18
Many of those who thus believed came out of the closet and made a clean break with their secret sorceries.
19
All kinds of witches and warlocks came out of the woodwork with their books of spells and incantations and made a huge bonfire of them. Someone estimated their worth at fifty thousand silver coins.
20
In such ways it became evident that the Word of the Master was now sovereign and prevailed in Ephesus.
21
After all this had come to a head, Paul decided it was time to move on to Macedonia and Achaia provinces, and from there to Jerusalem. "Then," he said, "I'm off to Rome. I've got to see Rome!"
22
He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, on to Macedonia while he stayed for a while and wrapped things up in Asia.
23
But before he got away, a huge ruckus occurred over what was now being referred to as "the Way."
24
A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business.
25
He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, "Men, you well know that we have a good thing going here -
26
and you've seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we're doing by telling people that there's no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of people are going along with him, not only here in Ephesus but all through Asia province.
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!