1Mentre Apollo era a Corinto, Paolo, dopo aver attraversato le regioni superiori del paese, giunse a Efeso e vi trovò alcuni discepoli.2Egli disse loro: «Riceveste lo Spirito Santo quando credeste?» Gli risposero: «Non abbiamo neppure sentito dire che ci sia lo Spirito Santo».3Egli disse: «Con quale battesimo siete dunque stati battezzati?» Essi risposero: «Con il battesimo di Giovanni».4Paolo disse: «Giovanni battezzò con il battesimo di ravvedimento, dicendo al popolo di credere in colui che veniva dopo di lui, cioè in Gesù».5Udito questo, furono battezzati nel nome del Signore Gesù;6e, avendo Paolo imposto loro le mani, lo Spirito Santo scese su di loro ed essi parlavano in lingue e profetizzavano.7Erano in tutto circa dodici uomini.8Poi entrò nella sinagoga, e qui parlò con molta franchezza per tre mesi, esponendo con discorsi persuasivi le cose relative al regno di Dio.9Ma siccome alcuni si ostinavano e rifiutavano di credere dicendo male della Via in presenza della folla, egli, ritiratosi da loro, separò i discepoli e insegnava ogni giorno nella scuola di Tiranno.10Questo durò due anni. Così tutti coloro che abitavano nell’Asia, Giudei e Greci, udirono la Parola del Signore.11Dio intanto faceva miracoli straordinari per mezzo di Paolo;12al punto che si mettevano sopra i malati dei fazzoletti e dei grembiuli che erano stati sul suo corpo, e le malattie scomparivano e gli spiriti maligni uscivano.13Or alcuni esorcisti[1] itineranti giudei tentarono anch’essi di invocare il nome del Signore Gesù su quelli che avevano degli spiriti maligni, dicendo: «Io vi scongiuro, per quel Gesù che Paolo annuncia».14Quelli che facevano questo erano sette figli di un certo Sceva, giudeo, capo sacerdote.15Ma lo spirito maligno rispose loro: «Conosco Gesù, e so chi è Paolo; ma voi chi siete?»16E l’uomo che aveva lo spirito maligno si scagliò su tutti loro; e li trattò in modo tale che fuggirono da quella casa, nudi e feriti.17Questo fatto fu risaputo da tutti, Giudei e Greci, che abitavano a Efeso; e tutti furono presi da timore, e il nome del Signore Gesù era esaltato.18Molti di quelli che avevano creduto venivano a confessare e a dichiarare le cose che avevano fatte.19Fra quanti avevano esercitato le arti magiche, molti portarono i loro libri e li bruciarono in presenza di tutti; e, calcolatone il prezzo, trovarono che era di cinquantamila dramme d’argento.20Così la Parola di Dio cresceva e si affermava potentemente.21Dopo questi fatti Paolo si mise in animo di andare a Gerusalemme, passando per la Macedonia e per l’Acaia. «Dopo essere stato là», diceva, «bisogna che io veda anche Roma».22Mandati in Macedonia due dei suoi aiutanti, Timoteo ed Erasto, egli si fermò ancora per qualche tempo in Asia.
Il tumulto di Efeso
23In quel periodo vi fu un gran tumulto a proposito della nuova Via.24Perché un tale, di nome Demetrio, orefice, che faceva tempietti di Diana[2] in argento, procurava non poco guadagno agli artigiani.25Riuniti questi e gli altri che esercitavano il medesimo mestiere, disse: «Uomini, voi sapete che da questo lavoro proviene la nostra prosperità;26e voi vedete e udite che questo Paolo ha persuaso e sviato molta gente non solo a Efeso, ma in quasi tutta l’Asia, dicendo che quelli costruiti con le mani non sono dèi.27Non solo vi è pericolo che questo ramo della nostra arte cada in discredito, ma che anche il tempio della grande dea Diana non conti più, e che sia perfino privata della sua maestà colei che tutta l’Asia e il mondo adorano».28Essi, udite queste cose, accesi di sdegno, si misero a gridare: «Grande è la Diana degli Efesini!»29E la città fu piena di confusione; e trascinando con sé a forza Gaio e Aristarco, macedoni, compagni di viaggio di Paolo, si precipitarono tutti d’accordo verso il teatro.30Paolo voleva presentarsi al popolo, ma i discepoli glielo impedirono.31Anche alcuni magistrati dell’Asia[3], che gli erano amici, mandarono a pregarlo di non avventurarsi nel teatro.32Intanto, chi gridava una cosa, chi un’altra; infatti l’assemblea era confusa; e i più non sapevano per quale motivo si fossero riuniti.33Dalla folla fecero uscire Alessandro, che i Giudei spingevano avanti. E Alessandro, fatto cenno con la mano, voleva tenere un discorso di difesa davanti al popolo.34Ma quando si accorsero che era giudeo, tutti, per quasi due ore, si misero a gridare in coro: «Grande è la Diana degli Efesini!»35Allora il segretario, calmata la folla, disse: «Uomini di Efeso, c’è forse qualcuno che non sappia che la città degli Efesini è la custode del tempio della grande Diana e della sua immagine caduta dal cielo?36Queste cose sono incontestabili; perciò dovete calmarvi e non fare nulla in modo precipitoso;37voi infatti avete condotto qua questi uomini, i quali non sono né sacrileghi né bestemmiatori della nostra dea.38Se dunque Demetrio e gli artigiani che sono con lui hanno qualcosa contro qualcuno, ci sono i tribunali e ci sono i proconsoli: si facciano citare gli uni e gli altri.39Se poi volete ottenere qualcos’altro, la questione si risolverà in un’assemblea regolare.40Infatti corriamo il rischio di essere accusati di sedizione per la riunione di oggi, non essendovi ragione alcuna con la quale poter giustificare questo tumulto».41Detto questo, sciolse l’assemblea.
1Es geschah aber, während Apollos in Korinth war, dass Paulus, nachdem er die höher gelegenen Gegenden durchzogen hatte, nach Ephesus kam. Und er fand einige Jünger (At 18,21; 1Co 16,8)2und sprach zu ihnen: Habt ihr den Heiligen Geist empfangen, als ihr gläubig geworden seid? Sie aber sprachen zu ihm: Wir haben nicht einmal gehört, ob der Heilige Geist ⟨überhaupt da⟩ ist. (At 2,38)3Und er sprach: Worauf seid ihr denn getauft worden? Sie aber sagten: Auf die Taufe des Johannes.4Paulus aber sprach: Johannes hat mit der Taufe der Buße getauft[1], indem er dem Volk sagte, dass sie an den glauben sollten, der nach ihm komme, das ist an Jesus. (Giov 1,15; At 13,24)5Als sie es aber gehört hatten, ließen sie sich auf den Namen des Herrn Jesus taufen[2];6und als Paulus ihnen die Hände aufgelegt hatte, kam der Heilige Geist auf sie, und sie redeten in Sprachen[3] und weissagten. (At 2,4; At 8,16; 1Co 14,39)7Es waren aber insgesamt etwa zwölf Männer.
Tätigkeit des Paulus in Ephesus
8Er ging aber in die Synagoge und sprach freimütig drei Monate lang, indem er sich ⟨mit ihnen⟩ unterredete und sie von den Dingen des Reiches[4] Gottes überzeugte. (At 1,3; At 13,5)9Als aber einige sich verhärteten und ungehorsam blieben[5] und vor der Menge schlecht redeten von dem Weg[6], trennte er sich von ihnen und sonderte die Jünger ab und redete täglich in der Schule des Tyrannus. (At 9,2)10Dies aber geschah zwei Jahre lang, sodass alle, die in Asien[7] wohnten, sowohl Juden als auch Griechen, das Wort des Herrn hörten. (At 20,21)11Und ungewöhnliche Wunderwerke[8] tat Gott durch die Hände des Paulus, (At 2,43; Ro 15,18)12sodass man sogar Schweißtücher oder Schurze von seinem Leib weg auf die Kranken legte und die Krankheiten von ihnen wichen und die bösen Geister ausfuhren. (At 5,5)13Aber auch einige von den umherziehenden jüdischen Beschwörern unternahmen es, über die, welche böse Geister hatten, den Namen des Herrn Jesus anzurufen[9], indem sie sagten: Ich beschwöre euch bei dem Jesus, den Paulus predigt!14Es waren aber sieben Söhne eines jüdischen Hohen Priesters Skevas, die dies taten.15Der böse Geist aber antwortete und sprach zu ihnen: Jesus kenne ich, und von Paulus weiß ich. Aber ihr, wer seid ihr? (At 16,17)16Und der Mensch, in dem der böse Geist war, sprang auf sie los und bezwang sie miteinander und überwältigte sie, sodass sie nackt und verwundet aus jenem Haus entflohen.17Dies aber wurde allen bekannt, sowohl Juden als auch Griechen, die zu Ephesus wohnten; und Furcht fiel auf sie alle, und der Name des Herrn Jesus wurde erhoben. (At 5,5)18Viele aber von denen, die gläubig geworden waren, kamen und bekannten und gestanden ihre Taten.19Zahlreiche aber von denen, die Zauberei[10] getrieben hatten, trugen die Bücher zusammen und verbrannten sie vor allen; und sie berechneten ihren Wert und kamen auf 50 000 Silberdrachmen[11]. (De 18,10)20So wuchs das Wort des Herrn mit Macht und erwies sich kräftig. (At 6,7)21Als dies aber beendet war, nahm sich Paulus im Geist vor, nachdem er Mazedonien und Achaja durchzogen habe, nach Jerusalem zu reisen, und sprach: Nachdem ich dort gewesen bin, muss ich auch Rom sehen. (At 20,1; At 20,16; At 23,11; Ro 1,10; Ro 15,25; 1Co 16,5)22Er sandte aber zwei von denen, die ihm halfen, Timotheus und Erastus, nach Mazedonien, und er selbst verweilte eine Zeit lang in Asien. (Ro 16,23; 2Ti 4,20)
Der Aufstand des Demetrius
23Es entstand aber um jene Zeit ein nicht geringer Aufruhr betreffs des Weges[12]. (At 9,2)24Denn einer mit Namen Demetrius, ein Silberschmied, der silberne Tempel der Artemis machte, verschaffte den Kunsthandwerkern nicht geringen Erwerb; (At 16,16)25und nachdem er diese samt den damit beschäftigten Arbeitern versammelt hatte, sprach er: Männer, ihr wisst, dass aus diesem Erwerb unser Wohlstand kommt;26und ihr seht und hört, dass dieser Paulus nicht allein von Ephesus, sondern beinahe von ganz Asien[13] eine große Volksmenge überredet und abgewandt hat, da er sagt, dass das keine Götter seien, die mit Händen gemacht werden. (At 17,29)27Nicht allein aber ist für uns Gefahr, dass dieses Geschäft in Verruf kommt, sondern auch, dass der Tempel der großen Göttin Artemis für nichts erachtet und auch ihre herrliche Größe, die ganz Asien[14] und der Erdkreis verehrt, vernichtet wird. (At 16,19)28Als sie aber ⟨das⟩ hörten, wurden sie voller Wut, schrien und sagten: Groß ist die Artemis der Epheser! (2Co 11,26)29Und die Stadt geriet in Verwirrung; und sie stürmten einmütig nach dem Theater und rissen die Mazedonier Gajus und Aristarch, die Reisegefährten des Paulus, mit fort. (At 20,4; At 27,2; Col 4,10; File 1,24)30Als aber Paulus unter das Volk gehen wollte, ließen die Jünger es nicht zu.31Und auch einige von den Asiarchen[15], die seine Freunde waren, sandten zu ihm und baten ihn, sich nicht nach dem Theater zu begeben.32Die einen nun schrien dies, die anderen jenes; denn die Versammlung war in Verwirrung, und die meisten wussten nicht, weshalb sie zusammengekommen waren.33Aus der Volksmenge heraus verständigte man den Alexander, den die Juden vorschoben. Alexander aber winkte mit der Hand und wollte sich vor dem Volk verantworten. (1Ti 1,20; 2Ti 4,14)34Als sie aber erkannten, dass er ein Jude war, erhob sich eine Stimme aus aller Mund[16], und sie schrien etwa zwei Stunden lang: Groß ist die Artemis der Epheser!35Als aber der Stadtschreiber[17] die Volksmenge beruhigt hatte, spricht er: Männer von Ephesus[18], welcher Mensch ist denn, der nicht wüsste, dass die Stadt der Epheser eine Tempelhüterin der großen Artemis und des vom Himmel gefallenen ⟨Bildes⟩ ist?36Da nun dies unbestreitbar ist, so ist es nötig, dass ihr ruhig seid und nichts Übereiltes tut.37Denn ihr habt diese Männer hergeführt, die weder Tempelräuber sind noch unsere Göttin lästern.38Wenn nun Demetrius und die Kunsthandwerker mit ihm gegen jemand eine Sache haben, so werden Gerichtstage gehalten, und es sind Statthalter da. Mögen sie einander verklagen!39Wenn ihr aber wegen anderer Dinge ein Gesuch habt, so wird es in der gesetzlichen Versammlung erledigt werden.40Denn wir sind auch in Gefahr, wegen des heutigen Aufruhrs angeklagt zu werden, da es keine Ursache gibt, weshalb wir uns über diesen Auflauf werden verantworten können. Und als er dies gesagt hatte, entließ er die Versammlung.
1And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland[1] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. (At 18,23; At 18,24)2And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Giov 7,39; At 8,16; At 11,16; At 11,17)3And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” (At 8,16; At 18,25; Eb 6,2; Eb 13,24; Eb 13,25)4And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” (Giov 1,7; At 3,1)5On hearing this, they were baptized in[2] the name of the Lord Jesus. (At 8,12; At 8,16)6And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. (Mar 16,17; At 8,17; At 10,46; At 13,1)7There were about twelve men in all.8And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. (At 1,3; At 13,5; At 28,23)9But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.[3] (At 9,2; At 13,45; At 13,46; At 14,2; At 19,23; 1Co 16,9)10This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. (At 20,31; 2Ti 1,15)
The Sons of Sceva
11And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, (At 5,12; At 5,15)12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. (Mar 16,17; At 11,1)13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” (Mat 12,27; Mat 26,63; Mar 5,7; Mar 9,38; Lu 11,19)14Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.15But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (Giac 2,19)16And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all[4] of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.17And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. (2Te 1,12)18Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. (Mat 3,6; Mar 1,5; Ro 14,11; Giac 5,16)19And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.20So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (At 6,7; At 12,24)
A Riot at Ephesus
21Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (At 20,1; At 20,16; At 20,22; At 23,11; Ro 1,13; Ro 15,24; Ro 15,25; Ro 15,26; Ro 15,28; 1Co 16,3; 1Co 16,4; 1Co 16,5; 2Co 1,16; 1Te 1,7; 1Te 1,8)22And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. (At 13,5; At 16,1; At 19,29; 1Co 16,8; 1Co 16,9; Col 4,7; 2Ti 1,18; 2Ti 4,11; File 1,13)23About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. (At 19,9; 2Co 1,8)24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. (At 16,16; At 16,19)25These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. (At 24,1)26And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. (De 4,28; 2Re 19,18; Sal 115,4; Is 44,10; Ger 10,3; At 14,15; At 17,29; 1Co 8,4; Ap 9,20)27And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” (At 8,10)28When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (At 27,1)29So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. (At 19,22; At 20,4; At 20,34; At 27,2; 2Co 8,19; Col 4,10; File 1,24)30But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.31And even some of the Asiarchs,[5] who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.32Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. (At 21,34)33Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. (At 12,17)34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (At 19,28)35And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?[6] (At 14,12)36Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.37For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. (At 19,29; Ro 2,22)38If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. (At 13,7)39But if you seek anything further,[7] it shall be settled in the regular assembly.40For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.”41And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Atti 19
King James Version
1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.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 concerning the kingdom of God.9But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.10And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.11And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: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.13Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.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.18And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.19Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.20So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.21After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.22So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.23And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;25Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.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 made with hands:27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.28And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.29And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.30And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.31And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.33And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.34But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.35And when the 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 worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?36Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.38Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.39But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.40For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.