31
Alsosome of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture* into the theater.
32
1Sothen, 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 2motioned 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!"
35
Afterquieting the crowd, the townclerksaid, "Men of 3Ephesus, whatman is there afterallwho does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the greatArtemis and of the image whichfelldown from heaven?
36
"So, since these are undeniablefacts, you ought to keepcalm and to donothingrash.
37
"For you have broughtthesemen here who are neither4robbers of templesnorblasphemers of our goddess.
38
"Sothen, ifDemetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaintagainstanyman, the courts are in session and 5proconsuls are available; let them bringchargesagainstoneanother.
39
"But if you wantanythingbeyond this, it shall be settled in the lawfulassembly.
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 thisconnection we will be unable* to account* for thisdisorderlygathering."