Acts 19:21-40

²¹After 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.

²²So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

²³And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

²⁴For a certain man named Demetrius, a silver-smith, who made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain to the artificers;

²⁵Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth:

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

²⁷So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia, and the world worshipeth.

²⁸And when they heard these sayings , they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

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

³⁰And when Paul would have entered in to the people, the disciples suffered him not.

³¹And certain of the chief of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater.

³²Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not why they had come together.

³³And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense to the people.

³⁴But when they knew 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 town-clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

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

³⁷For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

³⁸Wherefore, if Demetrius and the artificers who are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

³⁹But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

⁴⁰For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause by which we may give an account of this concourse.