30. Paul wished to go in among the crowd, but the disciples would not permit him to do it.
31. Even some of the Asiarchs (political or religious officials in Asia) who were his friends also sent to him and warned him not to risk venturing into the theater.
32. Now some shouted one thing and some another, for the gathering was in a tumult and most of them did not know why they had come together.
33. Some of the crowd called upon Alexander [to speak], since the Jews had pushed and urged him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, wishing to make a defense and [planning] to apologize to the people.
34. But as soon as they saw him and recognized that he was a Jew, a shout went up from them as the voice of one man, as for about two hours they cried, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!
35. And when the town clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the sacred stone [image of her] that fell from the sky?
36. Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet (keep yourselves in check) and do nothing rashly.
37. For you have brought these men here, who are [guilty of] neither temple robberies nor blasphemous speech about our goddess.