ACTS 19:19-41

¹⁹And not a few of them that practised curious arts brought their books together, and burned them in the sight of all: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

²⁰So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.

²¹Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

²²And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

²³And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

²⁴For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;

²⁵whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

²⁶And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

²⁷and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

²⁸And when they heard this, they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

²⁹And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.

³⁰And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

³¹And certain also of the chief officers of Asia, being his friends, sent unto him, and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.

³²Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

³³And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people.

³⁴But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

³⁵And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

³⁶Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.

³⁷For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

³⁸If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.

³⁹But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

⁴⁰For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day’s riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.

⁴¹And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.