Acts 19 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 It came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to the city of Ephesus, and found certain disciples there.
1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples.
2 Paul said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we did not even hear about the Holy Spirit.”
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 Paul said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”
3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 So Paul replied, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
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 When the people heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 Then when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in other languages and prophesied.
6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
7 In all they were about twelve men.
7 They were about twelve men in all.
8 Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
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 when some Jews were hardened and disobedient, they began to speak evil of the Way before the crowd. So Paul left them and took the disciples from him, reasoning with them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
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 This continued for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
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 God was doing mighty deeds by the hands of Paul,
11 God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
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 there were Jewish exorcists traveling through the area. They called on the name of the Lord Jesus so they could have power over evil spirits when they said, “By the Jesus whom Paul proclaims, I command you to come out.”
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 The Jewish high priest, whose name was Sceva, had seven sons who were doing this.
14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
15 An evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
15 The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”
16 The evil spirit in the man leaped on the exorcists and overpowered them and beat them up. Then they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
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 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. They became very afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was honored.
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 Also, many of the believers came and confessed and admitted the evil things they had done.
18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing and declaring their deeds.
19 Many who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of everyone. When they counted the value of them, it was fifty thousand pieces of silver.
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 spread very widely in powerful ways.
20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
21 Now after Paul completed his ministry in Ephesus, he decided in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem; he said, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
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 Paul sent to Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, who had helped him. But he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
22 Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23 At about that time there was no small disturbance in Ephesus concerning the Way.
23 About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.
24 A certain silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver statues of Artemis, brought in much business for the craftsmen.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,
25 So he gathered together the workmen of that occupation and said, “Sirs, you know that in this business we make much money.
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 You see and hear that, not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people. He is saying that there are no gods that are made with hands.
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 Not only is there danger that our trade will no longer be needed, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be considered worthless. Then she would even lose her greatness, she whom all Asia and the world worships.”
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 When they heard this, they were filled with anger and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”
28 When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29 The whole city was filled with confusion, and the people rushed together into the theater. They had seized Paul's travel companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, who came from Macedonia.
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 Paul wanted to enter in among the crowd of people, but the disciples prevented him.
30 When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn’t allow him.
31 Also, some of the officials of the province of Asia who were his friends sent him a message strongly requesting him not to enter the theater.
31 Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.
32 Some people were shouting one thing, and some another, for the crowd was in confusion. Most of them did not even know why they had come together.
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 Some of the crowd informed Alexander, whom the Jews were pushing to the front, and so Alexander motioned with his hand, wanting to give an explanation to those who were assembled.
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 became aware that he was a Jew, they all cried out for about two hours with one voice, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”
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 When the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven?
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 Seeing then that these things are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.
36 Seeing then that these things can’t be denied, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rash.
37 For you have brought these men to this court who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
37 For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have an accusation against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.
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 you seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
39 But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.
40 For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot. There is no cause for this disorder, and we will not be able to explain it.”
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 When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
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)