“Great Is Artemis”

²³Around that time, a major disturbance arose concerning the Way. ²⁴A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines for Diana, brought considerable profit to the craftsmen. ²⁵He gathered them together along with workers in related trades and said, "Men, you know that our wealth comes from this business. ²⁶And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus but throughout nearly all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that things made with hands are not gods. ²⁷There is danger not only that our trade will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be despised, and her magnificence will be destroyed — she whom all Asia and the world worship." ²⁸When they heard this, they were filled with rage and began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ²⁹The whole city was filled with confusion. They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed with one accord into the theater. ³⁰Paul wanted to go in before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. ³¹Some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, also sent word to him, urging him not to venture into the theater. ³²Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. ³³The Jews pushed Alexander forward out of the crowd. Alexander motioned with his hand and tried to make a defense before the people. ³⁴But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ³⁵When the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "People of Ephesus, who doesn't know that the city of Ephesus is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana and of the image that fell down from Jupiter? ³⁶Since these things are undeniable, you should calm down and not do anything rash. ³⁷You have brought these men here, yet they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸So if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls — let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹But if you have anything further to raise, it must be settled in a lawful assembly. ⁴⁰For we are in danger of being called to account for this day's uproar, since there is no cause we can give to explain this gathering. ⁴¹After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.