The Concordant Literal New Testament

Acts of the Apostles

The Concordant Version

The King James Version

Chapter 19 (CV)

¹ Now it occurred while Apollos is in Corinth, Paul, passing through the upper parts, comes down to Ephesus and, finding some disciples,
² said to them, "Did you obtain holy spirit on believing?" Yet they to him, "Nay, neither hear we if there is holy spirit."
³ Yet he said, "Into what, then, are you baptized?" Yet they say "Into John's baptism."
⁴ Yet Paul said, "John baptizes with the baptism of repentance, telling the people that in the One coming after him they should be believing, that is, in Jesus."
⁵ Now, hearing this, they are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
⁶ And at the placing of Paul's hands on them, the holy spirit came on them. Besides, they spoke languages and prophesied.
⁷ Now there were, in all, about twelve men.
⁸ Now, entering the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months, arguing and persuading as to that which concerns the kingdom of God.
⁹ Now, as some were hardened and stubborn, saying evil things of the way before the multitude, withdrawing from them, he severs the disciples, arguing day by day in the school of Tyrannus.
¹⁰ Now this occurred for two years, so that all those dwelling in the province of Asia hear the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
¹¹ Besides, powerful deeds, not the casual kind, God did through the hands of Paul,
¹² so the handkerchiefs or aprons from his cuticle are carried away to the infirm also, to clear the diseases from them. Besides, wicked spirits go out.
¹³ Now some of the wandering Jews also, exorcists, take in hand to name the name of the Lord Jesus over those having wicked spirits, saying, "I am adjuring you by the Jesus Whom Paul is heralding!"
¹⁴ Now there were some seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, doing this.
¹⁵ Yet answering, the wicked spirit said to them, "Jesus, indeed, I know, and in Paul am I versed, yet who are you?"
¹⁶ And leaping on them, the man in whom the wicked spirit was, getting the mastery of both, is too strong for them, so that, naked and wounded, they are escaping out of that house.
¹⁷ Now this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who are dwelling in Ephesus. And fear falls on them all, and magnified was the name of the Lord Jesus.
¹⁸ Besides, many who have believed came, confessing and informing them of their practices.
¹⁹ Now a considerable number of those practicing the meddling arts, carrying together the scrolls, burned them up in sight of all. And they compute their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
²⁰ Thus mightily the word of the Lord grows and was strong.
²¹ Now as these things were fulfilled, Paul pondered in spirit, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying that, "After my coming to be there I must see Rome also."
²² Now dispatching to Macedonia two of those serving him, Timothy and Erastus, he attended, for the time, to the province of Asia.
²³ Now at that season no slight disturbance occurred concerning the way;
²⁴ for a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, making silver temples of Artemis, afforded no slight income to the artificers,
²⁵ whom convening together, as also the workers about such things, he said, "Men! You are versed in the fact that by this vocation we thrive,
²⁶ and you are beholding and hearing that, not only of Ephesus, but of almost the entire province of Asia, this Paul by his persuading causes a considerable throng to stand aloof, saying that they are not gods which are coming into being by means of hands.
²⁷ Now, not only is this endangering our party, by it coming to be confuted, but the sanctuary of the great goddess Artemis also is being thereby reckoned nothing. Besides, her magnificence is about to be pulled down also, whom the whole province of Asia and the inhabited earth is revering."
²⁸ Now, hearing this and becoming full of fury, they cried, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
²⁹ And filled is the city with confusion. Besides, they rush with one accord into the theater, gripping Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow travelers of Paul.
³⁰ (Now, at Paul's intending to enter in to the populace, the disciples did not let him.
³¹ Yet some of the chiefs of the province of Asia also, being his friends, sending to him, entreated him not to venture into the theater himself.)
³² Others, indeed, then, cried some other thing, for the ecclesia was in confusion, and the majority were not aware on what account they had come together.
³³ Now they unite on Alexander, one of the throng, the Jews pushing him forward. Now Alexander, gesturing with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the populace.
³⁴ Yet, on recognizing that he is a Jew, one voice came from all for about two hours, crying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
³⁵ Now, composing the throng, the scribe is averring, "Men! Ephesians!" What man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is sexton of the temple of the great Artemis and of that which fell from Zeus?
³⁶ These things, then, not being gainsaid, you must possess composure and no one commit anything rash.
³⁷ For you led these men, who are neither despoilers of the sanctuary, nor blasphemers of our goddess.
³⁸ Indeed, then, if Demetrius and the artificers with him have a charge against anyone, court sessions are being held, and there are proconsuls; let them be indicting one another.
³⁹ Now if you are seeking for anything concerning other things, in the legal ecclesia will it be explained.
⁴⁰ For we are also in danger of being indicted concerning today's commotion, there inhering not one cause concerning which we shall be able to render any account concerning this riot."
⁴¹ And, saying these things, he dismisses the ecclesia.

Chapter 19 (KJV)

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,
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.
³ And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto 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.
⁵ 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.
⁷ And all the men were about twelve.
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.
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.
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.
¹¹ And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
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.
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.
¹⁴ And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, 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 overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that 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.
¹⁸ And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
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.
²⁰ So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
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.
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.
²³ And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
²⁴ For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto 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.
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:
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.
²⁸ And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, 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.
³⁰ And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
³⁶ Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
³⁷ For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your 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.
³⁹ But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful 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.
⁴¹ And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

This publication may be reproduced for personal use
(all other rights reserved by copyright holder).