¹⁶ It happened that as we were going to ^(A)the place of prayer, a slave-girl having ^(B)a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling.

²⁵ these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity ^[a]depends upon this business. ²⁶ You see and hear that not only in ^(A)Ephesus, but in almost all of ^[b](B)Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that ^[c](C)gods made with hands are no gods at all. ²⁷ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess ^[d]Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of ^[e](D)Asia and ^(E)the ^[f]world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

²⁸ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is ^[g]Artemis of the ^(F)Ephesians!” ²⁹ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed ^[h]with one accord into the theater, dragging along ^(G)Gaius and ^(H)Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling ^(I)companions from ^(J)Macedonia. ³⁰ And when Paul wanted to go into the ^[i]assembly, ^(K)the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Also some of the ^[j]Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to ^[k]venture into the theater. ^32 (L)So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the ^[l]assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know ^[m]for what reason they had come together. ³³ Some of the crowd ^[n]concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having ^(M)motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the ^[o]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 ^[p]Artemis of the Ephesians!” ³⁵ After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, “Men of ^(N)Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great ^[q]Artemis and of the image which fell down from ^[r]heaven? 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 ^(O)robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. ³⁸ So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and ^[s](P)proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. ³⁹ But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the ^[t]lawful ^[u]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 cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” ⁴¹ After saying this he dismissed the ^[v]assembly.