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 inquire 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.

1And it came to passe, that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul hauing passed thorow the vpper coasts, came to Ephesus, and finding certaine disciples,

2He said vnto them, Haue ye receiued the holy Ghost since yee beleeued? And they saide vnto him, Wee haue not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost.

3And he said vnto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they saide, Unto Iohns Baptisme.

4Then saide Paul, Iohn verely baptized with the baptisme of repentance, saying vnto the people, that they should beleeue on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Iesus.

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Iesus.

6And when Paul had laide his hands vpon them, the holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues, and prophecied.

7And all þe men were about twelue.

8And hee went into the Synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three moneths, disputing and perswading the things concerning the Kingdome of God.

9But when diuers were hardened, and beleeued not, but spake euill of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the schoole of one Tyrannus.

10And this continued by the space of two yeeres, so that all they which dwelt in Asia, heard the word of the Lord Iesus, both Iewes and Greeks.

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

12So that from his body were brought vnto the sicke handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the euill spirits went out of them.

13 Then certaine of the vagabond Iewes, exorcistes, tooke vpon them to call ouer them which had euill spirits, the Name of the Lord Iesus, saying, We adiure you by Iesus whom Paul preacheth.

14And there were seuen sonnes of one Sceua a Iewe, and chiefe of the Priests, which did so.

15And the euill spirit answered, and said, Iesus I knowe, and Paul I know, but who are ye?

16And the man in whom the euill spirit was, leapt on them, and ouercame them, and preuailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17And this was knowen to all the Iewes and Greekes also dwelling at Ephesus, and feare fell on them all, and the Name of the Lord Iesus was magnified.

18And many that beleeued came, and confessed, and shewed their deedes.

19Many also of them which vsed curious arts, brought their bookes together and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of siluer.

20So mightily grew the word of God, and preuailed.

21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when hee had passed thorow Macedonia and Athaia, to go to Hierusalem, saying, After I haue bin there, I must also see Rome.

22So hee sent into Macedonia two of them that ministred vnto him, Timotheus and Erastus, but he himselfe stayed in Asia for a season.

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

24For a certaine man named Demetrius, a siluer smith, which made siluer shrines for Diana, brought no small gaine vnto the craftsmen:

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

26Moreouer, ye see & heare, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath perswaded and turned away much people, saying, that they bee no gods, which are made with hands.

27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought: but also that the Temple of the great goddesse Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia, and the world worshippeth.

28And when they heard these sayings, they were ful of wrath, & cried out, saying, Great is Diana of þe Ephesians.

29And the whole citie was filled with confusion, and hauing caught Gaius and Aristarchus men of Macedonia Pauls companions in trauaile, they rushed with one accord into the Theatre.

30And when Paul would haue entred in vnto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31And certaine of the chiefe of Asia, which were his friends, sent vnto him, desiring him that he would not aduenture himselfe into the Theatre.

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

33And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Iewes putting him forward. And Alexander beckened with the hand, and would haue made his defence vnto the people.

34But when they knew that he was a Iewe, all with one voyce about the space of two houres cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

35And when the towne clarke had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there þt knoweth not how that the citie of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddesse Diana, and of the image which fell downe from Iupiter?

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

37For ye haue brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of Churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddesse:

38Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftesmen which are with him, haue a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies, let them implead one another.

39But if yee enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shalbe determined in a lawfull assembly.

40For we are in danger to be called in question for this dayes vprore, there being no cause whereby we may giue an accompt of this concourse.

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

 

1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came (down) to Ephesus where he found some disciples. 2 He said to them, "Did you receive the holy Spirit when you became believers?" They answered him, "We have never even heard that there is a holy Spirit." 3 He said, "How were you baptized?" They replied, "With the baptism of John." 4 Paul then said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul laid (his) hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 Altogether there were about twelve men. 8 He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some in their obstinacy and disbelief disparaged the Way before the assembly, he withdrew and took his disciples with him and began to hold daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years with the result that all the inhabitants of the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord, Jews and Greeks alike. 11 So extraordinary were the mighty deeds God accomplished at the hands of Paul 12 that when face cloths or aprons that touched his skin were applied to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 When the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, tried to do this, 15 the evil spirit said to them in reply, "Jesus I recognize, Paul I know, but who are you?" 16 The person with the evil spirit then sprang at them and subdued them all. He so overpowered them that they fled naked and wounded from that house. 17 When this became known to all the Jews and Greeks who lived in Ephesus, fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in great esteem. 18 Many of those who had become believers came forward and openly acknowledged their former practices. 19 Moreover, a large number of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in public. They calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand silver pieces. 20 Thus did the word of the Lord continue to spread with influence and power. 21 When this was concluded, Paul made up his mind to travel through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must visit Rome also." 22 Then he sent to Macedonia two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, while he himself stayed for a while in the province of Asia. 23 About that time a serious disturbance broke out concerning the Way. 24 There was a silversmith named Demetrius who made miniature silver shrines of Artemis and provided no little work for the craftsmen. 25 He called a meeting of these and other workers in related crafts and said, "Men, you know well that our prosperity derives from this work. 26 As you can now see and hear, not only in Ephesus but throughout most of the province of Asia this Paul has persuaded and misled a great number of people by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all. 27 The danger grows, not only that our business will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be of no account, and that she whom the whole province of Asia and all the world worship will be stripped of her magnificence." 28 When they heard this, they were filled with fury and began to shout, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 The city was filled with confusion, and the people rushed with one accord into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians, Paul's traveling companions. 30 Paul wanted to go before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him, 31 and even some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him advising him not to venture into the theater. 32 Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, others something else; the assembly was in chaos, and most of the people had no idea why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, as the Jews pushed him forward, and Alexander signaled with his hand that he wished to explain something to the gathering. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 35 Finally the town clerk restrained the crowd and said, "You Ephesians, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from the sky? 36 Since these things are undeniable, you must calm yourselves and not do anything rash. 37 The men you brought here are not temple robbers, nor have they insulted our goddess. 38 If Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 If you have anything further to investigate, let the matter be settled in the lawful assembly, 40 for, as it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today's conduct. There is no cause for it. We shall (not) be able to give a reason for this demonstration." With these words he dismissed the assembly.

v1-7. These 12 men may have been from Apollos’ earlier teaching of John’s baptism. They readily accepted the doctrine concerning Christ and were baptized. In this transition period the Holy Spirit did not come upon them till Paul laid on hands. Now we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit when we are saved. Our salvation should be shown by our changed lives.
v8,9. As before, Paul preaches in the synagogue until opposition forces him to seek a new location. The lecture hall of Tyrannus was available to traveling teachers from 11 AM to 4 PM.
v10. In this two year period the gospel spread through all Asia, not necessarily to each individual. Several of the seven churches of Revelation were begun then.+++++ Acts 20:31 says three years, but this follows the Jewish manner of counting part of a unit of time as a whole. ( Third day = day after tomorrow)
v11,12. In India and some places where the gospel needs to be authenticated, there are miracles yet today. Some think this healing ministry continues here today. After I had a minor ailment a friend sent one of my handkerchiefs to a faith healer and returned it to me. Following this I was healed - after I went to the doctor.
v13,14. These seven Jews who traveled about exorcising demons through chants and magical arts tried the simple method of Paul, using the name of the Lord Jesus.
v15,16. Being unsaved, they were not able to call upon the name of Jesus and the demon became supernaturally strong and overpowered all seven.
v17,18. This frightening experience convinced and convicted both the unsaved and believers who had been involved in sorcery and spiritism. Some believers today need to lay aside their horoscopes and evil habits.
19,20. Fear and conviction was such that formulas and devices used in black and white magic worth over 200 man years of wages were destroyed, leaving a purified church.
21,22. Not the Holy Spirit but he probably influenced Paul’s spirit. In Paul’s own mind, long term plans were to visit and help the churches of Macedonia and Achaia before going back to Jerusalem and then on to Rome and even Spain, Romans 15:24. He needed to stay  in Asia longer so sent Timothy and Erastus on to prepare the way.
v23-27. So many people throughout all of Asia turning from sorcery and idols posed a financial threat to the makers of silver idols, many of which were worn about the neck. He implied the religious implication, but they were no doubt swayed more by the finances. Just as in our day we may have corrupt leaders, but if the economy is good and people are making money they will still vote for them. v28,29. A typical mob scene ensued with the majority not even knowing what it was about, and these two helpers of Paul were manhandled into the 25,000 seat theater but unharmed. This  temple was the most magnificent in the ancient world. It was 425 by 220 feet wide, with 120 columns 60 feet high and 7 1/2 feet in diameter, thirty six of them ornamented with precious metals and stones. Only the chapel of the goddess part had a cedar roof.
v28,29. This open theater which seated 30,000 people was used for both entertainment and assembly, hence the people rushed there.
v30,31. Paul  was eager to share the danger and rush to defense of the gospel, but cool heads, including Asian leaders in charge at the temple, prevailed over zeal.
v32-34. Confusion reigned and the Jews got one of their more eloquent ones to make a defense that the Jews weren’t to blame for this. However, the anti Semitic mob shouted him down in praise of Diana.
v35-41. The town clerk was actually the chief executive officer of the city. He, in a matter of fact, pointed out that all Ephesians “knew” that great Diana was an image fallen from Jupiter, not and idol made with hands, so why be concerned about these men. [She was covered with too many shapes of beasts and monsters,symbols, and mystic figures to detail here.]  Second, they had broken no laws. Third there was a legal method for handling these matters, and finally this action could result in loosing some of the privileges allowed by Rome. Then he dismissed the subdued audience. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians as well as an earlier letter to them (See 1 Cor. 5:9) while at Ephesus.
A chalk board illustration could be a ladder starting with the first step Miracles, 19:11,12. Then Imitators v13,14; Their failure v15,16; Jesus Magnified v17; Believers confess v18,19; Revival v20: “No Small Stir” v21-40.