1
And it came to pass, while Apollos was in Corinth, that Paulos, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesos and found certain talmidim.
2
And he said to them: “Did you receive Holy Ruach when you trusted?” And they said to him: “No, we have not even heard whether Holy Ruach has been given.”
3
And he said: “Into what, then, were you immersed?” And they said: “Into the immersion of Yochanan.”
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And Paulos said: “Yochanan immersed with an immersion of repentance, telling the people that they should trust in the One coming after him— that is, Yahushua.”
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And hearing this, they were immersed in the Name of the Master Yahushua.
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And when Paulos laid his hands upon them, Holy Ruach came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
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And there were about twelve ishim in all.
8
And entering the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the Kingdom of Elohim.
9
But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he withdrew from them and separated the talmidim, reasoning each day in the school of Tyrannos.
10
And this continued for two years, so that all those dwelling in Asia heard the Word of Yahuah, both Yehudim and Greeks.
11
And Elohim was doing extraordinary mighty works through the hands of Paulos,
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so that even cloths and aprons from his body were carried to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil ruachot went out.
13
But certain traveling Yehudi exorcists also attempted to name the Name of the Master Yahushua over those having evil ruachot, saying: “I charge you by the Yahushua whom Paulos proclaims.”
14
And there were seven sons of a certain Skeva, a Yehudi great kohen, doing this.
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But the evil ruach answered and said to them: “Yahushua I know, and Paulos I recognize, but who are you?”
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And the ish in whom was the evil ruach leaped upon them, overpowered all of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.
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And this became known to all the Yehudim and Greeks dwelling in Ephesos, and fear fell upon all of them, and the Name of the Master Yahushua was magnified.
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And many of those who had trusted came confessing and declaring their practices.
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And many of those who practiced magic arts brought together their sefarim and burned them before everyone. And they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20
In this way, according to the power of Yahuah, the Word grew and prevailed.
21
Now after these things were completed, Paulos purposed in ruach, having passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Yerushalayim, saying: “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
22
And sending into Macedonia two of those serving him— Timotheos and Erastos— he remained for a time in Asia.
23
And around that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.
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For a certain ish named Demetrios, a silversmith, making silver shrines of Artemis, brought no small profit to the craftsmen.
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Gathering them together, along with the workers of related trades, he said: “Ishim, you know that from this work comes our prosperity.
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And you see and hear that not only in Ephesos but throughout almost all Asia, this Paulos has persuaded and turned away a great multitude, saying that those made by hands are not elohim.
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And not only is there danger that this trade of ours come into disrepute, but also that the sanctuary of the great elohah Artemis be counted as nothing, and that she whom all Asia and the inhabited world worship be stripped of her greatness.”
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And hearing this, they were filled with rage and cried out, saying: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”
29
And the whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaios and Aristarchos, Macedonians, traveling companions of Paulos.
30
And when Paulos desired to enter among the people, the talmidim did not permit him.
31
And certain of the Asiarchs, being friends of his, sent to him, urging him not to give himself into the theater.
32
Therefore some cried one thing, and others another, for the assembly was confused, and most did not know for what reason they had gathered.
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And some from the crowd put forward Alexandros, the Yehudim pushing him forward. And Alexandros, motioning with the hand, desired to make a defense to the people.
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But when they recognized that he was a Yehudi, one voice arose from all for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”
35
And the city clerk, having quieted the crowd, said: “Ishim of Ephesos, what Adam is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the sanctuary of the great Artemis and of the image fallen from the heavens?
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Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be calm and do nothing rash.
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For you brought these ishim who are neither robbers of sanctuaries nor blasphemers of your elohah.
38
Therefore if Demetrios and the craftsmen with him have a matter against anyone, courts are held, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
39
But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
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For indeed we are in danger of being accused of insurrection concerning today, there being no cause by which we shall be able to give account for this gathering.”
41
And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.