus. There, he found some followers.

2 He 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 get the Holy Spirit after believing?" They replied, "We never even heard if there is a Holy Spirit."

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

*He asked them, "Why did you get baptized?" They replied, "We were baptized by John."

4 Then 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.

*Then Paul said, "John indeed used the baptism of repentance and told the people to believe in the one coming after him, who is Christ Jesus."

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

*When they heard about it, they got baptized using the name of Jesus the Lord.

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

*When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit arrived; they began to speak in different languages and shared prophetic messages.

7 And all the men were about twelve.

*And there were around twelve men total.

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

*He entered the church and, for three months, spoke confidently about the kingdom of God, arguing and convincing people about its matters.

9 But 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.

*But when some people didn't change and didn't believe, instead speaking badly about it to others, he left them. He then split the believers into groups and debated every day with a teacher named Tyrannus.

10 And 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.

*For two years, this message about Jesus spread throughout Asia, reaching both Jewish and Greek people.

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

*And God performed unique acts through Paul's actions.

12 So 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.

*So when sick people touched his cloths, their illnesses left them and bad spirits went away.

13 Then 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.

*Then some wandering Jewish people who were exorcists said to those with evil spirits, "We command you in the name of Jesus that Paul talks about."

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

*And there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish leader and head priest, who did this.

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

*The bad spirit spoke up and said, "I know who Jesus is, and I know who Paul is, but who are you all?"

16 And 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.

*The possessed man was taken over by the evil spirit, which defeated and overpowered him. As a result, he chased the people out of the house, leaving them without clothes and injured.

17 And 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.

*Every Jew and Greek living in Ephesus knew about it, and everyone became afraid. The name of Jesus, the Lord, became more important.

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

*Many who believed arrived, admitted it, and showed their actions.

19 Many 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 who practiced strange arts gathered their books and burned them in front of everyone. They calculated the value of the books and found it to be fifty thousand silver coins.

20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

*Thus, the message of God greatly expanded and triumphed.

21 After 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 these events finished, Paul planned in his heart to travel through Macedonia and Achaia, then go to Jerusalem. He said, "Once I'm there, I need to visit Rome too."

22 So 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 Timotheus and Erastus to Macedonia, who helped him, while he remained in Asia for some time.

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

*At the same time, there was quite a commotion about that path.

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

*A man named Demetrius, who made silver statues of Diana for the craftsmen, earned them a good amount of money.

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

*He gathered those who had similar jobs and said, "Sirs, you understand that through this work we gain our money."

26 Moreover 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:

*Furthermore, you can see and hear that not just in Ephesus, but nearly everywhere in Asia, Paul has convinced many people and led them to believe that gods made by humans don't exist.

27 So 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.

*To avoid our profession being disrespected, and to prevent the temple of the great goddess Diana from being seen as unimportant, along with her greatness that is admired by all Asia and the world being destroyed.

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

*When they heard these words, they became very angry and shouted, "Diana of the Ephesians is great!"

29 And 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 entire city became confused. They captured Gaius and Aristarchus, who were from Macedonia and traveled with Paul. Everyone quickly went to the theater together.

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

*When Paul tried to join the people, the followers stopped him.

31 And 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 important people from Asia, who were his friends, sent him a message asking him not to go to the stage.

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

*Some people said different things, and the group was messy. Most of them didn't know why they gathered there.

33 And 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.

*They chose Alexander from the large group, the Jews encouraging him. Alexander gestured with his hand, wanting to explain himself to the people.

34 But 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.

*But when they found out he was a Jew, everyone together for about two hours shouted, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."

35 And 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?

*When the town leader calmed the crowd, he spoke to the people of Ephesus, asking if anyone didn't know that they worshipped the big goddess Diana and an image from Jupiter that fell down.

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

*Since these things can't be criticized, you should stay calm and not act hastily.

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

*You brought these men here, and they aren't church thieves or disrespectful to your goddess.

38 Wherefore 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.

*So, if Demetrius and his workers have a problem with someone, they can go to court and use representatives; they should sue each other.

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

*But if you ask about anything else, it will be decided in a fair meeting.

40 For 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 could get blamed for today's chaos, as we have no reason to explain this large crowd.

41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

*Then, after saying that, he sent everyone away.

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