Acts 19:23–41

²³During that time there was a major ^cdisturbance about the Way. ^d24For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, ^eprovided a great deal of ^fbusiness for the craftsmen. ²⁵When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said: “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business. ²⁶You both see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods! ^g27So not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world adore.”

²⁸When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius ^hand Aristarchus, ⁱMacedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. ³⁰Though Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him. ³¹Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to take a chance by going ^jinto the amphitheater. ³²Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and some another, ^kbecause the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. ³³Then some of the crowd gave Alexander advice when the Jews pushed him to the front. So motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people. ^l34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a united cry went up from all of them for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵However, when the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, “Men of Ephesus! What man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great ^mArtemis, and of the image that fell from heaven? ³⁶Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash. ³⁷For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our ⁿgoddess. ³⁸So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. ^o39But if you want something else, it must be decided in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting ^pfor what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.