Acts 19:1-20 : Easy-to-Read Version  | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

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Paul in Ephesus

19 1While Apollos was in the city of Corinth, Paul was visiting some places on the way to the city of Ephesus. In Ephesus Paul found some followers [of the Lord]. 2Paul asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit* when you believed?" These followers said to him, "We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit!" 3So Paul asked them, "What kind of baptism* did you have?" They said, "It was the baptism that John* taught." 4Paul said, "John told people to be baptized* to show they wanted to change their lives. John told people to believe in the One who would come after him. That person is Jesus." 5When these followers heard this, they were baptized* in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6Then Paul put his hands on them* and the Holy Spirit* came into them. They began speaking different languages and prophesying.* 7There were about twelve men in this group. 8Paul went into the synagogue* and spoke very boldly. Paul continued doing this for three months. He talked with the Jews and persuaded them to accept the things he said about the kingdom of God. 9But some of the Jews became stubborn. They refused to believe. These Jews said some very bad things about the Way [of Jesus]. All the people heard these things. So Paul left those Jews and took the followers [of Jesus] with him. Paul went to a place where a man named Tyrannus had a school. There Paul talked with people every day. 10Paul did this for two years. Because of this work, every Jew and Greek (non-Jew) in the country of Asia* heard the word of the Lord.

The Sons of Sceva

11God used Paul to do some very special miracles.* 12Some people carried away handkerchiefs and clothes that Paul had used. The people put these things on sick people. When they did this, the sick people were healed, and evil spirits [from the devil] left them. 13-14Some Jews also were traveling around and making evil spirits go out of people. The seven sons of Sceva were doing this. (Sceva was a high priest.*) These Jews tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus to make the evil spirits go out of people. They all said, "By the same Jesus that Paul talks about, I order you to come out!" 15But one time an evil spirit said to these Jews, "I know Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16Then the man, who had the evil spirit [from the devil] inside him, jumped on these Jews. He was much stronger than all of them. He beat them up and tore their clothes off. These Jews ran away from that house. 17All the people in Ephesus, Jews and Greeks (non-Jews), learned about this. They all began to have great respect [for God]. And the people gave great honor to the name of the Lord Jesus. 18Many of the believers began to confess and tell all the bad things they had done. 19Some of the believers had used magic. These believers brought their magic books and burned them before everyone. Those books were worth about 50,000 silver coins.* 20This is how the word of the Lord was influencing more and more people in a powerful way. And more and more people believed.

Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. baptism A Greek word meaning to be immersed, dipped, or buried briefly under water. John John the Baptizer, the man that told people about Christ's coming (Read Mt. 3; Lk. 3). baptized A Greek word meaning to be immersed, dipped, or buried briefly under water. put his hands on them Here, doing this was a sign to show that Paul had God's authority or power to give these people special powers of the Holy Spirit. prophesying Speaking or teaching things from God. synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. Asia The western part of Asia Minor. miracle(s) Miracles are amazing works done by God's power. high priest The most important Jewish priest and leader. silver coins Probably drachmas. One coin was enough to pay a man for working one day.

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