ACT 19:8-12

Paul Ministers in Ephesus

8And entering the synagogue, he was speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the reign of God.

9But when some were hardened and were refusing to be persuaded, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

10This continued for two years, so that all those living in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

11And God was doing extraordinary acts of power through the hands of Paul,

12so that handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.

In the world it was spoken into

In Ephesus, a major urban center of the Roman Empire, Paul’s ministry unfolded in a context marked by religious pluralism and economic reliance on the cult of Artemis. The synagogue, a central institution for Jewish life, served as Paul’s initial platform, where he engaged in reasoned discourse aimed at persuading Jews about the kingdom of God. The term 'the Way' identified early Christians as a distinct group, likely evoking Isaiah’s imagery of a path of righteousness. Some Jews, however, hardened their hearts and actively opposed Paul, reflecting a broader tension between emerging Christian claims and traditional Jewish identity. Paul’s shift to the lecture hall of Tyrannus, a space likely used for philosophical or rhetorical instruction, signaled a move toward a mixed audience of Jews and Greeks. The extraordinary miracles performed through Paul underscored divine authority, countering Ephesian reliance on magical practices and Artemis’s power. This ministry’s duration—two years—highlighted its sustained impact across Asia Minor.

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How other translations render this

ACT 19:8

KJV: And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
BSB: Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
Koinōnos: And entering the synagogue, he was speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the reign of God.

ACT 19:9

KJV: But 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.
BSB: But when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
Koinōnos: But when some were hardened and were refusing to be persuaded, speaking evil of the Way before the crowd, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

ACT 19:10

KJV: And 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.
BSB: This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.
Koinōnos: This continued for two years, so that all those living in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

ACT 19:11

KJV: And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
BSB: God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,
Koinōnos: And God was doing extraordinary acts of power through the hands of Paul,

ACT 19:12

KJV: 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.
BSB: so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
Koinōnos: so that handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 19:9

were hardened:The word translated 'were hardened' implies a process where something becomes stiff, unyielding, or resistant, often to the point of being insensitive or stubborn.
they were disbelieving:The term used here for 'disbelieving' carries the sense of actively refusing to be persuaded or to comply, rather than simply lacking belief.
Way:The word translated 'Way' refers to a literal path or road, but in this context, it is used metaphorically to describe a distinct manner of life, teaching, or religious movement.

ACT 19:11

Miracles:The word translated 'Miracles' literally means 'powers' or 'acts of power,' emphasizing the inherent ability and might behind the supernatural deeds.