1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He 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. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then 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. 5 When they heard this , they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 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.
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. 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? 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 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. 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. 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.
19–BOB
Pavlus Efes shahrida
1 Apollos Korinfda ekan, Pavlus qirlar boʻylab yoʻl yurib, Efes shahriga keldi. Bu yerda u Isoga imon qoʻygan bir nechta odamni uchratdi. 2 Pavlus ulardan:
— Imonga kelganlaringizda, Muqaddas Ruhni qabul qildingizlarmi? — deb soʻradi. Ular:
— Yoʻq, biz Muqaddas Ruh borligini hatto eshitmaganmiz, — deb javob berdilar.
3 — Unday boʻlsa, qay asosda suvga choʻmdirildingizlar? — deb soʻradi Pavlus.
— Yahyoning taʼlimotiga koʻra, suvga choʻmdirildik, — deb javob berdi ular. 4 Shunda Pavlus dedi:
— Yahyo tavba qilganlarni suvga choʻmdirar edi. U Isroil xalqiga, mendan keyin kelayotganga, yaʼni Isoga, imon keltiringlar, degan edi.
5 Ular bu gapni eshitib, Rabbimiz Isoning nomidan suvga choʻmdirildilar. 6 Pavlus ularga qoʻlini qoʻygan edi, Muqaddas Ruh ularni qamrab oldi. Ular boshqa tillarda gapira boshladilar va Xudo ayon qilgan soʻzlarni aytdilar. 7 Ular taxminan oʻn ikki kishi edi.
8 Pavlus sinagogaga uch oy davomida borib, jasorat bilan xalqqa gapirib, Xudoning Shohligi toʻgʻrisida ishonchli dalillar keltirdi. 9 Ammo baʼzilari oʻjarlik qilib, umuman ishonmadilar va hammaning oldida Isoning yoʻli toʻgʻrisida yomon gaplarni aytdilar. Pavlus yoniga imonlilarni olib, ularning huzuridan ketdi. Har kuni u Tiranus degan odamning maʼruza zalida munozara oʻtkazadigan boʻldi. 10 Bu holat ikki yil davom etdi, Asiya aholisining hammasi — yahudiylar ham, gʻayriyahudiylar ham Rabbimiz Iso haqidagi xabarni eshitishdi.
11 Xudo Pavlus orqali gʻaroyib moʻjizalar koʻrsatar edi. 12 Pavlusning tanasiga tekkan roʻmolcha yoki kiyimlar xastalarga tekkizilganda, ular xastaliklaridan shifo topar, ulardan yovuz ruhlar chiqib ketardi.
13-14 Skevas degan yahudiy bosh ruhoniysi bor edi. Uning yetti oʻgʻli oʻlka boʻylab kezib, odamlardan yovuz ruhlarni quvib chiqarar edilar. Bir kuni ular Rabbimiz Isoning nomi bilan shunday qilishga urinib, yovuz ruhga: “Pavlus eʼlon qilayotgan Iso nomi bilan buyuramiz: chiqib ket!” dedilar. 15 Yovuz ruh esa ularga: “Men Isoni bilaman, Pavlusni ham bilaman, sizlar esa kim boʻlibsizlar?” deb soʻradi. 16 Ichida yovuz ruhi bor odam ularga tashlandi. Ularni shu qadar qattiq urdiki, ular oʻsha uydan yalangʻoch, yarador holda zoʻrgʻa qochib qutuldilar. 17 Efesda yashagan yahudiy va gʻayriyahudiylarning hammasi bu voqeani eshitib, qoʻrquvga tushdilar. Rabbimiz Isoning nomi ulugʻlandi. 18 Shuningdek, imonga kelganlarning koʻpchiligi qilmishlarini ochiqchasiga eʼtirof etdilar. 19 Afsungarlik bilan mashgʻul boʻlganlarning bir qanchasi kitoblarini toʻplab, ommaning koʻzi oldida yoqib yubordilar. Bu kitoblarning qiymati hisoblanganda, ellik ming kumush tanga chiqdi. 20 Shu tariqa Rabbimiz haqidagi xabar yoyilib, taʼsiri tobora ortib borar edi.
21 Shu hodisalar yuz bergandan keyin, Pavlus Makedoniya va Axayadan oʻtib, Quddusga borishga qaror qildi. “U yerga borganimdan keyin, Rimga ham borishim kerak”, dedi u. 22 Shunday qilib, u ikki yordamchisi — Timoʻtiy bilan Erastusni Makedoniyaga yubordi. Pavlusning oʻzi esa maʼlum vaqt Asiya viloyatida qoldi.
23 Ammo oʻsha paytda Isoning yoʻliga qarshi qattiq gʻala–gʻovur boʻldi. 24 Demitrus degan bir zargar odam Artemisning maʼbadi tasvirini kumushdan yasab, hunarmandlarga koʻp foyda keltirardi. 25 Demitrus bu sohada ishlaydigan hamma hunarmandlarni chaqirib, shunday dedi:
— Birodarlar, bilasizlarki, biz shu hunar orqali yaxshi daromad olamiz. 26 Sizlar faqat Efesdagina emas, balki butun Asiya viloyatida Pavlus degan odamning qilayotganlarini koʻrib eshityapsizlar. Pavlusning aytishi boʻyicha, qoʻlda yasalgan xudolar aslo xudolar emasmish. U koʻpchilikni shunga ishontirib, yoʻldan uryapti. 27 Shunisi xavfliki, bizning bu hunarimiz xalqning nazaridan qolishi mumkin. Faqat shugina emas, balki boshqa xavf ham bor: buyuk Artemisning maʼbadi hech narsaga arzimas ekan degan fikrga olib keladi. Asiya viloyati va butun dunyodagi hamma odam topinadigan bu maʼbudaning ulugʻvorligi barham topadi–ku!
28 Hunarmandlar bu gapni eshitganlarida, gʻazablanib: “Efesning Artemisi buyukdir!” deb shovqin–suron koʻtardilar. 29 Shaharda toʻs–toʻpolon boshlandi. Xalq ikkita Makedoniyalikni — Gayus bilan Aristarxusni tutib olib, teatr tomonga shoshildilar. Ikkalovi Pavlusga yoʻlda hamroh boʻlib kelayotgan edilar. 30 Pavlus olomon oldiga chiqmoqchi boʻlgan edi, imonlilar yoʻl qoʻymadilar. 31 Hatto Pavlusning doʻstlari boʻlgan Asiya viloyatining baʼzi amaldorlari xabar berib, teatrga kirishga tavakkal qilmang, deb iltimos qildilar. 32 Olomon sarosimaga tushgan edi. Baʼzilari bir narsa deb shovqin solsa, boshqalari boshqa narsani aytib shovqin solardi. Ularning koʻpchiligi nima uchun yigʻilganini bilmasdi. 33 Yahudiylar olomonga vaziyatni tushuntirmoqchi boʻlib, Iskandar degan bir odamni oldinga chiqardilar. Iskandar qoʻli bilan olomonga, jim boʻlinglar degan ishorani qilib, himoya nutqini aytishga harakat qildi. 34 Ammo xalq uning yahudiy ekanini bilgach, hammalari joʻr boʻlib: “Efesliklarning Artemisi buyukdir!” deb ikki soatga yaqin baqirib turishdi.
35 Shahar kotibi olomonni tinchlantirgach, shunday dedi:
— Ey Efesliklar! Buyuk Artemis maʼbadining va osmondan tushgan haykalining saqlovchisi Efes shahri ekanini kim bilmaydi?! 36 Bularni hech kim inkor eta olmaydi. Shunday ekan, sizlar sukut saqlab, oʻylamasdan qadam bosmasligingiz kerak. 37 Bu odamlar maʼbadni talon–taroj qilmagan yoki maʼbudamizni haqorat qilmagan, sizlar esa ularni bu yerga olib kelibsizlar. 38 Agar Demitrus bilan uning hunarmandlari biron odamni ayblaydigan boʻlsa, mahkamalar ochiq, qozilar bor, bir–biriga qarshi ayblovlarni oʻsha yerda hukm qilishsin. 39 Agar boshqa bir chora koʻrmoqchi boʻlsangiz, u aholining qonuniy yigʻinida hal qilinadi. 40 Axir, bugun yuz bergan voqeadan keyin bizni isyonda ayblashlari mumkin. Bizda bu shovqin–suronni oqlaydigan biron sabab yoʻq.
U shu gaplarni aytib, olomonni tarqatib yubordi.
