27
"Not only is our little business in danger of falling apart, but the temple of our famous goddess Artemis will certainly end up a pile of rubble as her glorious reputation fades to nothing. And this is no mere local matter - the whole world worships our Artemis!"
28
That set them off in a frenzy. They ran into the street yelling, "Great Artemis of the Ephesians!
29
Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" They put the whole city in an uproar, stampeding into the stadium, and grabbing two of Paul's associates on the way, the Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus.
30
Paul wanted to go in, too, but the disciples wouldn't let him.
31
Prominent religious leaders in the city who had become friendly to Paul concurred: "By no means go near that mob!"
32
Some were yelling one thing, some another. Most of them had no idea what was going on or why they were there.
33
As the Jews pushed Alexander to the front to try to gain control, different factions clamored to get him on their side. But he brushed them off and quieted the mob with an impressive sweep of his arms.
34
But the moment he opened his mouth and they knew he was a Jew, they shouted him down: "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" - on and on and on, for over two hours.
35
Finally, the town clerk got the mob quieted down and said, "Fellow citizens, is there anyone anywhere who doesn't know that our dear city Ephesus is protector of glorious Artemis and her sacred stone image that fell straight out of heaven?
36
Since this is beyond contradiction, you had better get hold of yourselves. This is conduct unworthy of Artemis.
37
These men you've dragged in here have done nothing to harm either our temple or our goddess.