In Ephesus disciples receive the Holy Spirit, and Paul teaches for two years while the word spreads through Asia. Some who practiced magic burn their scrolls. A riot erupts when the silversmiths see their trade threatened.
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 ,
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 .
3 And he said unto them , Unto what then were ye baptized ? And they said , Unto John's baptism .
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 .
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus .
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them , the Holy Ghost came on them ; and they spake with tongues , and prophesied .
7 And all the men were about twelve .
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 .
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 .
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 .
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul :
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 .
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 .
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva , a Jew , and chief of the priests , which did so .
15 And the evil spirit answered and said , Jesus I know , and Paul I know ; but who are ye ?
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 .
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 .
18 And many that believed came , and confessed , and shewed their deeds .
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 .
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed .
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 .
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 .
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way .
24 For a certain man named Demetrius , a silversmith , which made silver shrines for Diana , brought no small gain unto the craftsmen ;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation , and said , Sirs , ye know that by this craft we have our wealth .
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 :
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 .
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath , and cried out , saying , Great is Diana of the Ephesians .
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 .
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people , the disciples suffered him not .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 .
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 ?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against , ye ought to be quiet , and to do nothing rashly .
37 For ye have brought hither these men , which are neither robbers of churches , nor yet blasphemers of 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 .
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters , it shall be determined in a lawful assembly .
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 .
41 And when he had thus spoken , he dismissed the assembly .