Acts 19:21-31

English Standard Version

A Riot at Ephesus

²¹ Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit ^(A)to pass through ^(B)Macedonia and Achaia and ^(C)go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, ^(D)I must also see Rome.” ²² And having sent into Macedonia two of ^(E)his helpers, ^(F)Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia ^(G)for a while.

²³ About that time ^(H)there arose no little disturbance concerning ^(I)the Way. ²⁴ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, ^(J)brought no little business to the craftsmen. ^25 (K)These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. ²⁶ And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, ^(L)saying that ^(M)gods made with hands are not gods. ²⁷ And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the ^(N)great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

²⁸ When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, ^(O)“Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and ^(P)Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's ^(Q)companions in travel. ³⁰ But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. ³¹ And even some of the Asiarchs,^[a] who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.