1 And it came to pass, in Apollos being in Corinth, Paul having gone through the upper parts, came to Ephesus, and having found certain disciples, 2 he said to them, “Having believed, did you receive the Holy Spirit?” And they said to him, “But we did not even hear whether there is any Holy Spirit”; 3 and he said to them, “Into what, then, were you immersed?” And they said, “Into John’s immersion.” 4 And Paul said, “John, indeed, immersed with an immersion of conversion, saying to the people that they should believe in Him who is coming after him—that is, in the Christ—Jesus”; 5 and they, having heard, were immersed into the Name of the Lord Jesus, 6 and Paul having laid [his] hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, they were also speaking with tongues, and prophesying, 7 and all the men were, as it were, twelve. 8 And having gone into the synagogue, he was speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading the things concerning the Kingdom of God, 9 and when certain were hardened and were disbelieving, speaking evil of The Way before the multitude, having departed from them, he separated the disciples, reasoning every day in the school of a certain Tyrannus. 10 And this happened for two years so that all those dwelling in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks, 11 also mighty works—not common—God was working through the hands of Paul, 12 so that even to the ailing were brought from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them; the evil spirits also went forth from them. 13 And certain of the wandering exorcist Jews, took on [them] to name over those having the evil spirits the Name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches”; 14 and there were certain—seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest—who are doing this thing; 15 and the evil spirit, answering, said, “I know Jesus, and I am acquainted with Paul; and you—who are you?” 16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaping on them, and having overcome them, prevailed against them, so that they fled naked and wounded out of that house, 17 and this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who are dwelling at Ephesus, and fear fell on them all, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified; 18 many also of those who believed were coming, confessing and declaring their acts, 19 and many of those who had practiced the superfluous arts, having brought the scrolls together, were burning [them] before all; and they reckoned together the prices of them, and found [it] fifty thousand pieces of silver, 20 so powerfully was the word of God increasing and prevailing. 21 And when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in the Spirit, having gone through Macedonia and Achaia, to go on to Jerusalem, saying, “After my being there, it is also necessary for me to see Rome”; 22 and having sent to Macedonia two of those ministering to him—Timotheus and Erastus—he himself stayed a time in Asia. 23 And there came, at that time, not a little stir about The Way, 24 for a certain one, Demetrius by name, a worker in silver, making silver sanctuaries of Artemis, was bringing to the craftsmen not a little gain, 25 whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who worked around such things, he said, “Men, you know that by this work we have our wealth; 26 and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost in all Asia, this Paul, having persuaded, turned away a great multitude, saying that they who are made by hands are not gods; 27 and not only is this department in danger for us of coming into disregard, but also, that of the great goddess Artemis, the temple is to be reckoned for nothing, and also her greatness is about to be brought down, whom all Asia and the world worships.” 28 And having heard, and having become full of wrath, they were crying out, saying, “Great [is] the Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion; they rushed also with one accord into the theater, having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s fellow-travelers. 30 And on Paul’s resolving to enter in to the populace, the disciples were not permitting him, 31 and also some of the chief men of Asia, being his friends, having sent to him, were pleading [with] him not to venture into the theater himself. 32 Some indeed, therefore, were calling out one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the greater part did not know for what they had come together; 33 and out of the multitude they put forward Alexander—the Jews thrusting him forward—and Alexander having beckoned with the hand, wished to make defense to the populace, 34 and having known that he is a Jew, one voice came out of all, for about two hours, crying, “Great [is] the Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 And the public clerk having quieted the multitude, says, “Men, Ephesians, why, who is the man that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of that which fell down from Zeus? 36 These things, then, being undeniable, it is necessary for you to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37 For you brought these men, who are neither temple-robbers nor slandering of your goddess; 38 if indeed, therefore, Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a matter with anyone, court [days] are held, and there are proconsuls; let them accuse one another. 39 And if you seek after anything concerning other matters, it will be determined in the legal assembly; 40 for we are also in peril of being accused of insurrection in regard to this day, there being no occasion by which we will be able to give an account of this concourse”; 41 and having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts · Literal Standard Version
Acts 19 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)