Demetrius

23About that same time, big trouble started over the Way.

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

24A man named Demetrius worked with silver. He made little silver models of the temple of the goddess Diana. His work brought in a lot of money for the other silver workers.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

NoteDiana was a goddess the people of Ephesus worshiped. Her temple there was huge and famous. Visitors bought small silver models of it to take home. A temple is a big building where people worship a god.

25He called those workers together, along with others in the same kind of trade. He said, "Men, you know this work is how we make our money."

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26"You can see and hear what is happening. This man Paul has talked many people into changing. He says gods made by human hands are not gods at all. He has done this here in Ephesus and almost all over Asia."

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

NoteGods made by human hands means statues that people prayed to.

27"So our trade may lose its good name. Worse, people may stop caring about the temple of the great goddess Diana. She may lose her greatness, even though all Asia and the whole world worship her."

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28When the men heard this, they became very angry. They shouted, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, two men from Macedonia who traveled with Paul. Then they all rushed into the theater together.

And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

NoteA theater was a big open place with stone seats. Thousands of people could sit there. The town used it for meetings too.

30Paul wanted to go in and speak to the crowd. But the followers would not let him.

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31Some important leaders of Asia were Paul's friends. They sent him a message. They begged him not to risk going into the theater.

And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

NoteThese were rich, important men who ran the big city festivals.

32Some people shouted one thing and some another. The whole crowd was mixed up. Most of them did not even know why they had come.

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

33The Jews pushed a man named Alexander to the front of the crowd. He waved his hand for quiet. He wanted to explain things to the people.

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

34But then they saw that he was a Jew. So they all shouted together for about two hours. They kept saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

NoteEphesians means the people who lived in Ephesus.

35At last the city clerk, the town's chief officer, quieted the crowd. He said, "Men of Ephesus, everyone knows our city guards the temple of the great goddess Diana. Everyone knows we guard her image that fell from the sky."

And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

NoteThe King James says the image "fell down from Jupiter." Jupiter was the name of the chief Roman god in the sky. People believed the statue of Diana had dropped down from there.

36"No one can say these things are untrue. So you should stay calm. Do not do anything foolish."

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37"You brought these men here. But they have not robbed our temple. They have not said bad things about our goddess."

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

NoteThe King James says "robbers of churches." That means people who steal from a temple. "Blasphemers" means people who say insulting things about a god.

38"If Demetrius and his workers have a complaint, the courts are open. There are judges to hear it. Let them take each other to court."

Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

NoteThe courts opened only on certain days. The judges were Roman rulers sent to that area.

39"If you want to ask about anything else, it must be settled in a proper meeting."

But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

NoteA proper meeting was a town meeting held on set days, with rules.

40"We could be blamed for the riot today. We have no good reason to give for this noisy crowd."

For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

NoteRome ruled this city. Rome punished towns that let riots happen.

41After he said this, he sent the crowd home.

And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.