New Testament in a Year
21 ¶ [a]Now when these things were accomplished, Paul purposed by the [b]Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia, and to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
22 So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy, and Erastus, but he remained in Asia for a season.
23 [c]And the same time there arose no small trouble about that way.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius a silversmith, which made silver [d]temples of Diana, brought great gains unto the craftsmen,
25 Whom he called together, with the workmen of like things, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our goods:
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath persuaded, and turned away much people, saying, That they be not Gods which are made with hands.
27 So that not only this thing is dangerous unto us, that this our [e]portion shall be reproved, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be nothing esteemed, and that it would come to pass that her magnificence, which all Asia and the world worshippeth, should be destroyed.
28 Now when they heard it, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was full of confusion, and they rushed into the common place with one assent, and caught (A)Gaius, and (B)Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, and Paul’s companions of his journey.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 [f]Certain also of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not present himself in the Common place.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was out of order, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And some of the company drew forth Alexander, the Jews thrusting him forwards. Alexander then beckoned with the hand, and would have excused the matter to the people.
34 [g]But when they knew that he was a Jew, there arose a shout almost for the space of two hours, of all men, crying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 [h]Then the town clerk when he had stayed the people, said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is it that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image, which [i]came down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that no man can speak against these things, ye ought to be appeased, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which have neither committed sacrilege, neither do blaspheme your goddess.
38 Wherefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him, have a [j]matter against any man, the [k]law is open, and there are [l]Deputies: let them accuse one another.
39 But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it may be determined in a [m]lawful assembly.
40 For we are even in jeopardy to be accused of this day’s sedition, forasmuch as there is no cause, whereby we may give a reason of this concourse of people.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he let the assembly depart.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.