19. Large numbers of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them up in the presence of everyone. When the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins.
20. In this way the word of the Lord continued to grow in power and to prevail.
21. Now after all these things had taken place, Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. He said, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
22. So after sending two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.
23. At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the Way.
24. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought a great deal of business to the craftsmen.
25. He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business.
26. And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia, by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.
27. There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”
28. When they heard this they became enraged and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29. The city was filled with the uproar, and the crowd rushed to the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.
30. But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, the disciples would not let him.
31. Even some of the provincial authorities who were his friends sent a message to him, urging him not to venture into the theater.