1The Holy Ghost is conferred by Paul on twelve of John's disciples. 8He preacheth at Ephesus, first in the synagogue, and afterward in a private school for two years; God confirming the word by special miracles. 13Certain Jewish exorcists, attempting to cast out a devil in the name of Jesus, are sent off naked and wounded: the gospel gaineth credit, and magical books are burned. 21Paul proposing to depart soon, Demetrius and the silversmiths raise an uproar against him, which is with some difficulty appeased.
1AND it came to pass, that, while Apollosa was at Corinth, Paul having passed through 1the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
a 1 Cor. 1:12.
1 Namely, of Galatia and Phrygia. See Acts 18:23.
2He said unto them, Have ye received 2the Holy Ghost 3since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be 4any Holy Ghost.
2 That is, the extraordinary visible gifts of the Holy Ghost, of speaking with all kind of tongues, prophesying, healing all manner of sickness, etc. See verse 6; John 7:39; Acts 10:44, 47.
3 Namely, and were baptized.
4 That is, whether there is wrought and given such extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost.
3And he said unto them, 5Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, 6Unto John’s baptism.
5 That is, what doctrine was proclaimed unto you, and did you confess, when you were baptized?
6 That is, we were baptized by John, upon confession of the doctrine which John taught of Christ, and thereupon baptized his disciples. See Acts 18:25, by which baptism the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost were not given, forasmuch as Christ then was not yet glorified, John 7:39.
4Then said Paul, John verilyb baptized with thec baptism 7of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
b surely, indeed, truly.
c Mat. 3:11; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:16; John 1:26; Acts 1:5; 11:16.
7 That is, by which he preached repentance, and which engaged the baptized to repentance. Whereby, as also by what follows, he shows that the Baptism of John in itself, as concerning its essence, is the same with the baptism of the apostles; as having all one sign and all one thing signified, and being administered to all one end. But the difference is, that John with his doctrine and baptism pointed to Christ Who came after him and was to accomplish all things; and the apostles, that Christ being come, has perfectly performed all things necessary to our redemption.
58When they heard 9this, they were baptized 10in the name of the Lord Jesus.
8 Or, and when they heard it; namely, the disciples of John.
9 Namely, the words of Paul relating how John baptized his disciples, which appears from the Greek text in which the two particles μέν, that is, verily, and δέ, that is, but or and (whereof the one goes before in the 4th verse, and the other follows in the 5th verse) show that the things, which are said in these two verses, must be joined together, and that one and the same person and thing is spoken of. So that from this it cannot be proven that these disciples would have been re-baptized by Paul.
10 See Acts 8:16 and 10:48.
6Andd when Paul had laid his 11hands upon them, the 12Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with 13tongues, and 14prophesied.
d Acts 8:17; 11:15.
11 See Acts 8:17.
12 That is, the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, which are expressed presently afterwards.
13 Or, foreign languages.
14 That is, declared things to come, or spoke of Divine things, and interpreted the writings of the prophets. See 1 Cor. 14:3.
7And all the men were about twelve.
8And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things 15concerning the kingdom of God.
15 That is, which concern everlasting salvation.
9Bute when divers were hardened, and 16believed not, but spake evil of that 17way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one 18Tyrannus.
e 2 Tim. 1:15.
16 Or, intractable.
17 That is, doctrine. See Acts 18:25.
18 This word, in former times, signified with the Greeks anyone, who had any dominion; and forasmuch as the same was misused, anyone was so called afterwards who either unlawfully assumes dominion, or abuses the same by injustice and cruelty. But here it seems to be a proper name of a man, who had caused this school to be built.
10And this continued by the space of two years; so that 19all they which dwelt in 20Asia heard the word 21of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
19 That is, very many, almost all.
20 Namely, Asia Minor.
21 That is, concerning the Lord Jesus.
11Andf God wrought special 22miracles by 23the hands of Paul:
f Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3.
22 That is, unusual powers.
23 That is, by the ministry, Acts 5:12.
12So 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 24vagabond Jews, 25exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjureg you by Jesus 26whom Paul preacheth.
24 Gr. wandering, that is, running about the country to get gain thereby.
25 That is, who drove out unclean sprits by adjuring them by the Name of God; which the unclean spirits permitted them to do, to keep men in superstition.
g command or charge solemnly*
26 Seeing they saw that Paul so powerfully cast out devils in the Name of Jesus, they wanted to imitate the same to have the more honor or gain.
14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and 27chief of the priests, which did so.
27 See concerning these chief priests, Mat. 2:4.
15And the evil spirit answered and said, 28Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but 29who are ye?
28 Namely, that He has power to cast me out.
29 That is, what power have you to command me?
16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and 30overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
30 Gr. having got dominion over them.
17And 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.
18Andh many that believed came, and confessed, and 31shewed their 32deeds.
h Mat. 3:6.
31 Or, announcing, that is, manifesting, relating.
32 That is, misdeeds and heinous sins, namely, openly detesting the same, and beseeching counsel and comfort from Paul against the same.
19Many of them also which used 33curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it 34fifty thousand pieces of 35silver.
33 Or, vain arts; as such the devilish and black arts of sorcery and soothsaying are called by a milder name, to which the Ephesians of old were very much inclined.
34 Gr. five times ten thousand of silver.
35 Or, drams of silver, each dram of silver being reckoned for six (Dutch) stivers, Mat. 18:28, so as this sum makes fifteen thousand (Dutch) guilders.
20Soi36mightily 37grew the word of God and prevailed.
i Isa. 55:11.
36 That is, very powerful.
37 See Acts 12:24.
21¶Afterj these things were 38ended, Paul 39purposed 40in the spirit, when he 41had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I 42must also see Rome.
j Rom. 15:25; Gal. 2:1.
38 Gr. fulfilled.
39 Gr. Paul set in the spirit.
40 That is, in his mind. Or, by the Spirit, namely, the Holy Spirit, Who inspired him how to order his journeys.
41 Namely, to visit immediately the churches in those countries.
42 This seems also to be particularly revealed unto him by God. Upon what occasion and how he afterwards came to Rome, is described in Acts 25:12 and 26:32, and in the following two chapters.
22So he 43sent into Macedonia two of them 44that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
43 Namely, to prepare the way for him, and to collect the alms for the poor at Jerusalem, 1 Cor. 4:17.
44 Namely, in the ministry of the Word; seeing he alone could not perform all.
23Andk the same time there arose no small stir about 45that way.
k 2 Cor. 1:8.
45 That is, the Christian religion. See Acts 18:25.
24For a certain man named Demetrius, 46a silversmith, which made 47silver shrines for Diana, broughtl no small gain unto the craftsmen;
46 Gr. silver-striker, silver-coiner.
47 That is, made little representations of silver of the great temple of Diana, or expressed it in silver pieces of money, on which stood a little image of Diana, which the heathen, coming to Ephesus to worship Diana, bought and took with them to give religious honor to the same at home, as it is seen yet at this day what is done at Loreto and elsewhere.
l Acts 16:16.
25Whom he called 48together with 49the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have 50our wealth.
48 Gr. to hoard together with others.
49 Namely, who wrought for them to make such little temples.
50 That is, whereby we must live and maintain ourselves.
26Moreover 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 madem with hands:
m Psalm 115:4; Jer. 10:3.
27So that not only 51this our craft is in danger 52to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be 53despised, and her 54magnificence should be 55destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
51 That is, this our trade, whereby we must live.
52 Gr. shall come into contradiction, or rejection, in order that we shall not get to do much.
53 Gr. reckoned as nothing.
54 Or, greatness of esteem.
55 Gr. shall be taken away.
28And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, 56Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
56 That is, must and ought to be held in greater honor.
29And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaiusn and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into 57the theatre.
n Acts 20:4; 27:2; Col. 4:10.
57 These were great buildings in some principal cities of the Gentiles, built with stairs ascending one above another, into which the people came together to behold the shows set forth in honor of their idols, or otherwise.
30And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples 58suffered him not.
58 Namely, in order that he would not put himself in danger of being killed by those furious people.
31And certain 59of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventureo himself into the theatre.
59 Gr. asiarchen; who were not those who had the government of Asia, but certain priests who took care of the shows set forth to the honor of their idols; amongst whom are also some who do not seem to have been averse to the Christian religion.
o venture, risk.
32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for 60the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
60 Gr. ecclesia; which properly signifies an assembly called together by public order. But here this assembly came together of its own accord in confusion, verse 29.
33And they 61drew 62Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews 63putting him forward. And Alexander 64beckoned with the hand, and would have made his 65defence unto the people.
61 Namely, to hear him speak.
62 This some think to have been the same Alexander whereof we read in 1 Tim. 1:20 and 2 Tim. 4:14, a vehement and obstinate enemy of Paul and the truth, but this is not sure. See the annotation at 1 Tim. 1 on verse 20.
63 Namely, seeing he was also a Jew, to speak something to the accusation of the Christians.
64 See Acts 12:17, and 13:16, and 21:40.
65 Namely, of this disorderly running together, with an accusation of the Christians.
34But when they knew that he was a Jew, 66all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
66 Namely, the Gentiles who were there.
35And when 67the 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 68worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image 69which fell down from Jupiter?
67 Or, the secretary of the city.
68 That is, who maintains, keeps and decorates the temple of Diana.
69 Or, that fell down from heaven. This image of Diana was very old, in former time made of wood by an artificer Canetia, which, although the temple was renewed seven times, remained always the same. See Pliny, lib. 16, cap. 40, wherefore they made the people believe that it was come down from heaven.
36Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do 70nothing rashly.
70 Or, precipitating hastily, without much consideration by yourselves.
37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38Wherefore if Demetrius, and 71the craftsmen which are with him, have 72a matter against any man, 73the law is open, and there are 74deputies: let them impleadp one another.
71 Gr. artificers; namely, to make such little silver temples.
72 Gr. have a word.
73 Or, the court-holders assemble, of whom or by whom they may seek justice.
74 Gr. anthypatoi; that is, they who govern instead of the mayors of Rome. See Acts 13:7.
p accuse, plead against.
39But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a 75lawful assembly.
75 That is, which is called together by command and order of the magistrate.
40For we are in danger to be called 76in question 77for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.q
76 Namely, by the governors.
77 That is, for that which is done by you this day, by this tumultuous running together.
q assembly of people, crowd, gathering.
41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.