19:23 At 1 that time 2 a great disturbance 3 took place concerning the Way. 4 19:24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines 5 of Artemis, 6 brought a great deal 7 of business 8 to the craftsmen. 19:25 He gathered 9 these 10 together, along with the workmen in similar trades, 11 and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 12 comes from this business. 19:26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded 13 and turned away 14 a large crowd, 15 not only in Ephesus 16 but in practically all of the province of Asia, 17 by saying 18 that gods made by hands are not gods at all. 19 19:27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, 20 but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis 21 will be regarded as nothing, 22 and she whom all the province of Asia 23 and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.” 24
19:28 When 25 they heard 26 this they became enraged 27 and began to shout, 28 “Great is Artemis 29 of the Ephesians!” 19:29 The 30 city was filled with the uproar, 31 and the crowd 32 rushed to the theater 33 together, 34 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, 35 the disciples would not let him. 19:31 Even some of the provincial authorities 36 who were his friends sent 37 a message 38 to him, urging him not to venture 39 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. 40 19:33 Some of the crowd concluded 41 it was about 42 Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. 43 Alexander, gesturing 44 with his hand, was wanting to make a defense 45 before the public assembly. 46 19:34 But when they recognized 47 that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, 48 “Great is Artemis 49 of the Ephesians!” for about two hours. 50 19:35 After the city secretary 51 quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person 52 is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper 53 of the temple of the great Artemis 54 and of her image that fell from heaven? 55 19:36 So because these facts 56 are indisputable, 57 you must keep quiet 58 and not do anything reckless. 59 19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers 60 nor blasphemers of our goddess. 61 19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint 62 against someone, the courts are open 63 and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there. 64 19:39 But if you want anything in addition, 65 it will have to be settled 66 in a legal assembly. 67 19:40 For 68 we are in danger of being charged with rioting 69 today, since there is no cause we can give to explain 70 this disorderly gathering.” 71 19:41 After 72 he had said 73 this, 74 he dismissed the assembly. 75