1 Aconteceu que, estando Apolo em Corinto, Paulo, tendo passado pelas regiões mais altas, chegou a Éfeso e, achando ali alguns discípulos, 2 perguntou-lhes: Recebestes, porventura, o Espírito Santo quando crestes? Ao que lhe responderam: Pelo contrário, nem mesmo ouvimos que existe o Espírito Santo. 3 Então, Paulo perguntou: Em que, pois, fostes batizados? Responderam: No batismo de João. 4 Disse-lhes Paulo: João realizou batismo de arrependimento, dizendo ao povo que cresse naquele que vinha depois dele, a saber, em Jesus. 5 Eles, tendo ouvido isto, foram batizados em o nome do Senhor Jesus. 6 E, impondo-lhes Paulo as mãos, veio sobre eles o Espírito Santo; e tanto falavam em línguas como profetizavam. 7 Eram, ao todo, uns doze homens.

8 Durante três meses, Paulo frequentou a sinagoga, onde falava ousadamente, dissertando e persuadindo com respeito ao reino de Deus. 9 Visto que alguns deles se mostravam empedernidos e descrentes, falando mal do Caminho diante da multidão, Paulo, apartando-se deles, separou os discípulos, passando a discorrer diariamente na escola de Tirano. 10 Durou isto por espaço de dois anos, dando ensejo a que todos os habitantes da Ásia ouvissem a palavra do Senhor, tanto judeus como gregos. 11 E Deus, pelas mãos de Paulo, fazia milagres extraordinários, 12 a ponto de levarem aos enfermos lenços e aventais do seu uso pessoal, diante dos quais as enfermidades fugiam das suas vítimas, e os espíritos malignos se retiravam. 13 E alguns judeus, exorcistas ambulantes, tentaram invocar o nome do Senhor Jesus sobre possessos de espíritos malignos, dizendo: Esconjuro-vos por Jesus, a quem Paulo prega. 14 Os que faziam isto eram sete filhos de um judeu chamado Ceva, sumo sacerdote. 15 Mas o espírito maligno lhes respondeu: Conheço a Jesus e sei quem é Paulo; mas vós, quem sois? 16 E o possesso do espírito maligno saltou sobre eles, subjugando a todos, e, de tal modo prevaleceu contra eles, que, desnudos e feridos, fugiram daquela casa. 17 Chegou este fato ao conhecimento de todos, assim judeus como gregos habitantes de Éfeso; veio temor sobre todos eles, e o nome do Senhor Jesus era engrandecido. 18 Muitos dos que creram vieram confessando e denunciando publicamente as suas próprias obras. 19 Também muitos dos que haviam praticado artes mágicas, reunindo os seus livros, os queimaram diante de todos. Calculados os seus preços, achou-se que montavam a cinquenta mil denários. 20 Assim, a palavra do Senhor crescia e prevalecia poderosamente.

21 Cumpridas estas coisas, Paulo resolveu, no seu espírito, ir a Jerusalém, passando pela Macedônia e Acaia, considerando: Depois de haver estado ali, importa-me ver também Roma. 22 Tendo enviado à Macedônia dois daqueles que lhe ministravam, Timóteo e Erasto, permaneceu algum tempo na Ásia.

23 Por esse tempo, houve grande alvoroço acerca do Caminho. 24 Pois um ourives, chamado Demétrio, que fazia, de prata, nichos de Diana e que dava muito lucro aos artífices, 25 convocando-os juntamente com outros da mesma profissão, disse-lhes: Senhores, sabeis que deste ofício vem a nossa prosperidade 26 e estais vendo e ouvindo que não só em Éfeso, mas em quase toda a Ásia, este Paulo tem persuadido e desencaminhado muita gente, afirmando não serem deuses os que são feitos por mãos humanas. 27 Não somente há o perigo de a nossa profissão cair em descrédito, como também o de o próprio templo da grande deusa, Diana, ser estimado em nada, e ser mesmo destruída a majestade daquela que toda a Ásia e o mundo adoram.

28 Ouvindo isto, encheram-se de furor e clamavam: Grande é a Diana dos efésios! 29 Foi a cidade tomada de confusão, e todos, à uma, arremeteram para o teatro, arrebatando os macedônios Gaio e Aristarco, companheiros de Paulo. 30 Querendo este apresentar-se ao povo, não lhe permitiram os discípulos. 31 Também asiarcas, que eram amigos de Paulo, mandaram rogar-lhe que não se arriscasse indo ao teatro. 32 Uns, pois, gritavam de uma forma; outros, de outra; porque a assembleia caíra em confusão. E, na sua maior parte, nem sabiam por que motivo estavam reunidos. 33 Então, tiraram Alexandre dentre a multidão, impelindo-o os judeus para a frente. Este, acenando com a mão, queria falar ao povo. 34 Quando, porém, reconheceram que ele era judeu, todos, a uma voz, gritaram por espaço de quase duas horas: Grande é a Diana dos efésios! 35 O escrivão da cidade, tendo apaziguado o povo, disse: Senhores, efésios: quem, porventura, não sabe que a cidade de Éfeso é a guardiã do templo da grande Diana e da imagem que caiu de Júpiter? 36 Ora, não podendo isto ser contraditado, convém que vos mantenhais calmos e nada façais precipitadamente; 37 porque estes homens que aqui trouxestes não são sacrílegos, nem blasfemam contra a nossa deusa. 38 Portanto, se Demétrio e os artífices que o acompanham têm alguma queixa contra alguém, há audiências e procônsules; que se acusem uns aos outros. 39 Mas, se alguma outra coisa pleiteais, será decidida em assembleia regular. 40 Porque também corremos perigo de que, por hoje, sejamos acusados de sedição, não havendo motivo algum que possamos alegar para justificar este ajuntamento. 41 E, havendo dito isto, dissolveu a assembleia.

1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: 2 and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. 3 And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism. 4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus. 5 And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And they were in all about twelve men.

8 And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God. 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 continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out. 13 But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. 19 And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.

21 Now 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. 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

23 And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen; 25 whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth. 26 And 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 are no gods, that are made with hands: 27 and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28 And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel. 30 And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31 And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. 33 And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people. 34 But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35 And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash. 37 For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another. 39 But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day’s riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse. 41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples

2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when "you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied.

4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues "and prophesied.

7 There were about twelve men in all.

8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,

12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."

14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

15 One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"

16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.

19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. [^3]

20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided "to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also."

22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.

24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.

25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: "You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.

26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.

27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."

28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together.

30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.

31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.

33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people.

34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Fellow Ephesians, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?

36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash.

37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess.

38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.

39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly.

40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it."

41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.