17 This became known to all who lived in (A)Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 18 Also many of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they added up the prices of [a]the books and found it to be fifty thousand [b](B)pieces of silver. 20 So [c](C)the word of the Lord (D)was growing and prevailing mightily.

21 Now after these things were finished, Paul resolved in [d]the Spirit to (E)go to Jerusalem (F)after he had passed through (G)Macedonia and (H)Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, (I)I must also see Rome.” 22 And after he sent into (J)Macedonia two of (K)those who assisted him, (L)Timothy and (M)Erastus, he himself stayed in [e](N)Asia for a while.

23 About that time [f]a major disturbance occurred in regard to [g](O)the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of [h]Artemis, (P)was bringing [i]considerable [j]business to the craftsmen; 25 he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity [k]depends upon this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in (Q)Ephesus, but in almost all of [l](R)Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that [m](S)gods made by hands are not gods at all. 27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess [n]Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of [o](T)Asia and (U)the [p]world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began shouting, saying, “Great is [q]Artemis of the (V)Ephesians!” 29 The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging along (W)Gaius and (X)Aristarchus, Paul’s (Y)Macedonian traveling (Z)companions. 30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, (AA)the disciples would not let him. 31 Also some of the [r]Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him and repeatedly urged him not to [s]venture into the theater. 32 (AB)So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the [t]assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know [u]for what reason they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd [v]concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having (AC)motioned 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 [w]Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of (AD)Ephesus, what person is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great [x]Artemis and of the image which fell down from [y]the sky? 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 (AE)temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and [z](AF)proconsuls are available; have them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the [aa]lawful [ab]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 reason for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41 After saying this he dismissed the [ac]assembly.

Paul in Macedonia and Greece

20 After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for (AG)the disciples, and when he had [ad]encouraged them and taken his leave of them, he left (AH)to go to (AI)Macedonia.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 19:19 Lit them
  2. Acts 19:19 Prob. Greek drachmas; a drachma was a day’s wages for a laborer
  3. Acts 19:20 Or according to the power of the Lord the word was growing
  4. Acts 19:21 Or his spirit
  5. Acts 19:22 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  6. Acts 19:23 Lit no small
  7. Acts 19:23 See John 14:6
  8. Acts 19:24 Lat Diana
  9. Acts 19:24 Lit no little
  10. Acts 19:24 Or profit
  11. Acts 19:25 Lit is from
  12. Acts 19:26 See note v 22
  13. Acts 19:26 Lit those
  14. Acts 19:27 Lat Diana
  15. Acts 19:27 See note v 22
  16. Acts 19:27 Lit the inhabited earth
  17. Acts 19:28 Lat Diana
  18. Acts 19:31 I.e., political or religious officials of the province of Asia
  19. Acts 19:31 Lit give himself
  20. Acts 19:32 Gr ekklesia
  21. Acts 19:32 Or on whose account
  22. Acts 19:33 Or advised Alexander
  23. Acts 19:34 Lat Diana
  24. Acts 19:35 Lat Diana
  25. Acts 19:35 Lit Zeus; Lat Jupiter
  26. Acts 19:38 Or provincial governors
  27. Acts 19:39 Or regular
  28. Acts 19:39 Gr ekklesia
  29. Acts 19:41 Gr ekklesia
  30. Acts 20:1 Or exhorted

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