Aramaic Peshitta Bible Repository
Lamsa Translation - Acts Chapter 19
1 ¶
AND it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul traveled through the northern countries and came to Ephesus, and inquired of the disciples whom he found there,2
Have you received the Holy Spirit since you were converted? They answered, saying to him, We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.3
Then he said to them, By what baptism then were you baptized? They said, By the baptism of John.4
Then said Paul, John verily baptized the people with the baptism of repentance, saying to them that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, Jesus Christ.5
When they heard these things, they were baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.6
And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke in different tongues, and prophesied.7
And there were in all twelve persons.8 ¶
Then Paul entered into the synagogue and spoke openly for a period of three months, persuading the people concerning the kingdom of God.9
But some of them were stubborn, and they disputed and cursed the way of God in the presence of the assembly. Then Paul withdrew and separated the disciples from them, and he spoke to them daily in the school of a man named Tyrannus.10
And this continued for two years until all who dwelt in Asia Minor, both Jews and Arameans (Syrians), heard the word of God.11
And God wrought great miracles by the hands of Paul,12
So that even when from the clothes on his body, pieces of garments were brought and laid upon the sick, diseases were cured and even the insane were restored.13 ¶
Now certain Jews who went about exorcising evil spirits invoked the name of our Lord Jesus over those who were possessed, saying, We adjure you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.14
And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, who did this.15
And the insane man answered, saying to them, Jesus I recognize and Paul I know; but who are you?16
Then the insane man leaped on them and overpowered them and prevailed against them, so they fled out of that house naked and wounded.17
And this became known to all the Jews and Arameans (Syrians) who dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of our Lord Jesus Christ was magnified.18
And many of them that believed came and told their faults and confessed what they had done.19
Many magicians also gathered together their books and brought them and burned them before the presence of the people; and they counted the price of them, and it amounted to fifty thousand pieces of silver.20
So mightily grew the faith of God and greatly increased in numbers.21 ¶
When these things had been accomplished, Paul made up his mind to travel through all of Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.22
So he sent to Macedonia two men of those who had ministered to him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia Minor for a while.23
And at that time there was a great uprising against those who followed in the way of God.24
There was here a silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines for Artemis, thus greatly enriching the craftsmen of his trade.25
He called together all the craftsmen of his trade, with the workmen of like occupation, and said to them, Men, you know that all of our earnings are derived from this craft.26
You also hear and see that not only the Ephesians, but almost throughout all Asia Minor, this Paul has persuaded and ‘turned away many people simply by saying that gods made by the hands of men are not gods,27
So that not only is this craft doomed, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be disregarded, and the goddess of all Asia Minor, even she whom all peoples worship, will be despised.28
And when they heard these things they were filled with wrath and cried out, saying, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.29
And the whole city was in tumult; and they rushed together to the theatre, and there seized and carried along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, members of Paul’s escort.30
And Paul wanted to go into the theatre, but the disciples stopped him.31
And likewise some of the chiefs of Asia Minor, because they were his friends, sent to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the theatre.32
Now the multitude in the theatre was greatly confused; some cried one thing, and some another; and many of them did not know why they had assembled together.33
And the Jews who were there appointed a Jew named Alexander. And when he rose up, he gestured with his hand and would have addressed the people.34
But when they knew he was a Jew, all of them cried out with one voice for about two hours, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.35
The mayor of the city finally quieted them, saying, Men of Ephesus, who among men does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the seat of great Artemis and her image that fell from heaven?36
Since, therefore, no man can contradict this, you should keep quiet and do nothing hastily.37
For you have brought these men here who have neither robbed temples nor have they reviled our goddess.38
But if Demetrius and the men of his trade have a case against any man, behold there is a proconsul in the city; let the craftsmen come forward and settle with one another in the court.39
But if you want something else, it must be determined in a lawful assembly.40
For even now we are in danger of being charged with sedition, for we cannot give an answer concerning this day’s meeting, because we have assembled for no reason, and have been tumultuous without a cause.41
And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.