Acts 19:21-41

21 Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to 1go to Jerusalem 2after he had passed through 3Macedonia and 4Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, 5I must also see Rome."
22 And having sent into 6Macedonia two of 7those who ministered to him, 8Timothy and 9Erastus, he himself stayed in 10Asia for a while.
23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning 11the Way.
24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, 12was bringing no little business to the craftsmen;
25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends * upon this business.
26 "You see and hear that not only in 13Ephesus, but in almost all of 14Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that 15gods made with hands are no gods at all.
27 "Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of 16Asia and 17the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."
28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the 18Ephesians!"
29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along 19Gaius and 20Aristarchus, Paul's traveling 21companions from 22Macedonia.
30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, 23the disciples would not let him.
31 Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture * into the theater.
32 24So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
33 Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having 25motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
35 After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, "Men of 26Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven?
36 "So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash.
37 "For you have brought these men here who are neither 27robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38 "So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and 28proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another.
39 "But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
40 "For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable * to account * for this disorderly gathering."
41 After saying this he dismissed the assembly.

Cross References 28

  • 1. Acts 20:16, 22; Acts 21:15; Romans 15:25; 2 Corinthians 1:16
  • 2. Acts 20:1; 1 Corinthians 16:5
  • 3. Acts 16:9; Acts 19:22, 29; Romans 15:26; 1 Thessalonians 1:7
  • 4. Acts 18:12
  • 5. Acts 23:11; Romans 15:24, 28
  • 6. Acts 16:9; Acts 19:21, 29
  • 7. Acts 13:5; Acts 19:29; Acts 20:34; 2 Corinthians 8:19
  • 8. Acts 16:1
  • 9. Romans 16:23; 2 Timothy 4:20
  • 10. Acts 19:10
  • 11. Acts 19:9
  • 12. Acts 16:16, 19
  • 13. Acts 18:19
  • 14. Acts 19:10
  • 15. Deuteronomy 4:28; Psalms 115:4; Isaiah 44:10-20; Jeremiah 10:3f; Acts 17:29; 1 Corinthians 8:4; 1 Corinthians 10:19; Revelation 9:20
  • 16. Acts 19:10
  • 17. Matthew 24:14
  • 18. Acts 18:19
  • 19. Acts 20:4
  • 20. Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24
  • 21. Acts 13:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:34; 2 Corinthians 8:19
  • 22. Acts 16:9; Acts 19:22
  • 23. Acts 19:9
  • 24. Acts 21:34
  • 25. Acts 12:17
  • 26. Acts 18:19
  • 27. Romans 2:22
  • 28. Acts 13:7

Footnotes 26

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