19:21 Now after all these things had taken place, 19 Paul resolved 20 to go to Jerusalem, 21 passing through Macedonia 22 and Achaia. 23 He said, 24 “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 25 19:22 So after sending 26 two of his assistants, 27 Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, 28 he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia. 29
19:23 At 30 that time 31 a great disturbance 32 took place concerning the Way. 33 19:24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines 34 of Artemis, 35 brought a great deal 36 of business 37 to the craftsmen. 19:25 He gathered 38 these 39 together, along with the workmen in similar trades, 40 and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 41 comes from this business. 19:26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded 42 and turned away 43 a large crowd, 44 not only in Ephesus 45 but in practically all of the province of Asia, 46 by saying 47 that gods made by hands are not gods at all. 48 19:27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, 49 but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis 50 will be regarded as nothing, 51 and she whom all the province of Asia 52 and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.” 53
19:28 When 54 they heard 55 this they became enraged 56 and began to shout, 57 “Great is Artemis 58 of the Ephesians!” 19:29 The 59 city was filled with the uproar, 60 and the crowd 61 rushed to the theater 62 together, 63 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, 64 the disciples would not let him. 19:31 Even some of the provincial authorities 65 who were his friends sent 66 a message 67 to him, urging him not to venture 68 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. 69 19:33 Some of the crowd concluded 70 it was about 71 Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. 72 Alexander, gesturing 73 with his hand, was wanting to make a defense 74 before the public assembly. 75 19:34 But when they recognized 76 that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, 77 “Great is Artemis 78 of the Ephesians!” for about two hours. 79 19:35 After the city secretary 80 quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person 81 is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper 82 of the temple of the great Artemis 83 and of her image that fell from heaven? 84 19:36 So because these facts 85 are indisputable, 86 you must keep quiet 87 and not do anything reckless. 88 19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers 89 nor blasphemers of our goddess. 90 19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint 91 against someone, the courts are open 92 and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there. 93 19:39 But if you want anything in addition, 94 it will have to be settled 95 in a legal assembly. 96 19:40 For 97 we are in danger of being charged with rioting 98 today, since there is no cause we can give to explain 99 this disorderly gathering.” 100 19:41 After 101 he had said 102 this, 103 he dismissed the assembly. 104