The Skeptics Annotated Bible (889 page)

11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

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.

(19.12)
“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.”
Sick people were cured by touching the handkerchief or apron of Paul. “And the evil spirits went out of them.”

(19.13-16) Jewish exorcists were so impressed by Paul’s ability to cast out evil spirits that they decided to give it a try, saying to a evil spirit in a possessed person, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” But the evil spirit said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who the heck are you?” Then the possessed person jumped on the Jewish exorcists, and stripped off all their clothes.

13 Then 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.

(19.13)
“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.”

14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15 And
the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

(19.15)
“The evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?”

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.

(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.”

17 And 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.

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

(19.19-20) The first Christian book burning occurs when Paul’s converts at Ephesus burn 50,000 silver pieces’ worth of books. (A piece of silver was worth about a day’s wage.)

19
Many 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.

(19.19)
“Many of them … 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.”

20
So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

(19.20)
“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

21 After 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.

22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26 Moreover 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:

27 So 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.

28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29 And 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.

30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

33 And 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.

34 But 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.

(19.34)
“All with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”
A great multitude cry out “all with one voice” for two hours saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”

35 And 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?

36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

38 Wherefore 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.

39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

40 For 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.

41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

20
And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.

6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

(20.7-12) Eutychus was the first casualty of many long boring sermons. Paul had preached from dinner until midnight, by which time Eutychus had fallen asleep and out the third floor window. Paul fell on and embraced the dead body, bringing it back to life. Then Paul had a little snack and went back to preaching again until the sun came up the next day.

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,
Paul preached
unto them, ready to depart on the morrow;
and continued his speech until midnight.

(20.7)
“Paul preached … and continued his speech until midnight.”

8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

9 And
there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

(20.9) “There sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.”

10 And
Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.