Acts 19:23-Acts 20:3 - A Riot In Ephesus
23 Just at that time a great commotion arose about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius was making large profits for his workmen by the manufacture of silver shrines of Artemis. 25 He got the workmen in that and similar trades together, and said to them, "Men, you know that this business is the source of our prosperity, 26 and you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but almost all over Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and drawn away numbers of people, telling them that gods made by human hands are not gods at all. 27 There is danger, therefore, not only that this business of ours will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be neglected and the magnificence of her whom all Asia and the world worship will be a thing of the past!"
28 When they heard this, they became very angry, and cried, "Great Artemis of Ephesus!" 29 So the commotion spread all over the city, and by a common impulse the people rushed to the theater, dragging with them two Macedonians, Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions. 30 Paul wanted to go before the people himself, but the disciples would not allow it. 31 Some of the religious authorities also, who were friends of his, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater. 32 Meanwhile the people were shouting, some one thing and some another, for the meeting was in confusion, and most of them had no idea why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd called upon Alexander, as the Jews had pushed him to the front, and he made a gesture with his hand and was going to speak in defense of them to the people. 34 But when they saw that he was a Jew, a great shout went up from them all, and they cried for two hours, "Great Artemis of Ephesus!"
35 At last the recorder quieted the mob and said, "Men of Ephesus, who in the world does not know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell down from the sky? 36 So as these facts are undeniable, you must be calm, and not do anything reckless. 37 For you have brought these men here, though they have not been guilty of disloyalty nor uttered any blasphemy against our goddess. 38 If Demetrius and his fellow-craftsmen have a charge to bring against anyone, there are the courts and the governors; let them take legal action. 39 But if you require anything beyond that, it must be settled before the regular assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting in connection with today's events, though there is really nothing about this commotion that we will not be able to explain." 41 With these words he dismissed the assembly.
1 When the confusion was over, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them. Then he bade them goodbye and started for Macedonia. 2 After traveling through those districts and giving the people a great deal of encouragement, he went on to Greece 3 where he stayed for three months. Just as he was going to sail for Syria, the Jews made a plot against him, and he made up his mind to return by way of Macedonia.