Acts 19:20-38

²⁰In this way the word of the Lord grew strong and spread widely.

²¹Some time after this Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing first through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I've been there, I'll have to go to Rome,” he said.

²²He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.

²³It was about this time that serious problems occurred regarding the Way.

²⁴A man called Demetrius, a silversmith, was producing small silver replicas of the temple of the goddess Artemis. This business brought in a great deal of work for such craftsmen.

²⁵Demetrius called them together, along with others who worked in similar trades, and said, “Fellow-workers, you know that it's through this business we make our money.

²⁶As you're no doubt aware from what you've seen and heard—not just here in Ephesus, but throughout almost the whole of Asia—this man Paul has convinced and misled many people, telling them that there are no such things as gods made by human hands.

²⁷It's not just a question that our business will be in danger of losing respect, but that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be considered worthless. Artemis herself would be dethroned from her high position as the one whom everyone in Asia and the whole world worships.”

²⁸When they heard this they became furious, and shouted out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

²⁹The city was in complete chaos. People rushed towards the amphitheatre, dragging along with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions who were from Macedonia.

³⁰Paul thought he should confront the mob, but the other believers would not let him.

³¹Some of the provincial officials, who were Paul's friends, also sent a message begging him not to go into the amphitheatre.

³²Some were shouting one thing, and some something else, for the crowd that had gathered was in total confusion—most of them had no idea why they were there.

³³The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand for them to be quiet, wanting to explain things to the people.

³⁴But when they realized he was a Jew, they all took up a chant that lasted for about two hours, shouting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵After the town clerk had managed to quiet the mob down, he told them, “People of Ephesus, who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven?

³⁶Since these facts can't be denied, you should stay calm—don't do anything rash.

³⁷You have brought these men here, but they haven't robbed any temples or blasphemed against our goddess.

³⁸So if Demetrius and the other craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, then go to the authorities and the courts. They can press charges there.