Acts 19:20-38

²⁰So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.

²¹Now after these things had ended, Paul determined 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.”

²²Having sent into Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

²³About that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.

²⁴For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,

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

²⁶You see and hear that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods that are made with hands.

²⁷Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.”

²⁸When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

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

³⁰When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn’t allow him.

³¹Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.

³²Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn’t know why they had come together.

³³They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people.

³⁴But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for a time of about two hours cried out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?

³⁶Seeing then that these things can’t be denied, you ought to be quiet and to do nothing rash.

³⁷For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.

³⁸If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.