Acts 19:23-40

23About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning 1the Way. 24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of 2Artemis, 3was bringing no little 4business to the craftsmen; 25these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 5depends upon this business. 26You see and hear that not only in 6Ephesus, but in almost all of 78Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that 910gods 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 11Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of 1213Asia and 14the 15world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

28When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is 16Artemis of the 17Ephesians!” 29The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed 18with one accord into the theater, dragging along 19Gaius and 20Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling 21companions from 22Macedonia. 30And when Paul wanted to go into the 23assembly, 24the disciples would not let him. 31Also some of the 25Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to 26venture into the theater. 3227So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the 28assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know 29for what reason they had come together. 33Some of the crowd 30concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having 31motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the 32assembly. 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 33Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, “Men of 34Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great 35Artemis and of the image which fell down from 36heaven? 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 37robbers 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 3839proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. 39But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the 40lawful 41assembly. 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.”