019:024 There was a certain Demetrius, a silversmith, who made miniature
silver sanctuaries of Diana, a business which brought great
gain to the mechanics in his employ.
019:025 He called his workmen together, and others who were engaged
in similar trades, and said to them, "You men well know
that our prosperity depends on this business of ours;
019:026 and you see and hear that, not in Ephesus only but throughout almost the whole province of Asia, this fellow Paul has led away a vast number of people by inducing them to believe that they are not gods at all that are made by men's hands.
019:027 There is danger, therefore, not only that this our trade will become of no account, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will fall into utter disrepute, and that before long she will be actually deposed from her majestic rank— she who is now worshipped by the whole province of Asia; nay, by the whole world."
019:028 After listening to this harangue, they became furiously angry and kept calling out, "Great is the Ephesian Diana!"
019:029 The riot and uproar spread through the whole city, till at last with one accord they rushed into the Theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians who were fellow travellers with Paul.
019:030 Then Paul would have liked to go in and address the people, but the disciples would not let him do so.
019:031 A few of the public officials, too, who were friendly to him,
sent repeated messages entreating him not to venture
into the Theatre.
019:032 The people, meanwhile, kept shouting, some one thing and
some another; for the assembly was all uproar and confusion,
and the greater part had no idea why they had come together.
019:033 Then some of the people crowded round Alexander, whom the Jews
had pushed forward; and Alexander, motioning with his hand
to get silence, was prepared to make a defence to the people.