The Way
Great Is Artemis of the Ephesians
A chant that rang out for two hours
Story
Paul decided to go to Jerusalem by way of Macedonia and Achaia. Paul said, “After I have been there, I must see Rome too.” Around that time a silversmith named Demetrius was making a good living by crafting silver models of the temple of Artemis, the goddess of Ephesus. He gathered the craftsmen and said, “This Paul says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. Our trade is in danger, and the temple of our goddess will be looked down on.”
The craftsmen grew furious and shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The whole city was in an uproar. The crowd seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed into the theater. Paul wanted to go out before the crowd, but the disciples stopped him. Some officials of Asia who were Paul's friends also sent word, begging him not to go into the theater.
Most of the people did not even know why they had come together. For two hours the crowd shouted the same words. At last the city clerk calmed the crowd and said, “These men you have brought here have not robbed the temple or insulted our goddess. If you have a complaint, the courts are open. I am afraid we may be charged with rioting because of today.” With that, the city clerk sent the assembly away.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
After I have been there, I must see Rome too.
This man Paul says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all, and he has led many people astray, not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia.
Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!
These men you have brought here have not robbed the temple, and they have not insulted our goddess.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 19:21–41
Background
The theater of Ephesus could seat more than twenty thousand people, and its ruins still stand today. The temple of Artemis at Ephesus was counted among the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
Pause and Reflect
Am I being swept along by the crowd into agreeing with what is wrong?