Acts 19:23-41

Legacy Standard Bible

²³ Now about that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning ^(A)the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of ^[a]Artemis, ^(B)was bringing no little ^[b]business to the craftsmen; ²⁵ these he gathered together with the workers of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear that not only in ^(C)Ephesus, but in almost all of ^(D)Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable crowd, saying that ^(E)things made with hands are not gods. ²⁷ And not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess ^[c]Artemis be considered as worthless and that she, whom all of ^(F)Asia and ^(G)the ^[d]world worship, is even about to be brought down from her majesty.”

²⁸ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is ^[e]Artemis of the ^(H)Ephesians!” ²⁹ And the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed ^[f]with one accord into the theater, dragging along ^(I)Gaius and ^(J)Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling ^(K)companions from ^(L)Macedonia. ³⁰ And when Paul wanted to go into the ^[g]assembly, ^(M)the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Also some of the ^[h]Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to ^[i]venture into the theater. ^32 (N)So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the ^[j]meeting was in confusion and the majority did not know ^[k]for what reason they had come together. ³³ And some of the crowd ^[l]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 ^[m]assembly. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single cry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ³⁵ Now after calming the crowd, the city clerk *said, “Men of ^(P)Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? 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)robbers of temples 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 ^[n](R)proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the ^[o]lawful meeting. ⁴⁰ For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no cause for which we can give as an account for this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹ After saying this he dismissed the meeting.