Acts 19:23-41

New American Standard Bible

²³ About that time ^[a]a major disturbance occurred in regard to ^[b](A)the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of ^[c]Artemis, ^(B)was bringing ^[d]considerable ^[e]business to the craftsmen; ²⁵ he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity ^[f]depends upon this business. ²⁶ You see and hear that not only in ^(C)Ephesus, but in almost all of ^[g](D)Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that ^[h](E)gods made by hands are not gods at all. ²⁷ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess ^[i]Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of ^[j](F)Asia and ^(G)the ^[k]world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

²⁸ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began shouting, saying, “Great is ^[l]Artemis of the ^(H)Ephesians!” ²⁹ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging along ^(I)Gaius and ^(J)Aristarchus, Paul’s ^(K)Macedonian traveling ^(L)companions. ³⁰ And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, ^(M)the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Also some of the ^[m]Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him and repeatedly urged him not to ^[n]venture into the theater. ^32 (N)So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the ^[o]assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know ^[p]for what reason they had come together. ³³ Some of the crowd ^[q]concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having ^(O)motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is ^[r]Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵ After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of ^(P)Ephesus, what person is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great ^[s]Artemis and of the image which fell down from ^[t]the sky? ³⁶ So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. ³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither ^(Q)temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. ³⁸ So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and ^[u](R)proconsuls are available; have them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the ^[v]lawful ^[w]assembly. ⁴⁰ For indeed, we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real reason for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹ After saying this he dismissed the ^[x]assembly.