29. The city was thrown into turmoil. They rushed as one into the theater. They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from the province of Macedonia.
30. Paul wanted to appear before the assembly, but the disciples wouldn’t allow him.
31. Even some officials of the province of Asia, who were Paul’s friends, sent word to him, urging him not to risk going into the theater.
32. Meanwhile, the assembly was in a state of confusion. Some shouted one thing, others shouted something else, and most of the crowd didn’t know why they had gathered.
33. The Jews sent Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd directed their words toward him. He gestured that he wanted to offer a defense before the assembly,
34. but when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" This continued for about two hours.