Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Amid The City-Wide Confusion, Friends of Paul Are Seized

²⁸ And having heard it, and having become full of rage, they were crying-out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ And the city was filled with confusion. And they rushed with-one-accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus— Macedonian fellow-travelers of Paul. ³⁰ And while Paul was wanting to enter into the public-assembly, the disciples were not letting him. ³¹ And even some of the Asian-officials^[a]— being friends with him, having sent to him— were urging him not to give himself to the theater. ³² Then indeed, other ones were crying-out another^[b] thing. For the assembly was confused, and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. ³³ And some from the crowd gave-instructions-to^[c] Alexander— the Jews having put him forward. And Alexander, having waved his hand, was intending to speak-a-defense to the public-assembly. ³⁴ But having recognized that he was a Jew, one voice came^[d] from everyone— crying-out for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

The Town Mayor Calms And Dismisses The Crowd

³⁵ And the town-mayor^[e], having calmed the crowd, says, “Men, Ephesians, who indeed is there of mankind who does not know the city of the Ephesians as being temple-keeper^[f] of the great Artemis, and of the image fallen-from-heaven^[g]? ³⁶ These things then being undeniable, you must continue-being calmed^[h] and doing nothing reckless— ³⁷ for you brought here these men being neither temple-robbers nor ones blaspheming our goddess. ³⁸ So indeed if Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, courts are being led^[i], and there are proconsuls. Let them bring-a-charge against one another. ³⁹ Now if you are seeking-for anything further^[j], it will be settled in the lawful assembly. ⁴⁰ For indeed we are in-danger-of being charged with a riot because of today— there being no cause^[k] for it— in relation to which^[l] we will not be able to render an account for this gathering”. ⁴¹ And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.