^19:23At⁸⁰ that time⁸¹ a great disturbance⁸² took place concerning the Way.⁸³^19:24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines⁸⁴ of Artemis,⁸⁵ brought a great deal⁸⁶ of business⁸⁷ to the craftsmen. ^19:25He gathered⁸⁸ these⁸⁹ together, along with the workmen in similar trades,⁹⁰ and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity⁹¹ comes from this business. ^19:26And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded⁹² and turned away⁹³ a large crowd,⁹⁴ not only in Ephesus⁹⁵ but in practically all of the province of Asia,⁹⁶ by saying⁹⁷ that gods made by hands are not gods at all.⁹⁸^19:27There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute,⁹⁹ but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis¹⁰⁰ will be regarded as nothing,¹⁰¹ and she whom all the province of Asia¹⁰² and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”¹⁰³

^19:28When¹⁰⁴ they heard¹⁰⁵ this they became enraged¹⁰⁶ and began to shout,¹⁰⁷ “Great is Artemis¹⁰⁸ of the Ephesians!” ^19:29The¹⁰⁹ city was filled with the uproar,¹¹⁰ and the crowd¹¹¹ rushed to the theater¹¹² together,¹¹³ dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. ^19:30But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly,¹¹⁴ the disciples would not let him. ^19:31Even some of the provincial authorities¹¹⁵ who were his friends sent¹¹⁶ a message¹¹⁷ to him, urging him not to venture¹¹⁸ into the theater. ^19:32So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.¹¹⁹^19:33Some of the crowd concluded¹²⁰ it was about¹²¹ Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front.¹²² Alexander, gesturing¹²³ with his hand, was wanting to make a defense¹²⁴ before the public assembly.¹²⁵^19:34But when they recognized¹²⁶ that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison,¹²⁷ “Great is Artemis¹²⁸ of the Ephesians!” for about two hours.¹²⁹^19:35After the city secretary¹³⁰ quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person¹³¹ is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper¹³² of the temple of the great Artemis¹³³ and of her image that fell from heaven?¹³⁴^19:36So because these facts¹³⁵ are indisputable,¹³⁶ you must keep quiet¹³⁷ and not do anything reckless.¹³⁸^19:37For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers¹³⁹ nor blasphemers of our goddess.¹⁴⁰^19:38If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint¹⁴¹ against someone, the courts are open¹⁴² and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.¹⁴³^19:39But if you want anything in addition,¹⁴⁴ it will have to be settled¹⁴⁵ in a legal assembly.¹⁴⁶^19:40For¹⁴⁷ we are in danger of being charged with rioting¹⁴⁸ today, since there is no cause we can give to explain¹⁴⁹ this disorderly gathering.”¹⁵⁰^19:41After¹⁵¹ he had said¹⁵² this,¹⁵³ he dismissed the assembly.¹⁵⁴

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Footnotes

80 Grk “There happened at that time.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Instead the verb “took place” has been supplied in the translation.
81 κατά B.2.a, “in definite indications of time … Of the past: κ. ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρόν at that time, then … Ac 12:1; 19:23.”
82 Grk “no little disturbance” (an idiom; see τάραχος 2).
83 The Way refers to the Christian movement (Christianity).
84 ναός 1.a states, “Specif. of temples: of replicas of the temple of Artemis at Ephesus 19:24 … but here, near ἱερόν vs. 27 … ναός can be understood in the more restricted sense shrine, where the image of the goddess stood.”
85 Artemis was the name of a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
86 Grk “brought not a little business” (an idiom).
87 A great deal of business. The charge that Christianity brought economic and/or social upheaval was made a number of times in Acts: 16:20–21; 17:6–7; 18:13.
88 Grk “gathering.” The participle συναθροίσας (sunathroisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
89 Grk “whom”; because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced with a pronoun (“these”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.
90 Workmen in similar trades. In effect, Demetrius gathered the Ephesian chamber of commerce together to hear about the threat to their prosperity.
91 Another possible meaning is “that this business is an easy way for us to earn a living.”
92 Grk “persuading.” The participle πείσας (peisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
93 Or “misled.”
94 ἱκανός 3.a has “of pers. ὄχλος a large crowd … Ac 11:24, 26; 19:26.”
95 For location see ; ; ; .
96 Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. .
97 The participle λέγων (legōn) has been regarded as indicating instrumentality.
98 The words “at all” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Gods made by hands are not gods at all. Paul preached against paganism’s idolatry. Here is a one-line summary of a speech like that in Acts 17:22–31.
99 Or “come under public criticism.” ἀπελεγμός has “come into disrepute Ac 19:27.”
100 Artemis was the name of a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
101 λογίζομαι 1.b has “εἰς οὐθὲν λογισθῆναι be looked upon as nothing … Ac 19:27.”
102 Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. .
103 Or “her magnificence.” καθαιρέω 2.b has “καθαιρεῖσθαι τῆς μεγαλειότητος αὐτῆς suffer the loss of her magnificence Ac 19:27”; L&N 13.38 has “ ‘and to have her greatness done away with’ Ac 19:27.” Suffer the loss of her greatness. It is important to appreciate that money alone was not the issue, even for the pagan Ephesians. The issue was ultimately the dishonor of their goddess to whom they were devoted in worship. The battle was a “cosmic” one between deities.
104 Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
105 Grk “And hearing.” The participle ἀκούσαντες (akousantes) has been taken temporally.
106 Grk “they became filled with rage” (an idiom). The reaction of the Ephesians here is like that of the Jews earlier, though Luke referred to “zeal” or “jealousy” in the former case (Acts 7:54).
107 Grk “and began shouting, saying.” The imperfect verb ἔκραζον (ekrazon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect. The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
108 Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
109 Grk “And the.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
110 L&N 39.43 has “ ‘the uproar spread throughout the whole city’ (literally ‘the city was filled with uproar’) Ac 19:29.” σύγχυσις has “confusion, tumult.”
111 Grk “they”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
112 To the theater. This location made the event a public spectacle. The Grand Theater in Ephesus (still standing today) stood facing down the main thoroughfare of the city toward the docks. It had a seating capacity of 25,000.
113 Grk “to the theater with one accord.”
114 Or “enter the crowd.” According to δῆμος 2, “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly … εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν δ. go into the assembly 19:30.”
115 Grk “Asiarchs” (high-ranking officials of the province of Asia).
116 Grk “sending”; the participle πέμψαντες (pempsantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
117 The words “a message” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
118 δίδωμι 11 has “to cause (oneself) to go, go, venture somewhere (cp. our older ‘betake oneself’) … Ac 19:31.” The desire of these sympathetic authorities was surely to protect Paul’s life. The detail indicates how dangerous things had become.
119 Or “had assembled.”
120 Or “Some of the crowd gave instructions to.”
121 The words “it was about” are not in the Greek text but are implied; Ἀλέξανδρον (Alexandron) is taken to be an accusative of general reference.
122 προβάλλω 1 has “to cause to come forward, put forward … τινά someone … push someone forward to speak in the theater … Ac 19:33.”
123 Or “motioning.”
124 The nature of Alexander’s defense is not clear. It appears he was going to explain, as a Jew, that the problem was not caused by Jews, but by those of “the Way.” However, he never got a chance to speak.
125 Or “before the crowd.” According to δῆμος 2, “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly … ἀπολογεῖσθαι τῷ δ. make a defense before the assembly vs. 33.”
126 Grk “But recognizing.” The participle ἐπιγνόντες (epignontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
127 Grk “[they shouted] with one voice from all of them” (an idiom).
128 Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus, 1.25 mi (2 km) northeast of the Grand Theater. Dimensions were 418 ft by 239 ft (125 m by 72 m) for the platform; the temple proper was 377 ft by 180 ft (113 m by 54 m). The roof was supported by 117 columns, each 60 ft (18 m) high by 6 ft (1.8 m) in diameter. The Emperor Justinian of Byzantium later took these columns for use in construction of the Hagia Sophia, where they still exist (in modern day Istanbul).
129 They all shouted … for about two hours. The extent of the tumult shows the racial and social tensions of a cosmopolitan city like Ephesus, indicating what the Christians in such locations had to face.
130 Or “clerk.” The “scribe” (γραμματεύς, grammateus) was the keeper of the city’s records.
131 This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos).
132 See νεωκόρος. The city is described as the “warden” or “guardian” of the goddess and her temple.
133 Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
134 Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). The expression fell from heaven adds a note of apologetic about the heavenly origin of the goddess. The city’s identity and well-being was wrapped up with this connection, in their view. Many interpreters view her image that fell from heaven as a stone meteorite regarded as a sacred object.
135 Grk “these things.”
136 The genitive absolute construction with the participle ὄντων (ontōn) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. On the term translated “indisputable” see ἀναντίρρητος which has “not to be contradicted, undeniable.”
137 Grk “it is necessary that you be quiet.”
138 L&N 88.98 has “pertaining to impetuous and reckless behavior—‘reckless, impetuous.’ … ‘so then, you must calm down and not do anything reckless’ Ac 19:36.” The city secretary was asking that order be restored.
139 Or perhaps, “desecrators of temples.”
140 Nor blasphemers of our goddess. There was no formal crime with which Paul could be charged. He had the right to his religion as long as he did not act physically against the temple. Since no overt act had taken place, the official wanted the community to maintain the status quo on these religious matters. The remarks suggest Paul was innocent of any civil crime.
141 λόγος 1.a.ε has “ἔχειν πρός τινα λόγον have a complaint against someone … 19:38.”
142 L&N 56.1 has ‘if Demetrius and his workers have an accusation against someone, the courts are open’ Ac 19:38.”
143 The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The official’s request is that the legal system be respected.
144 Or “anything more than this.”
145 Or “resolved.”
146 Or “in a legal meeting of the citizens.” L&N 30.81 has “ἐν τῇ ἐννόμῳ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐπιλυθήσεται ‘it will have to be settled in a legal meeting of the citizens’ Ac 19:39.” This meeting took place three times a year.
147 Grk “For indeed.” The ascensive force of καί (kai) would be awkward to translate here.
148 The term translated “rioting” refers to a revolt or uprising ( στάσις 2, 3). This would threaten Roman rule and invite Roman intervention.
149 Or “to account for.” Grk “since there is no cause concerning which we can give account concerning this disorderly gathering.” The complexity of the Greek relative clause (“which”) and the multiple prepositions (“concerning”) have been simplified in the translation consistent with contemporary English style.
150 Or “commotion.” συστροφή 1 gives the meaning “a tumultuous gathering of people, disorderly/seditious gathering or commotion … Ac 19:40.”
151 Grk “And after.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
152 Grk “And saying.” The participle εἰπών (eipōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
153 Grk “these things.”
154 Verse 41 in the English text is included as part of verse 40 in the standard critical editions of the Greek NT.