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A Riot in Ephesus

23 Now about that time a great commotion broke out concerning the Way. 24 By making silver shrines of Artemis, a silversmith named Demetrius provided a large income for skilled workers. 25 He called a meeting of these men and others who were engaged in similar trades and said, “Men, you well know that we get a good income from this business. 26 You also see and hear that, not only in Ephesus, but almost all over Asia, this man Paul has won over and taken away a large crowd by telling them that gods made by human[a] hands are not gods at all. 27 There is a danger not only that our business will lose its reputation but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be brought into disrepute and that she will be robbed of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.”

28 When they heard this, they became furious and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with confusion, and the people[b] rushed into the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s fellow travelers from Macedonia. 30 Paul wanted to go into the crowd, but the disciples wouldn’t let him. 31 Even some officials of the province of Asia who were his friends sent him a message urging him not to risk his life in the theater.

32 Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and some another, since the crowd was confused, and most of them didn’t know why they were meeting. 33 Some of the crowd concluded it was because of Alexander, since the Jews had pushed him to the front. So Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, they all started to shout in unison for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 When the city recorder had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who in the world[c] doesn’t know that this city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell down from heaven?[d] 36 Since these things cannot be denied, you must be quiet and not do anything reckless. 37 For you have brought these men here, although they neither rob temples nor blaspheme our[e] goddess. 38 So if Demetrius and his workers have a charge against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They should accuse one another there. 39 But if you want anything else, it must be settled in the regular assembly, 40 because we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, and there is no good reason we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:26 The Gk. lacks human
  2. Acts 19:29 Lit. they
  3. Acts 19:35 Lit. who among people
  4. Acts 19:35 Or from Zeus
  5. Acts 19:37 Other mss. read your

23 About kata that ekeinos time kairos there broke out ginomai · de · ho no ou little oligos disturbance tarachos concerning peri the ho Way hodos. 24 For gar a man tis named onoma Demetrius Dēmētrios, a silversmith argyrokopos, who made poieō silver argyrous shrines naos of Artemis Artemis, brought parechō no ou little oligos business ergasia to the ho craftsmen technitēs. 25 He called them hos together synathroizō with kai · ho workmen ergatēs in peri · ho similar toioutos trades, and said legō, “ Men anēr, you know epistamai that hoti from ek this houtos · ho trade ergasia · ho prosperity euporia comes eimi to us hēmeis. 26 And kai you see theōreō and kai hear akouō that hoti not ou only monon in Ephesus Ephesos but alla in almost schedon all pas of ho Asia Asia · ho this houtos Paul Paulos has persuaded peithō and turned methistēmi away a considerable hikanos number ochlos of people , saying legō that hoti gods ho made ginomai by dia hand cheir are eimi not ou gods theos at all. 27 There is danger kindyneuō not ou only monon · de that this houtos trade meros of ours hēmeis · ho will fall erchomai into eis disrepute apelegmos, but alla also kai that the ho temple hieron of the ho great megas goddess thea Artemis Artemis is in danger of being regarded logizomai as eis worthless outheis and te her autos magnificence megaleiotēs in danger of mellō · kai being destroyed kathaireō, · ho she whom hos all holos · ho Asia Asia and kai the ho world oikoumenē worship sebō.”

28 When they heard akouō · de · kai this, they were ginomai filled plērēs with anger thumos and began to cry krazō out , saying legō, “ Great megas is · ho Artemis Artemis of the Ephesians Ephesios!” 29 So kai the ho city polis was filled pimplēmi with the ho confusion synchusis, and te they rushed hormaō with a single homothumadon purpose into eis the ho theater theatron, dragging synarpazō with them Gaius Gaios and kai Aristarchus Aristarchos, Macedonians Makedōn, traveling-companions synekdēmos of Paul Paulos. 30 But de when Paul Paulos wanted boulomai to go eiserchomai in among eis the ho people dēmos, the ho disciples mathētēs would not ou let eaō him autos. 31 And de also kai some tis of the ho Asiarchs Asiarchēs, being eimi friendly philos to him autos, sent pempō to pros him autos and urged parakaleō him not to commit didōmi himself heautou to eis the ho theater theatron. 32 So then oun some allos were shouting krazō one allos thing tis, some another, for gar the ho assembly ekklēsia was eimi in confusion syncheō, and kai · ho most polys of them did not ou know oida why tis they had assembled synerchomai. 33 And de some ek of the ho crowd ochlos prompted symbibazō Alexander Alexandros, the ho Jews Ioudaios pushing proballō him autos forward. · ho And de Alexander Alexandros motioned kataseiō with his ho hand cheir and wanted thelō to make apologeomai a defense to the ho crowd dēmos. 34 But de when they recognized epiginōskō that hoti he was eimi a Jew Ioudaios, a single heis cry phōnē went ginomai up from ek them pas all as hōs they cried out krazō for about epi two dyo hours hōra, “ Great megas is · ho Artemis Artemis of the Ephesians Ephesios!” 35 And de when the ho city clerk grammateus had quieted katastellō the ho crowd ochlos, he said phēmi, “ Men anēr of Ephesus Ephesios, what tis man anthrōpos is eimi there who hos does not ou know ginōskō that the ho city polis of the Ephesians Ephesios is eimi the temple neōkoros keeper of the ho great megas Artemis Artemis and kai of ho her image that fell from heaven diopetēs? 36 So oun, since these things houtos are eimi indisputable anantirrētos, you hymeis must dei eimi be hyparchō quiet katastellō and kai do prassō nothing mēdeis rash propetēs. 37 For gar you have brought agō · ho these houtos men anēr, who are neither oute temple hierosylos robbers nor oute blasphemers blasphēmeō against · ho our hēmeis goddess theos. 38 If ei then oun Demetrius Dēmētrios and kai the ho craftsmen technitēs with syn him autos have echō a complaint logos against pros anyone tis, the courts agoraios are open agō, and kai there are eimi proconsuls anthypatos. Let them bring charges enkaleō against one allēlōn another there. 39 But de if ei you want epizēteō anything tis in addition peraiterō, it shall be settled epilyō in en the ho legal ennomos assembly ekklēsia. 40 For gar indeed kai we are in danger kindyneuō of being charged enkaleō in connection peri with this ho day’ s sēmeron riot stasis, there being hyparchō no mēdeis cause aitios for peri it hos; and we will not ou be able dynamai to give apodidōmi an explanation logos for peri · ho this houtos commotion systrophē.” And kai having said legō this houtos, he dismissed apolyō the ho assembly ekklēsia.

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