Paul in Ephesus
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when19:2 Or after you believed?’
They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’
3So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’
‘John’s baptism,’ they replied.
4Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues19:6 Or other languages and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.
8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
11God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to those who were ill, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.’ 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?’ 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
17When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour. 18Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19A number who had practised sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.19:19 A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages. 20In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
21After all this had happened, Paul decided19:21 Or decided in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. ‘After I have been there,’ he said, ‘I must visit Rome also.’ 22He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.
The riot in Ephesus
23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: ‘You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.’
28When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ 29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s travelling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theatre together. 30Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theatre.
32The assembly was in confusion: some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defence before the people. 34But when they realised he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’
35The city clerk quietened the crowd and said: ‘Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.’ 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Pawulo mu Efeso
119:1 a Bik 18:1 b Bik 18:19Awo Apolo ng’ali mu Kkolinso, Pawulo n’atambula ng’ayita ku lukalu n’alaga mu Efeso. N’asangayo abayigirizwa bangiko, 2n’ababuuza nti, “Bwe mwakkiriza mwafuna Mwoyo Mutukuvu?” Ne bamuddamu nti, “Nedda tetuwuliranga nti waliwo Mwoyo Mutukuvu.” 3N’ababuuza nti, “Kale mwabatizibwa kuyingira mu ki?” Ne bamuddamu nti, “Twakkiriza ebyo Yokaana Omubatiza bye yatuyigiriza.” 419:4 Yk 1:7; Bik 13:24, 25Awo Pawulo n’abagamba nti, “Yokaana yabatiza okubatiza okw’okwenenya eri abantu ng’agamba nti agenda okujja oluvannyuma lwe bamukkirize. Kino kitegeeza nti ye Yesu.” 5Bwe baawulira ebyo, ne babatizibwa mu linnya lya Mukama waffe Yesu. 619:6 a Bik 6:6; 8:17 b Bik 2:4 c Mak 16:17; Bik 10:46Pawulo bwe yabassaako emikono gye, Mwoyo Mutukuvu n’abakkako, ne batandika okwogera ennimi endala era n’okuwa obunnabbi. 7Bonna baali abantu nga kkumi na babiri.
819:8 a Bik 9:20 b Bik 1:3; 28:23Pawulo n’ayingiranga mu kkuŋŋaaniro buli lwa Ssabbiiti ng’abuulira n’obuvumu bungi okumala emyezi esatu, n’abategeezanga ekyo ky’akkiriza era n’ensonga kyava akkiriza, n’asendasenda bangi okukkiriza ebintu by’obwakabaka bwa Katonda. 919:9 a Bik 14:4 b nny 23; Bik 9:2 c Bik 9:30; 11:26Naye abamu ne bakakanyaza emitima gyabwe ne bagaana, ne batandika n’okwogera obubi ku Kkubo mu bibiina. Pawulo n’abaviira, n’atwala abakkiriza, ne bakuŋŋaaniranga mu kisenge ky’essomero lya Tulaano buli lunaku. 1019:10 a Bik 20:31 b nny 22, 26, 27Ne bamala emyaka ebiri n’okusingawo nga bakola bwe batyo, era Abayudaaya bonna n’Abayonaani bonna abaabeeranga mu kitundu ekyo ekya Asiya ne bawulira ekigambo kya Mukama.
Batabani ba Sukewa
1119:11 Bik 8:13Katonda n’akozesanga Pawulo eby’amagero eby’ekitalo. 1219:12 Bik 5:15Obutambaala bwe n’ebiwero eby’engoye ze bwe byabikkibwanga ku balwadde nga bawona, era abaabangako baddayimooni nga babavaako.
1319:13 a Mat 12:27 b Mak 9:38Waaliwo Abayudaaya abaagendanga nga bagoba baddayimooni ku bantu mu buli kibuga, ne bagezaako okukozesa erinnya lya Mukama waffe Yesu, nga bagamba dayimooni ali ku mulwadde nti, “Mu linnya lya Yesu, Pawulo gw’abuulira, nkulagira omuveeko.” 14Waaliwo batabani ba Sukewa, eyali kabona omukulu Omuyudaaya, musanvu, nabo abaakolanga bwe batyo. 15Bwe baakigezaako ku musajja eyaliko dayimooni, dayimooni n’abagamba nti, “Yesu mmumanyi, ne Pawulo mmumanyi, naye mmwe, mmwe b’ani?” 16N’ababuukira n’abasinza amaanyi bonna, n’abataagulataagula nnyo, ne bafubutuka mu nnyumba nga bali bwereere, era nga baliko ebiwundu.
1719:17 a Bik 18:19 b Bik 5:5, 11Ebigambo ebyo ne bibuna mangu mu Bayudaaya ne mu Bayonaani abaali mu Efeso, era bonna ne bakwatibwa entiisa nnene, n’erinnya lya Mukama waffe Yesu ne liweebwa ekitiibwa kingi. 18Bangi mu abo abakkiriza ne beenenya ebibi byabwe mu lwatu ne baatula n’ebikolwa byabwe. 19Abamu abaali abalogo ne baleeta ebitabo byabwe ne babyokya ng’abantu bonna balaba. Bwe baabalirira omuwendo gw’ensimbi mu bitabo ebyayokebwa, nga guwera nga siringi emitwalo kkumi. 2019:20 Bik 6:7; 12:24Awo ekigambo kya Mukama ne kyeyongera okubuna mu maanyi n’okunywera.
Akasasamalo mu Efeso
2119:21 a Bik 20:16, 22; Bar 15:25 b Bik 16:9 c Bik 18:12 d Bar 15:24, 28Oluvannyuma lw’ebyo okutuukirira Pawulo n’alowooza mu mutima okugenda e Yerusaalemi ng’ayitira mu Makedoniya ne mu Akaya. N’agamba nti, “Bwe ndiva eyo kinsaanira nkyaleko ne mu Ruumi.” 2219:22 a Bik 13:5 b Bik 16:1 c Bar 16:23; 2Ti 4:20 d nny 10, 26, 27N’asindika babiri ku baamuyambanga, Timoseewo ne Erasuto e Makedoniya, ye n’asigala mu kitundu kya Asiya okumala ebbanga.
2319:23 Bik 9:2Mu kiseera ekyo ne wabaawo akasasamalo ak’amaanyi ku bigambo by’ekkubo. 24Waaliwo omusajja erinnya lye Demeteriyo, yali muweesi wa bintu bya ffeeza, era nga y’akola obusabo obwa ffeeza obwa Atemi obwaleetanga amagoba mangi. 2519:25 Bik 16:16, 19, 20Awo Demeteriyo n’ayita abakozi be bonna wamu n’abo abakola emirimu egikwatagana n’egigye, ne bakuba olukuŋŋaana. N’alyoka ayogera nabo nti, “Mumanyi nti mu mulimu guno mwe tuggya obugagga. 2619:26 a Bik 18:19 b Ma 4:28; Zab 115:4; Is 44:10-20; Yer 10:3-5; Bik 17:29; 1Ko 8:4; Kub 9:20Kale kaakano, nga mwenna bwe mulabye ne bwe muwulidde, omusajja ono Pawulo asenzesenze abantu bangi nnyo wano mu Efeso ne mu Asiya, okubakkirizisa nti bakatonda abakolebwa n’emikono si bakatonda. 27Kino kya kabi gye tuli naye si mu Efeso mwokka naye ne mu kitundu kyonna ekya Asiya ne ku yeekaalu ya Atemi ne ku mukazi Oweekitiibwa Atemi. Kubanga ettutumu ly’alina lijja kumuggwaako, mu bitundu byonna ebya Asiya ne mu nsi gy’asinzibwa.”
2819:28 Bik 18:19Awo bwe baawulira ebyo, ne basunguwala, ne batandika okuleekaana nti, “Atemi ow’Abaefeeso ye Mukulu!” 2919:29 a Bik 20:4; Bar 16:23; 1Ko 1:14 b Bik 20:4; 27:2; Bak 4:10; Fir 24 c Bik 16:9Ekibuga ne kijjula akayuuguumo, abantu bonna ne badduka nga balaga mu kifo omwazanyirwanga emizannyo nga bwe basikaasikanya Gayo ne Alisutaluuko, abaatambulanga ne Pawulo, babatwale babawozese. 30Pawulo n’ayagala naye okuyingira mu kibiina, kyokka abayigirizwa ne batamukkiriza. 31N’abamu ku b’omu Asiya, abaali mikwano gya Pawulo, ne bamutumira aleme kwewaayo kuyingira mu kifo omwazanyirwanga emizannyo.
3219:32 Bik 21:34Abantu abaali munda ne bamala galeekaana, ng’abamu boogera kino n’abalala kiri kubanga ekibiina kyali kitabusetabuse. Abasinga obungi nga n’okumanya tebamanyi nsonga yennyini ebakuŋŋaanyisizza. 3319:33 Bik 12:17Abayudaaya abamu bwe baalengera Alegezanda ng’ali mu kibiina ne bamusika okumuleeta mu maaso. N’akoma ku bantu basirike abeeko ky’abagamba. 34Naye ekibiina bwe kyategeera nga Muyudaaya, bonna ne baddamu buto okuleekaana nti, “Atemi ow’Abaefeeso ye Mukulu!” Ne bakiddiŋŋana emirundi n’emirundi okumala ng’essaawa bbiri nnamba.
3519:35 Bik 18:19Awo omukulu w’ekibuga n’abasirisa n’ayogera nabo nti, “Abasajja Abaefeso, buli muntu yenna amanyi nti Efeso mwe mukuumirwa essabo ekkulu ery’omukulu Atemi, gwe tumanyi ng’ekifaananyi ekyava mu ggulu. 36Olw’okubanga ebyo tewali abiwakanya, temusaana kwecanga olw’ebyo ebyogerwa, era temusaana kwanguyiriza kukola kya bulabe. 3719:37 Bar 2:22Kale muleese wano abasajja bano abatabbye kintu kya Atemi n’ekimu, wadde okumunyoomoola. 3819:38 Bik 13:7, 8, 12Obanga Demeteriyo n’abakozi be balina ensonga ze bavunaana abasajja bano, embuga z’amateeka weeziri era abalamuzi bajja kuyingira mangu mu nsonga zaabwe. Kirungi bakwate amakubo amatongole. 39Obanga waliwo abeemulugunya ku nsonga endala, ebyo biyinza okutereezebwa mu Lukiiko lw’Ekibuga olwa bulijjo. 40Kubanga singa tetwegendereza, tujja kuvunaanibwa olw’akasasamalo ka leero, kubanga tetujja kuba na kya kwogera.” 41Awo n’abasiibula, ne basaasaana.
