1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2 He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They replied, “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 He said, “Into what, then, were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 8 He entered the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became hardened and refused to believe, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he withdrew from them and took the disciples apart, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 11 God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul’s hands, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out. 13 Some of the traveling Jewish exorcists also tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus. Fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many of those who had believed came, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 A considerable number of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them before everyone. They added up their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 In this way the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. 21 After these things had taken place, Paul resolved in spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. He said, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed in Asia for a time. 23 About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought considerable business to the craftsmen. 25 He gathered them together with the workers in related trades and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable multitude, saying that gods made by hands are not gods. 27 Not only is our trade in danger of falling into disrepute, but the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be regarded as nothing, and she may be stripped of her majesty, she whom all Asia and the inhabited world worship.” 28 When they heard this, they were filled with rage and cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 30 Paul wanted to go in before the people, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Some of the Asiarchs, who were his friends, also sent to him and urged him not to venture into the theater. 32 Some shouted one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most did not know why they had come together. 33 People in the crowd instructed Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted with one voice for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said, “Men of Ephesus, who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great Artemis and of what fell from heaven? 36 Since these things cannot be disputed, you must remain calm and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here, who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 So if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a charge against anyone, court sessions are held and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it will be settled in the lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting over today’s events. There is no cause for it, and we will not be able to give an account of this gathering.” 41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.