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For a mannamedDemetrius, a silversmith, who madesilvershrines of Artemis, 1was bringingnolittlebusiness to the craftsmen;
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these he gatheredtogether with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperitydepends* upon thisbusiness.
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"You see and hear that not only in 2Ephesus, but in almostall of 3Asia, thisPaul has persuaded and turnedaway a considerablenumber of people, saying that 4gods made with hands are nogods at all.
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"Not only is there danger that thistrade of oursfall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the greatgoddessArtemis be regarded as worthless and that she whomall of 5Asia and 6the worldworship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."
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When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the 7Ephesians!"
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The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with oneaccord into the theater, draggingalong8Gaius and 9Aristarchus, Paul'straveling10companions from 11Macedonia.
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And when Paulwanted to go into the assembly, 12the disciples would not let him.
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Alsosome of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture* into the theater.
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13Sothen, some were shoutingone thing and someanother, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for whatreason they had cometogether.
33
Some of the crowdconcluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having 14motioned 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 outcryarose from them all as they shouted for abouttwohours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"