Acts 19:25-32

²⁵got these men together, as well as the workmen engaged in similar occupations, and said: “Men, you know that our prosperity depends on this work,

²⁶and you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but in almost the whole of Roman Asia, this Paul has convinced and won over great numbers of people, by his assertion that those Gods which are made by hands are not Gods at all.

²⁷So that not only is this business of ours likely to fall into discredit, but there is the further danger that the Temple of the great Goddess Artemis will be thought nothing of, and that she herself will be deprived of her splendour — though all Roman Asia and the whole world worship her.”

²⁸When they heard this, the men were greatly enraged, and began shouting — “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

²⁹The commotion spread through the whole city, and the people rushed together into the amphitheater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians who were Paul's travelling companions.

³⁰Paul wished to go into the amphitheater and face the people, but the disciples would not let him,

³¹while some of the chief religious officials of the province, who were friendly to him, sent repeated entreaties to him not to trust himself inside.

³²Meanwhile some were shouting one thing and some another, for the Assembly was all in confusion, most of those present not even knowing why they had met.