Acts 19:23-41

21st Century King James Version

²³ And the same time, there arose no small stir about that Way.

²⁴ For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen.

²⁵ These he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

²⁶ Moreover, ye see and hear that, not alone at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands,

²⁷ so that not only this our craft is in danger of being set at nought, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshipeth.”

²⁸ And when they heard these things, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

²⁹ And the whole city was filled with confusion and, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia who were Paul’s companions in his travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater.

³⁰ And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

³¹ And certain of the Asian chiefs, who were his friends, sent unto him, urging that he would not venture into the theater.

³² Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the greater part knew not why they had come together.

³³ And they drew Alexander out from the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made his defense unto the people;

³⁴ but when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice for about the space of two hours cried out, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

³⁵ And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, “Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

³⁶ Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly;

³⁷ for ye have brought hither these men who are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

³⁸ Therefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against any man, the law is open and there are deputies. Let them implead one another.

³⁹ But if ye inquire of anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

⁴⁰ For we are in danger of being called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we can give an account of this concourse.”

⁴¹ And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.