Paul Finds Disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus

19 And it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the inland regions and* camea to Ephesus and found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you* believed?” And they said to him, “But we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit!” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into the baptism of John.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who was to come after him—that is, in Jesus.” 5 And when they* heard this,* they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when* Paul laid handsb on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak* in tongues and to prophesy. 7 (Now the total number of men was about twelve.)

8 So he entered into the synagogue and* was speaking boldly for three months, discussing and attempting to convincec them* concerningd the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became hardened and were disobedient, reviling the Way before the congregation, he departed from them and* took away the disciples, leading discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asiae heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Would-be Exorcists

11 And God was performing ⌊extraordinary⌋f miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or work aprons ⌊that had touched his skin⌋g were carried away to those who were sick, and their* diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.* 13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14 (Now seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.) 15 But the evil spirit answered and* said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with, but who are you?” 16 And the man ⌊who had the evil spirit⌋h leaped on them, subdued all of them, and* prevailed against them, so that they ran away from that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was exalted. 18 And many of those who had believed came, confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 and many of those who practiced magic brought together their* books and* burned them* up in the sight of everyone. And they counted up their value and found it was ⌊fifty thousand silver coins⌋.i 20 In this way the word of the Lord was growing in power and was prevailing.