Acts 19:31-40
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 19
31Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. 32So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. 33Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. 34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' 35After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, 'Men of Ephesus, what person is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from the sky? 36So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. 37For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; have them bring charges against one another. 39But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. 40For indeed, we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real reason for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.'King James Version
Chapter 19
31And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. 32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. 33And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. 34But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. 38Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. 39But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 19
31Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture into the amphitheater. 32Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33Some Jews in the crowd gave instructions to Alexander after they pushed him to the front. Motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people. 34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! "
35When the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, "People of Ephesus! What person is there who doesn't know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven?
36Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash.
37For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess.
38So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
39But if you seek anything further, it must be decided in a legal assembly.
40In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disturbance."
New Living Translation
32Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there.
33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak.
34But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for about two hours: 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'
35At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. 'Citizens of Ephesus,' he said. 'Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven.
36Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash.
37You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.
38If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges.
39And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly.
40I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 19
31And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?
36Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.
37For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
39But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
40For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.”
New International Version
32The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.
33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people.
34But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'
35The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: 'Fellow Ephesians, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?
36Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash.
37You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess.
38If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.
39If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly.
40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.'
New King James Version
Chapter 19
31Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. 32Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. 34But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
35And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
36Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.
37For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
38Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
39But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.
40For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”
