Acts 19:21-41

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

23About that time 13a major disturbance occurred in regard to 1415the Way. 24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of 16Artemis, 17was bringing 18considerable 19business to the craftsmen; 25he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 20depends upon this business. 26You see and hear that not only in 21Ephesus, but in almost all of 2223Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that 2425gods made by hands are not gods at all. 27Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess 26Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of 2728Asia and 29the 30world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

28When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began shouting, saying, “Great is 31Artemis of the 32Ephesians!” 29The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging along 33Gaius and 34Aristarchus, Paul’s 35Macedonian traveling 36companions. 30And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, 37the disciples would not let him. 31Also some of the 38Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him and repeatedly urged him not to 39venture into the theater. 3240So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the 41assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know 42for what reason they had come together. 33Some of the crowd 43concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having 44motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. 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 person 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 48the sky? 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 49temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and 5051proconsuls are available; have 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 reason for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41After saying this he dismissed the 54assembly.