Acts 19 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
BBE Bible in Basic English
RV1909 Reina-Valera 1909
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having gone through the higher country, came to Ephesus, where there were certain disciples:
1 Y ACONTECIÓ que entre tanto que Apolos estaba en Corinto, Pablo, andadas las regiones superiores, vino á Efeso, y hallando ciertos discípulos,
1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples.
2 And he said to them, Did you get the Holy Spirit when you had faith? And they said to him, No, we have had no knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
2 Díjoles: ¿Habéis recibido el Espíritu Santo después que creísteis? Y ellos le dijeron: Antes ni aun hemos oído si hay Espíritu Santo.
2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said, What sort of baptism did you have? And they said, The baptism of John.
3 Entonces dijo: ¿En qué pues sois bautizados? Y ellos dijeron: En el bautismo de Juan.
3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 And Paul said, John gave a baptism which goes with a change of heart, saying to the people that they were to have faith in him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.
4 Y dijo Pablo: Juan bautizó con bautismo de arrepentimiento, diciendo al pueblo que creyesen en el que había de venir después de él, es á saber, en Jesús el Cristo.
4 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.”
5 And hearing this, they had baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus.
5 Oído que hubieron esto, fueron bautizados en el nombre del Señor Jesús.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had put his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they had the power of talking in tongues, and acting like prophets.
6 Y habiéndoles impuesto Pablo las manos, vino sobre ellos el Espíritu Santo; y hablaban en lenguas, y profetizaban.
6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
7 And there were about twelve of these men.
7 Y eran en todos como unos doce hombres.
7 They were about twelve men in all.
8 And he went into the Synagogue, and for three months he was preaching there without fear, reasoning and teaching about the kingdom of God.
8 Y entrando él dentro de la sinagoga, hablaba libremente por espacio de tres meses, disputando y persuadiendo del reino de Dios.
8 He entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom.
9 But because some of the people were hard-hearted and would not give hearing, saying evil words about the Way before the people, he went away from them, and kept the disciples separate, reasoning every day in the school of Tyrannus.
9 Mas endureciéndose algunos y no creyendo, maldiciendo el Camino delante de la multitud, apartándose [Pablo] de ellos separó á los discípulos, disputando cada día en la escuela de un cierto Tyranno.
9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 And this went on for two years, so that all those who were living in Asia had knowledge of the word of the Lord, Greeks as well as Jews.
10 Y esto fué por espacio de dos años; de manera que todos los que habitaban en Asia, Judíos y Griegos, oyeron la palabra del Señor Jesús.
10 This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 And God did special works of power by the hands of Paul:
11 Y hacía Dios singulares maravillas por manos de Pablo:
11 God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 So that bits of linen and clothing from his body were taken to people who were ill, and their diseases went away from them and the evil spirits went out.
12 De tal manera que aun se llevaban sobre los enfermos los sudarios y los pañuelos de su cuerpo, y las enfermedades se iban de ellos, y los malos espíritus salían de ellos.
12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
13 But some of the Jews who went from place to place driving out evil spirits, took it on themselves to make use of the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, I give you orders, by Jesus, whom Paul is preaching.
13 Y algunos de los Judíos, exorcistas vagabundos, tentaron á invocar el nombre del Señor Jesús sobre los que tenían espíritus malos, diciendo: Os conjuro por Jesús, el que Pablo predica.
13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
14 And there were seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jew and a chief priest, who did this.
14 Y había siete hijos de un [tal] Sceva, Judío, príncipe de los sacerdotes, que hacían esto.
14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
15 And the evil spirit, answering, said to them, I have knowledge of Jesus, and of Paul, but who are you?
15 Y respondiendo el espíritu malo, dijo: A Jesús conozco, y sé [quién es] Pablo: mas vosotros ¿quiénes sois?
15 The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was, jumping on them, was stronger than the two of them, and overcame them, so that they went running from that house, wounded and without their clothing.
16 Y el hombre en quien estaba el espíritu malo, saltando en ellos, y enseñoreándose de ellos, pudo más que ellos, de tal manera que huyeron de aquella casa desnudos y heridos.
16 The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this came to the ears of all those, Jews and Greeks, who were living at Ephesus; and fear came on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was made great.
17 Y esto fué notorio á todos, así Judíos como Griegos, los que habitaban en Efeso: y cayó temor sobre todos ellos, y era ensalzado el nombre del Señor Jesús.
17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And a number of those who had faith came and made a public statement of their sins and all their acts.
18 Y muchos de los que habían creído, venían, confesando y dando cuenta de sus hechos.
18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing and declaring their deeds.
19 And a great number of those who were experts in strange arts took their books and put them on the fire in front of everyone: and when the books were valued they came to fifty thousand bits of silver.
19 Asimismo muchos de los que habían practicado vanas artes, trajeron los libros, y los quemaron delante de todos; y echada la cuenta del precio de ellos, hallaron [ser] cincuenta mil denarios.
19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the word of the Lord was increased very greatly and was full of power.
20 Así crecía poderosamente la palabra del Señor, y prevalecía.
20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
21 Now after these things were ended, Paul came to a decision that when he had gone through Macedonia and Achaia he would go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I have a desire to see Rome.
21 Y acabadas estas cosas, se propuso Pablo en espíritu partir á Jerusalem, después de andada Macedonia y Acaya, diciendo: Después que hubiere estado allá, me será menester ver también á Roma.
21 Now after these things had ended, Paul determined 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 And having sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, he himself went on living in Asia for a time.
22 Y enviando á Macedonia á dos de los que le ayudaban, Timoteo y Erasto, él se estuvo por algún tiempo en Asia.
22 Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23 And about that time a great outcry took place about the Way.
23 Entonces hubo un alboroto no pequeño acerca del Camino.
23 About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.
24 For there was a certain man named Demetrius, a silver-worker, who made silver boxes for the images of Diana, and gave no small profit to the workmen;
24 Porque un platero llamado Demetrio, el cual hacía de plata templecillos de Diana, daba á los artífices no poca ganancia;
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,
25 Whom he got together, with other workmen of the same trade, and said to them, Men, it is clear that from this business we get our wealth.
25 A los cuales, reunidos con los oficiales de semejante oficio, dijo: Varones, sabéis que de este oficio tenemos ganancia;
25 whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
26 And you see, for it has come to your ears, that not only at Ephesus, but almost all through Asia, this Paul has been teaching numbers of people and turning them away, saying that those are not gods who are made by men's hands:
26 Y veis y oís que este Pablo, no solamente en Efeso, sino á muchas gentes de casi toda el Asia, ha apartado con persuasión, diciendo, que no son dioses los que se hacen con las manos.
26 You see and hear that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods that are made with hands.
27 And there is danger, not only that our trade may be damaged in the opinion of men, but that the holy place of the great goddess Diana may be no longer honoured, and that she to whom all Asia and the world give worship, will be put down from her high position.
27 Y no solamente hay peligro de que este negocio se nos vuelva en reproche, sino también que el templo de la gran diosa Diana sea estimado en nada, y comience á ser destruída su majestad, la cual honra toda el Asia y el mundo.
27 Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.”
28 And hearing this, they were very angry, crying out and saying, Great is Diana of Ephesus.
28 Oídas estas cosas, llenáronse de ira, y dieron alarido, diciendo: ¡Grande [es] Diana de los Efesios!
28 When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29 And the town was full of noise and trouble, and they all came running into the theatre, having taken by force Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia who were journeying in company with Paul.
29 Y la ciudad se llenó de confusión; y unánimes se arrojaron al teatro, arrebatando á Gayo y á Aristarco, Macedonios, compañeros de Pablo.
29 The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.
30 And when Paul was about to go in to the people, the disciples did not let him.
30 Y queriendo Pablo salir al pueblo, los discípulos no le dejaron.
30 When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn’t allow him.
31 And some of the rulers of Asia, being his friends, sent to him, requesting him seriously not to put himself in danger by going into the theatre.
31 También algunos de los principales de Asia, que eran sus amigos, enviaron á él rogando que no se presentase en el teatro.
31 Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.
32 And some said one thing, and some another: for there was no order in the meeting; and most of them had no idea why they had come together.
32 Y otros gritaban otra cosa; porque la concurrencia estaba confusa, y los más no sabían por qué se habían juntado.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn’t know why they had come together.
33 Then they took Alexander out from among the people, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander, making a sign with his hand, was about to make a statement to the people in answer:
33 Y sacaron de entre la multitud á Alejandro, empujándole los Judíos. Entonces Alejandro, pedido silencio con la mano, quería dar razón al pueblo.
33 They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people.
34 But when they saw that he was a Jew, all of them with one voice went on crying out for about two hours, Great is Diana of Ephesus.
34 Mas como conocieron que era Judío, fué hecha un voz de todos, que gritaron casi por dos horas: ¡Grande [es] Diana de los Efesios!
34 But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 And when the chief secretary had got the people quiet, he said, Men of Ephesus, is any man without knowledge that the town of Ephesus is the keeper of the holy place of the great Diana, who was sent down from Jupiter?
35 Entonces el escribano, apaciguado que hubo la gente, dijo: Varones Efesios, ¿y quién hay de los hombres que no sepa que la ciudad de los Efesios es honradora de la gran diosa Diana, y de la [imagen] venida de Júpiter?
35 When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
36 So then, because these things may not be doubted, it would be better for you to be quiet, and do nothing unwise.
36 [Así que], pues esto no puede ser contradicho, conviene que os apacigüéis, y que nada hagáis temerariamente;
36 Seeing then that these things can’t be denied, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rash.
37 For you have taken these men, who are not doing damage to the holy place or talking against our goddess.
37 Pues habéis traído á estos hombres, sin ser sacrílegos ni blasfemadores de vuestra diosa.
37 For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
38 If, then, Demetrius and the workmen who are with him have a protest to make against any man, the law is open to them, and there are judges; let them put up a cause at law against one another.
38 Que si Demetrio y los oficiales que están con él tienen negocio con alguno, audiencias se hacen, y procónsules hay; acúsense los unos á los otros.
38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.
39 But if any other business is in question, let it be taken up in the regular meeting.
39 Y si demandáis alguna otra cosa, en legítima asamblea se pueda decidir.
39 But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.
40 For, truly, we are in danger of being made responsible for this day's trouble, there being no cause for it: and we are not able to give any reason for this coming together.
40 Porque peligro hay de que seamos argüidos de sedición por hoy, no habiendo ninguna causa por la cual podamos dar razón de este concurso. Y habiendo dicho esto, despidió la concurrencia.
40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn’t be able to give an account of this commotion.”
41 And when he had said this, he sent the meeting away.
41 Not in this translation
41 When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Alexander
A Jew pushed forward by the crowd at Ephesus who motioned for silence to make a defense but was shouted down.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:33
Aristarchus
A Thessalonian who traveled with Paul, was seized in the Ephesus riot, sailed with him to Rome, and is called Paul's fellow prisoner.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2
Demetrius
A silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis and stirred up the riot against Paul at Ephesus.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:24; Acts 19:38
Erastus
Named as the city treasurer who sends greetings in Romans, as a helper Paul sent into Macedonia with Timothy, and as one who stayed at Corinth; these are probably the same man.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:22; Romans 16:23; 2 Timothy 4:20
Gaius
A Macedonian traveling companion of Paul, seized with Aristarchus in the riot at Ephesus.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:29
Sceva
A Jewish chief priest whose seven sons tried to cast out demons in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches, and were overpowered.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:14
Tyrannus
Paul taught daily in his lecture hall at Ephesus for two years.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:9
Places
Corinth
Corinth straddled the isthmus linking mainland Greece to the Peloponnese — a hub of commerce and immorality. Paul founded the church here; a Roman bema traditionally linked to his hearing before…
Cited in the guide: Acts 18:1; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1
Ephesus
The chief city of Roman Asia, famed for the temple of Artemis. Paul's long ministry sparked the silversmiths' riot; the city is also the first addressed in Revelation.
Cited in the guide: Acts 19:1; Acts 19:28; Revelation 2:1
Jerusalem
Set high in the Judean hills (~2,500 ft), Jerusalem was David's royal city, the site of the First and Second Temples, and the stage for Jesus' passion and the church's birth at Pentecost.
Cited in the guide: 2 Samuel 5:6-9; Luke 19:41; Acts 1:8
Rome
The empire's heart. Paul wrote his great letter to the church here before arriving in chains, then ministered under guard while awaiting trial before Caesar.
Cited in the guide: Acts 28:16; Romans 1:7; Acts 19:21
Cross references (38)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 18:23–28; Acts 18:1; 1 Corinthians 16:12; Acts 18:19–21; 1 Corinthians 1:12
- 2 1 Corinthians 6:19; Galatians 3:5; Acts 11:15–17; John 7:39; 1 Samuel 3:7
- 3 Acts 18:25; Matthew 3:1–17; Acts 8:16; Luke 3:1–38; 1 Corinthians 12:13
- 4 Acts 1:5; John 1:29–34; Acts 11:16; Luke 3:16–18; John 1:27
- 5 Acts 8:12; Acts 8:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 10:2; Romans 6:3–4
- 6 Acts 2:4; Acts 6:6; Mark 16:17; 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Corinthians 14:1–25
- 8 Acts 28:23; Acts 1:3; Jude 3; Acts 9:20–22; Acts 14:1
- 9 Acts 19:23; Acts 9:2; Acts 18:6–8; Acts 14:4; 2 Peter 2:12
- 10 Acts 20:31; 2 Timothy 1:15; Romans 10:18; Acts 16:6; Galatians 3:28
- 11 Acts 5:12; Mark 16:17–20; Romans 15:18–19; Hebrews 2:4; Galatians 3:5
- 12 Acts 5:15; 2 Kings 13:20–21; Mark 16:17; 2 Kings 4:29–31
- 13 Matthew 12:27; Mark 9:38; Luke 11:19; Acts 8:18–19; Luke 9:49
- 15 Acts 16:17–18; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:33–35; Mark 5:9–13; Mark 1:24
- 16 Mark 5:3–4; Luke 8:29; Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35
- 17 2 Thessalonians 1:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Philippians 1:20; Acts 13:12; Acts 5:5
- 18 Romans 10:10; Psalm 32:5; Matthew 3:6; Leviticus 16:21; Leviticus 26:40
- 19 Acts 13:8; Exodus 32:20; Deuteronomy 7:25–26; Genesis 35:4; Isaiah 2:20–21
- 20 Acts 6:7; Acts 12:24; Isaiah 55:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:1
- 21 Acts 20:22; Acts 20:16; Acts 23:11; Galatians 2:1; Acts 18:21
- 22 Romans 16:23; 2 Timothy 4:20; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:29; Acts 19:10
- 23 Acts 24:22; Acts 19:9; Acts 9:2; Acts 24:14; 2 Corinthians 1:8–10
- 24 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Acts 16:16; Acts 19:27–28; Acts 19:34–35; Acts 16:19
- 25 Hosea 12:7–8; Acts 16:19; Revelation 18:11–19; Hosea 4:8; 2 Peter 2:3
- 26 1 Corinthians 8:4; Acts 17:29; Isaiah 44:10–20; Acts 14:15; Deuteronomy 4:28
- 27 Zephaniah 2:11; 1 Timothy 6:5; Revelation 13:3; Acts 19:21; 1 John 5:19
- 28 Revelation 17:13; Revelation 13:4; Psalm 2:2; Revelation 12:12; Isaiah 41:5–7
- 29 Acts 20:4; Philemon 24; Colossians 4:10; Acts 27:2; Romans 16:23
- 30 Acts 21:39; Acts 17:22–31; 2 Samuel 21:17; Acts 14:14–18; 2 Samuel 18:2–3
- 31 Acts 19:10; Acts 16:6; Proverbs 16:7; Acts 21:12
- 32 Acts 21:34; Acts 19:29; Matthew 11:7–9; Luke 7:24–26; Acts 19:40
- 33 Acts 12:17; 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 4:14; Acts 26:1–2; Acts 21:40–22:1
- 34 Acts 19:28; Acts 16:20; Revelation 13:4; Matthew 6:7; Acts 19:26
- 35 2 Thessalonians 2:10–11; 1 Timothy 4:2; Ephesians 2:12; Acts 14:12–13; Acts 18:19
- 36 Proverbs 14:29; Proverbs 25:8; Acts 5:35–39
- 37 Romans 2:22; 2 Corinthians 6:3; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Acts 25:8
- 38 Acts 13:7; Acts 18:14; 1 Corinthians 6:1; Deuteronomy 17:8
- 40 Acts 17:5–8; Matthew 26:5; 1 Kings 1:41; Acts 20:1; Acts 21:31
- 41 Psalm 65:7; Ecclesiastes 9:17; 2 Corinthians 1:8–10; Proverbs 15:1–2
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
(a) See him in every place forcing his way into the synagogue, and in this manner departing thence. For in every place, he wished to have the occasion given him by them. (c) He wished to separate the disciples thence, and to have the beginning for ceasing to assemble with them, given by (the Jews) themselves.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
because certain who had the baptism of John were commanded by Paul to be baptized, for they had not the baptism of Christ.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
… John, but "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God." And elsewhere too he saith, "John verily preached a baptism of repentance," (he saith not "of remission,") "that they should believe on Him that should come after him." For when the sacrifice was not yet offered, neither had the spirit yet come down, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
How shall I worthily recount the mighty deeds which were wrought at Ephesus through Paul, by the Holy Ghost?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… be a setter forth of strange gods:" this the Athenians; but the Ephesians, with what tumult would they have slain the Apostles, when in the theatre, for their goddess Diana, they made such an uproar, as to be shouting, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" Amidst which waves and roaring of the sea, feared not they who to that refuge …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)