The Riot at Ephesus

During the first century AD, a silversmith named Demetrius, who manufactured silver shrines of Artemis, gathered fellow craftsmen to oppose the ministry of Paul. Demetrius stated that Paul had persuaded many people that gods made with hands are not gods, which threatened their trade and the magnificence of the temple of Artemis (Acts 19:24-27). The text does not say exactly how many craftsmen attended the meeting. Upon hearing this, the assembly was filled with wrath and cried out, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians,' causing the whole city to be filled with confusion (Acts 19:28-29).

The crowd seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia and Paul's companions in travel, and rushed into the theater. Paul intended to enter the assembly, but his disciples and certain officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word desiring that he would not venture into the theater (Acts 19:30-31). The text does not say what physical harm, if any, Gaius or Aristarchus sustained during the seizure. The assembly was in a state of disorder, as some cried one thing and some another, and the majority of those present did not know why they had come together.

The Jews pushed Alexander forward, and he beckoned with his hand to make a defense unto the people. However, when the crowd perceived that he was a Jew, they all cried out with one voice for about two hours, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians' (Acts 19:33-34). Eventually, the town clerk quieted the multitude, stating that the city was a worshipper of the goddess and that the men brought before them were neither robbers of churches nor blasphemers of the goddess. He advised that if Demetrius and the craftsmen had a matter against any man, the law was open and there were deputies to hear the case (Acts 19:35-38).