Acts 19:21-41

21Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the 1Spirit to 2go to Jerusalem 3after he had passed through 4Macedonia and 5Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, 6I must also see Rome.” 22And having sent into 7Macedonia two of 8those who ministered to him, 9Timothy and 10Erastus, he himself stayed in 1112Asia for a while.

23About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning 13the Way. 24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of 14Artemis, 15was bringing no little 16business to the craftsmen; 25these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 17depends upon this business. 26You see and hear that not only in 18Ephesus, but in almost all of 1920Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that 2122gods made with hands are no gods at all. 27Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess 23Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of 2425Asia and 26the 27world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

28When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is 28Artemis of the 29Ephesians!” 29The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed 30with one accord into the theater, dragging along 31Gaius and 32Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling 33companions from 34Macedonia. 30And when Paul wanted to go into the 35assembly, 36the disciples would not let him. 31Also some of the 37Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to 38venture into the theater. 3239So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the 40assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know 41for what reason they had come together. 33Some of the crowd 42concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having 43motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the 44assembly. 34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is 45Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, “Men of 46Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great 47Artemis and of the image which fell down from 48heaven? 36So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. 37For you have brought these men here who are neither 49robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and 5051proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. 39But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the 52lawful 53assembly. 40For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41After saying this he dismissed the 54assembly.