Acts 19:9-41

9But when 1some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of 23the Way before the 4people, he withdrew from them and took 5the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10This took place for 6two years, so that all who lived in 78Asia heard 9the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

11God was performing 10extraordinary 11miracles by the hands of Paul, 1212so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and 13the evil spirits went out. 13But also some of the Jewish 14exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to 15use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had the evil spirits, saying, “I order you in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches!” 14Now there were seven sons of 16Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, doing this. 15But the evil spirit responded and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know of Paul, but who are you?” 16And the man in whom was the evil spirit, pounced on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17This became known to all who lived in 17Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 18Also many of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they added up the prices of 18the books and found it to be fifty thousand 1920pieces of silver. 20So 2122the word of the Lord 23was growing and prevailing mightily.

21Now after these things were finished, Paul resolved in 24the Spirit to 25go to Jerusalem 26after he had passed through 27Macedonia and 28Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, 29I must also see Rome.” 22And after he sent into 30Macedonia two of 31those who assisted him, 32Timothy and 33Erastus, he himself stayed in 3435Asia for a while.

23About that time 36a major disturbance occurred in regard to 3738the Way. 24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of 39Artemis, 40was bringing 41considerable 42business to the craftsmen; 25he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 43depends upon this business. 26You see and hear that not only in 44Ephesus, but in almost all of 4546Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that 4748gods 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 49Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of 5051Asia and 52the 53world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

28When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began shouting, saying, “Great is 54Artemis of the 55Ephesians!” 29The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging along 56Gaius and 57Aristarchus, Paul’s 58Macedonian traveling 59companions. 30And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, 60the disciples would not let him. 31Also some of the 61Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him and repeatedly urged him not to 62venture into the theater. 3263So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the 64assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know 65for what reason they had come together. 33Some of the crowd 66concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having 67motioned 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 68Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, “Men of 69Ephesus, what person is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great 70Artemis and of the image which fell down from 71the 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 72temple 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 7374proconsuls are available; have them bring charges against one another. 39But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the 75lawful 76assembly. 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 77assembly.