Acts 19:18-41 ▼

18 many also of those who believed were coming, confessing and declaring their acts,

19 and many of those who had practiced the superfluous arts, having brought the scrolls together, were burning [them] before all; and they reckoned together the prices of them, and found [it] fifty thousand pieces of silver,

20 so powerfully was the word of God increasing and prevailing.

21 And when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in the Spirit, having gone through Macedonia and Achaia, to go on to Jerusalem, saying, “After my being there, it is also necessary for me to see Rome”;

22 and having sent to Macedonia two of those ministering to him—Timotheus and Erastus—he himself stayed a time in Asia.

23 And there came, at that time, not a little stir about The Way,

24 for a certain one, Demetrius by name, a worker in silver, making silver sanctuaries of Artemis, was bringing to the craftsmen not a little gain,

25 whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who worked around such things, he said, “Men, you know that by this work we have our wealth;

26 and you see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost in all Asia, this Paul, having persuaded, turned away a great multitude, saying that they who are made by hands are not gods;

27 and not only is this department in danger for us of coming into disregard, but also, that of the great goddess Artemis, the temple is to be reckoned for nothing, and also her greatness is about to be brought down, whom all Asia and the world worships.”

28 And having heard, and having become full of wrath, they were crying out, saying, “Great [is] the Artemis of the Ephesians!”

29 And the whole city was filled with confusion; they rushed also with one accord into the theater, having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s fellow-travelers.

30 And on Paul’s resolving to enter in to the populace, the disciples were not permitting him,

31 and also some of the chief men of Asia, being his friends, having sent to him, were pleading [with] him not to venture into the theater himself.

32 Some indeed, therefore, were calling out one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the greater part did not know for what they had come together;

33 and out of the multitude they put forward Alexander—the Jews thrusting him forward—and Alexander having beckoned with the hand, wished to make defense to the populace,

34 and having known that he is a Jew, one voice came out of all, for about two hours, crying, “Great [is] the Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 And the public clerk having quieted the multitude, says, “Men, Ephesians, why, who is the man that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of that which fell down from Zeus?

36 These things, then, being undeniable, it is necessary for you to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37 For you brought these men, who are neither temple-robbers nor slandering of your goddess;

38 if indeed, therefore, Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a matter with anyone, court [days] are held, and there are proconsuls; let them accuse one another.

39 And if you seek after anything concerning other matters, it will be determined in the legal assembly;

40 for we are also in peril of being accused of insurrection in regard to this day, there being no occasion by which we will be able to give an account of this concourse”;

41 and having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.