19:21 Now after all these things had taken place, 29 Paul resolved 30 to go to Jerusalem, 31 passing through Macedonia 32 and Achaia. 33 He said, 34 “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 35 19:22 So after sending 36 two of his assistants, 37 Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, 38 he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia. 39
19:23 At 40 that time 41 a great disturbance 42 took place concerning the Way. 43 19:24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines 44 of Artemis, 45 brought a great deal 46 of business 47 to the craftsmen. 19:25 He gathered 48 these 49 together, along with the workmen in similar trades, 50 and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 51 comes from this business. 19:26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded 52 and turned away 53 a large crowd, 54 not only in Ephesus 55 but in practically all of the province of Asia, 56 by saying 57 that gods made by hands are not gods at all. 58 19:27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, 59 but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis 60 will be regarded as nothing, 61 and she whom all the province of Asia 62 and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.” 63
19:28 When 64 they heard 65 this they became enraged 66 and began to shout, 67 “Great is Artemis 68 of the Ephesians!” 19:29 The 69 city was filled with the uproar, 70 and the crowd 71 rushed to the theater 72 together, 73 dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 19:30 But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, 74 the disciples would not let him. 19:31 Even some of the provincial authorities 75 who were his friends sent 76 a message 77 to him, urging him not to venture 78 into the theater. 19:32 So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together. 79 19:33 Some of the crowd concluded 80 it was about 81 Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. 82 Alexander, gesturing 83 with his hand, was wanting to make a defense 84 before the public assembly. 85 19:34 But when they recognized 86 that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, 87 “Great is Artemis 88 of the Ephesians!” for about two hours. 89 19:35 After the city secretary 90 quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person 91 is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper 92 of the temple of the great Artemis 93 and of her image that fell from heaven? 94 19:36 So because these facts 95 are indisputable, 96 you must keep quiet 97 and not do anything reckless. 98 19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers 99 nor blasphemers of our goddess. 100 19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint 101 against someone, the courts are open 102 and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there. 103 19:39 But if you want anything in addition, 104 it will have to be settled 105 in a legal assembly. 106 19:40 For 107 we are in danger of being charged with rioting 108 today, since there is no cause we can give to explain 109 this disorderly gathering.” 110 19:41 After 111 he had said 112 this, 113 he dismissed the assembly. 114