Acts 19:29-41 ▼

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.