19:1 Now it happened, that while* Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, having gone through the upper-parts of the region, came to Ephesus and found some disciples.
19:2 He said to them, Did you* receive the Holy Spirit when you* believed?
But they said to him, But, we did not hear if there is a Holy Spirit.
19:3 And he said to them, Therefore into what were you* immersed*?
But they said, Into the immersion* of John.
19:4 But Paul said, John indeed immersed* in the immersion* of repentance, saying to the people in order that they should believe in the one who is coming after him, that is, in the Christ Jesus.
19:5 Now having heard this, they were immersed* into the name of the Lord Jesus.
19:6 And after Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were speaking in foreign languages and were prophesying.
19:7 Now they were in all approximately twelve men.
19:8 Now having entered into the synagogue, he was speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.
19:9 But as some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way in the sight of the multitude, he withdrew away from them and separated* the disciples, reasoning every day in the school of a certain Tyrannus.
19:10 Now this happened in two years; so-that all those dwelling in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
19:11 And God was doing miracles (not obtainable from man) through the hands of Paul;
19:12 so-that even handkerchiefs or aprons from the touch of his skin were carried away to those who were sick and the diseases were set-free from them and the evil spirits went out from them.
19:13 But also, some exorcists from the strolling Jews undertook the task to name the name of the Lord Jesus upon those who had the evil spirits, saying, We implore you* on the Jesus whom Paul is preaching.
19:14 Now there were some (seven sons of Sceva) and a Jew, a high-priest, who were doing this.
19:15 But the evil spirit having answered, said to them, I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you*?
19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaping upon them and having mastered, prevailed against them, so-that they fled out of that house, naked and traumatized.
19:17 Now this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, dwelling in Ephesus, and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being extolled.
19:18 Many of those who had also believed were coming, confessing and proclaiming their practices.
19:19 Now a considerable number of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and were burning them in the sight of all, and they calculated the prices of them and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
19:20 So the word of the Lord was growing and prevailing in dominion.
19:21 Now as these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in the spirit to travel to Jerusalem, after having gone through Macedonia and Achaia, and said, After I have come* there, it is essential for me to also see Rome.
19:22 Now having sent Timothy and Erastus, two of those serving him, into Macedonia, he held back in Asia for a short time. {56-58 AD. Ephesus. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians is written.}
19:23 Now it happened at that time there was not just a small disturbance concerning the Way.
19:24 For* a certain man, Demetrius by name, (a silversmith making* miniature silver temples of Artemis), was providing not just a small business to the craftsmen;
19:25 whom he accumulated together the other workers of such things and said, Men, you* know our prosperity is from this business.
19:26 And you* view and hear, that not only from Ephesus, but almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and seduced a considerable crowd, saying that they are not gods, those born through man's hands.
19:27 But not only is this part for us in peril and it is to go into disrepute but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis is to be counted as nothing and her majesty is about to be demolished, what the whole of Asia and inhabited-earth is worshiping.
19:28 Now after having heard this, they became full of fury, and were crying out, saying, Great is Artemis of Ephesus.
19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion and they rushed united into the theater, having seized Paul's fellow traveling-associates, Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Macedonians.
19:30 Now Paul was planning to enter into the public area, but the disciples were not permitting him.
19:31 But some also of those from Asia, being friends to him, and having sent for him, they were pleading with him not to give himself to the theater crowd.
19:32 Therefore some were crying something and others another thing; for* the assembly was confused, and most did not know why they had come together.
19:33 But they pushed Alexander forward out of the crowd, after the Jews cast him forward. Now Alexander beckoned with the hand, and was wishing to make a defense to the public.
19:34 But after they recognized that he was a Jew, one voice became out of them all for approximately two hours, crying, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.
19:35 But having the composure of the crowd, the town scribe says, Men of Ephesus, for* what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great goddess Artemis and of the fallen image from Zeus?
19:36 Therefore these things being undeniable, it is essential for you* to possess composure and to do nothing rash.
19:37 For* you* led these men here, who are neither temple looters nor are blaspheming your goddess.
19:38 Therefore indeed, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are together with him have an account toward anyone, lower-courts are to be led and proconsuls are here. Let them accuse one another in them.
19:39 But if you* seek anything concerning different things, it will be interpreted in the lawful assembly.
19:40 For* we also are in peril to be accused concerning today's riot, no cause exists for it and concerning it, will we be able to give account of this conspiracy?
19:41 And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
{May 58 to March 59 AD. Games in honor of Artemis at Ephesus. 10 months in Europe (Macedonia & Greece). Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians is written.}