Acts 19:31-40

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.

³³But some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom several of the Jewish leaders had pushed to the front, and he waved his hand to show that he wanted to speak in their defense to the people.

³⁴However, when they recognized him as a Jew, one cry broke from them all, and they continued shouting for two hours — “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵When the Recorder had succeeded in quieting the crowd, he said, “People of Ephesus, who is there, I ask you, who needs to be told that this city of Ephesus is the Warden of the Temple of the great Artemis, and of the statue which fell down from Zeus?

³⁶As these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and do nothing rash;

³⁷for you have brought these men here, though they are neither robbers of Temples nor blasphemers of our Goddess.

³⁸If, however, Demetrius and the artisans who are acting with him have a charge to make against anyone, there are court days and there are Magistrates; let both parties take legal proceedings.

³⁹But if you want anything more, it will have to be settled in the regular Assembly.

⁴⁰For I tell you that we are in danger of being proceeded against for today's riot, there being nothing to account for it; and in that case we will be at a loss to give any reason for this disorderly gathering.”