📖 Acts — Chapter 19 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, Rthat, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Acts 19:2 He said unto them, RHave 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.
Acts 19:3 And he said unto them, RUnto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, RJohn 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.
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had Rlaid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.
Acts 19:8 And he Rwent into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Acts 19:9 But when Rdivers 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.
Acts 19:10 And Rthis 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.
Acts 19:11 RAnd God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Acts 19:12 So 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.
Acts 19:13 Then certain of the Rvagabond 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.
Acts 19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Acts 19:16 And 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.
Acts 19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; Rand fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Acts 19:18 And many that believed came, and Rconfessed, and shewed their deeds.
Acts 19:19 Many of them also which Rused 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.
Acts 19:20 RSo mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Acts 19:21 After Rthese 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.
Acts 19:22 So he sent into RMacedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
Acts 19:23 And the same time Rthere arose no small stir about that way.
Acts 19:24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for RDiana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
Acts 19:25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, Rye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
Acts 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, Rthat 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:
Acts 19:27 So Rthat 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.
Acts 19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, Rand cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
Acts 19:29 And Rthe 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.
Acts 19:30 And when RPaul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
Acts 19:31 And certain of Rthe chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
Acts 19:32 Some therefore Rcried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
Acts 19:33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander Rbeckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
Acts 19:34 But when Rthey knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
Acts 19:35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, RYe 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?
Acts 19:36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, Rye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
Acts 19:37 For ye have brought hither these men, Rwhich are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
Acts 19:38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, Rhave a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
Acts 19:39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
Acts 19:40 For Rwe 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.
Acts 19:41 And Rwhen he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Acts 19:1–12 — Ephesus receives teaching and the Spirit’s work
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Paul teaches men who knew John’s baptism, baptizes them in the Lord Jesus’ name, and lays hands on them. Sustained teaching and extraordinary miracles extend the witness through the region.
Key Truth: Let instruction direct people toward the Lord rather than an incomplete beginning.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost ____ on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” (Acts 19:6)
Find it in Acts 19:6 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “And all the men ____ about twelve.” (Acts 19:7)
Find it in Acts 19:7 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the ____ spirits went out of them.” (Acts 19:12)
Find it in Acts 19:12 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Acts 19:13–20 — A failed imitation exposes the difference between a name and allegiance
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Men attempt to use Jesus’ name as a technique for exorcism and are overcome. Fear, confession, and costly abandonment of magical practices follow, and the Lord’s word grows mightily.
Key Truth: Do not treat Jesus’ name as an instrument detached from faithful response.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And the ____ spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I …” (Acts 19:15)
Find it in Acts 19:15 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and ____ fell on them all, and the name of the Lord …” (Acts 19:17)
Find it in Acts 19:17 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “So ____ grew the word of God and prevailed.” (Acts 19:20)
Find it in Acts 19:20 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Acts 19:21–41 — A trade-driven uproar is brought under control
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Demetrius fears damage to the trade in shrines and stirs a crowd concerning Diana. Confusion fills the assembly until the town clerk calls for orderly proceedings and warns about the danger of an unjustified riot.
Key Truth: Examine whether economic self-interest is disguising itself as devotion.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the ____ , when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to …” (Acts 19:21)
Find it in Acts 19:21 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “For a ____ man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for …” (Acts 19:24)
Find it in Acts 19:24 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “And when he had ____ spoken, he dismissed the assembly.” (Acts 19:41)
Find it in Acts 19:41 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Isaiah 44:9 — Isaiah’s exposure of manufactured idols offers a related passage for the shrine trade.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What practice or interest might need to yield to an honest response to God’s word?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which account best distinguishes Acts 19:1–12 (Ephesus receives teaching and the Spirit’s work) from the other movements of this chapter?
2. Which account best distinguishes Acts 19:13–20 (A failed imitation exposes the difference between a name and allegiance) from the other movements of this chapter?
3. Which account best distinguishes Acts 19:21–41 (A trade-driven uproar is brought under control) from the other movements of this chapter?
4. What outcome does the narrative identify amid the changed practices?
5. What teaching threatens the trade defended by Demetrius?
Notes
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