Acts 19:24-38

24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of 1Artemis, 2was bringing no little 3business to the craftsmen; 25these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 4depends upon this business. 26You see and hear that not only in 5Ephesus, but in almost all of 67Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that 89gods 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 10Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of 1112Asia and 13the 14world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

28When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is 15Artemis of the 16Ephesians!” 29The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed 17with one accord into the theater, dragging along 18Gaius and 19Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling 20companions from 21Macedonia. 30And when Paul wanted to go into the 22assembly, 23the disciples would not let him. 31Also some of the 24Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to 25venture into the theater. 3226So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the 27assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know 28for what reason they had come together. 33Some of the crowd 29concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having 30motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the 31assembly. 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 32Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, “Men of 33Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great 34Artemis and of the image which fell down from 35heaven? 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 36robbers 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 3738proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another.