A Riot at Ephesus

Acts 19

21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit u to pass through v Macedonia and Achaia and w go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, x I must also see Rome." 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of y his helpers, z Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia a for a while.

23 About that time b there arose no little disturbance concerning c the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, d brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 d These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, e saying that f gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the g great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship."

28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, g "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and h Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's i companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, 1 who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 j Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, k motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, l "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from m the sky? 2 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought n these men here who are neither o sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are p proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, 3 it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion." 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 16:5
    I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia.
    Acts 20:1
    After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 15:26
    For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
    1 Thessalonians 1:7 - 8
    So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 20:16
    For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
    Acts 20:22
    And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there.
    Romans 15:25
    At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.
    2 Corinthians 1:16
    I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea.
    1 Corinthians 16:3 - 4
    And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 15:24
    I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
    Romans 15:28
    When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.
    Acts 23:11
    The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.
    Romans 1:13
    I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
  5. Cross References
    Colossians 4:7
    Tychicus will tell you all about my activities....
    2 Timothy 1:18
    May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the L...
    2 Timothy 4:11
    Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him w...
    Philemon 1:13
    I would have been glad to keep him with me, in ...
    Acts 19:29
    So the city was filled with the confusion, and ...
    Acts 13:5
    When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed t...
  6. Cross References
    Acts 16:1
    Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
  7. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 16:8 - 9
    But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost.
  8. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:8
    For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
  9. Cross References
    Acts 19:9
    But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.
  10. Cross References
    Acts 16:16
    As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
    Acts 16:19
    But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 19:24
    For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.
  12. Cross References
    Acts 14:15
    Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
    Acts 17:29
    Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.
    1 Corinthians 8:4
    Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one.
  13. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 4:28
    And there you will serve gods of wood and stone...
    2 Kings 19:18
    And have cast their gods into the fire, for the...
    Psalms 115:4
    Their idols are silver and gold, the work of hu...
    Isaiah 44:10 - 20
    Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is pro...
    Jeremiah 10:3 - 6
    For the customs of the peoples are vanity. A tr...
    Revelation 9:20
    The rest of mankind, who were not killed by the...
  14. Cross References
    Acts 8:10
    They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the power of God that is called Great.
  15. Cross References
    Acts 19:27
    And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.
  16. Cross References
    Acts 20:4
    Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.
    Acts 27:2
    And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.
    Colossians 4:10
    Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions - if he comes to you, welcome him).
    Philemon 1:24
    And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
  17. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 8:19
    And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will.
    Acts 19:22
    And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
    Acts 20:34
    You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
  18. Cross References
    Acts 21:34
    Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
  19. Cross References
    Acts 12:17
    But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, "Tell these things to James and to the brothers." Then he departed and went to another place.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 19:28
    When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!
  21. Cross References
    Acts 14:12
    Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
  22. Cross References
    Acts 19:29
    So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel.
  23. Cross References
    Romans 2:22
    You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
  24. Cross References
    Acts 13:7
    He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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