Acts 19:23-Acts 20:3 - A Riot In Ephesus
23 And about that time, there arose no small tumult concerning the way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silver smith, who made silver shrines of Diana, procured no small gain to the artificers: 25 Whom having gathered together, with the workmen employed in such things, he said, Sirs, ye know, that our maintenance arises from this occupation. 26 But ye see and hear, that not at Ephesus only, but almost through all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned aside much people, saying, That they are not gods, which are made with hands. 27 So that there is danger, not only that this our craft should be set at nought, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia, and the world worshipeth.
28 And hearing this, they were filled with rage, and cried out, saying, The great Diana of the Ephesians. 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion; and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's fellow-travellers. 30 And when Paul would have gone in to the people, the disciples would not suffer him. 31 And some also of the principal officers of Asia, being his friends, sent to him and desired, that he would not venture himself into the theatre. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another; for the assembly was confused, and the greater part did not know, for what they were come together. 33 And they thrust Alexander forward from among the multitude, the Jews pushing him on; and Alexander, waving with his hand, would have made a defence to the people. 34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, one voice arose from them all, crying out, for about two hours, The great Diana of the Ephesians.
35 But the register, having pacified the people, said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not, that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36 Seeing then these things cannot be denied, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37 For ye have brought these men, who are neither robbers of temples, nor blasphemers of your goddess. 38 If then Demetrius and the artificers that are with him, have a charge against any one, the courts are held, and there are proconsuls; let them implead one another. 39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40 And indeed we are in danger to be questioned for sedition, concerning this day; there being no cause, whereby we can account for this concourse. 41 And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
1 And after the tumult was ceased, Paul calling the disciples to him, and having taken his leave of them, departed to go into Macedonia. 2 And having gone through those parts, and exhorted them with much discourse, he came into Greece. 3 And having abode there three months, an ambush being laid for him by the Jews, as he was about to sail into Syria, he determined to return by Macedonia.