Acts 19

Paul arrived in Ephesus, laid hands on twelve disciples who received the Holy Ghost, and taught for two years so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word. God worked special miracles through Paul, and the seven sons of Sceva were overpowered by an evil spirit. The silversmith Demetrius stirred up a riot because Paul's preaching threatened the worship of Diana.

v	King James Version	Modern English
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,	While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul traveled through the upper regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there
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.	and asked them, "Did You receive the Holy Ghost when You believed?" They replied, "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Ghost."
3	And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.	He said, "Then what baptism did You receive?" They said, "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.	Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him — that is, in Christ Jesus."
5	When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.	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.	When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them. They spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7	And all the men were about twelve.	There were about twelve men in all.
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 went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, arguing and persuading them about 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.	But when some became stubborn and refused to believe — speaking evil of the Way before the crowd — Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and reasoned daily in the school of 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.	This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Asia — both Jews and Greeks — heard the word of the Lord Jesus.
11	And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:	God did extraordinary miracles through Paul's hands.
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.	Even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came 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.	Some itinerant Jewish exorcists also tried invoking the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. They would say, "I command You by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."
14	And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.	Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15	And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?	The evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know — but who are you?"
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 man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered all of them. He attacked with such force that they fled from the 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.	This became known to all the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus. Fear came over all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
18	And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.	Many who had believed came and openly confessed what they had done.
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 had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they counted up the value, it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20	So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.	In this way the word of God grew mightily and spread.
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 things were completed, Paul resolved in the Spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia and then go to Jerusalem. He said, "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.	He sent two of his helpers — Timothy and Erastus — to Macedonia, while he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23	And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.	About that time there arose a serious disturbance about the Way.
24	For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;	A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Diana, provided a great deal of business for 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.	He called them together, along with the workers in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business.
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:	You see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people — not only in Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are not real gods.
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.	Our trade is in danger of falling into disrepute. Not only that, but the temple of the great goddess Diana may be discredited and her greatness destroyed — she whom all Asia and the world worship."
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 this, they were filled with rage and began shouting, "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.	The city was filled with confusion. They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions, and rushed together into the theater.
30	And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.	Paul wanted to go in to the crowd, but the disciples would not let 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.	Even some of the leading officials of Asia who were his friends sent word urging him not to venture into the theater.
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 shouted one thing and some another. The assembly was in confusion. Most of the people did not even know why they had gathered.
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.	Some from the crowd pulled Alexander forward, the Jews having pushed him out front. Alexander motioned with his hand and wanted to make a defense to the crowd.
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 recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted together for about two hours, "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?	The city clerk quieted the crowd and said, "Men of Ephesus, who does not know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian 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.	Since these things cannot be denied, you should be calm and do nothing rash.
37	For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.	You have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our 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.	If Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against each other there.
39	But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.	If there is any other matter you want to raise, it shall be settled in the legal 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.	We are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what has happened today. There is no justification we can give for this commotion."
41	And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.	When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.