Demetrius (silversmith in Ephesus)
The Silversmith Who Stirred Up a Riot
Demetrius was a silversmith in Ephesus who made silver shrines of the goddess Artemis. He feared that the apostle Paul's preaching would ruin their trade and the worship of Artemis, so he organized a riot against the Christians in the city.
Événements clés
Organizing the Craftsmen
Demetrius gathered the silversmiths and other craftsmen who made shrines of Artemis, warning them that Paul's preaching threatened their livelihood and the honor of the goddess Artemis.
24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a good deal of work for the craftsmen.
Δημήτριος γάρ τις ὀνόματι, ἀργυροκόπος, ποιῶν ναοὺς ἀργυροῦς Ἀρτέμιδος παρείχετο τοῖς τεχνίταις ⸂οὐκ ὀλίγην ἐργασίαν⸃,
25He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: "Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business.
οὓς συναθροίσας καὶ τοὺς περὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἐργάτας εἶπεν· Ἄνδρες, ἐπίστασθε ὅτι ἐκ ταύτης τῆς ἐργασίας ἡ εὐπορία ⸀ἡμῖν ἐστιν,
26"And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and misled a great many people, saying that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.
καὶ θεωρεῖτε καὶ ἀκούετε ὅτι οὐ μόνον Ἐφέσου ἀλλὰ σχεδὸν πάσης τῆς Ἀσίας ὁ Παῦλος οὗτος πείσας μετέστησεν ἱκανὸν ὄχλον, λέγων ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν θεοὶ οἱ διὰ χειρῶν γινόμενοι.
27Not only is our trade in danger of falling into disrepute, but the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be discredited, and she herself, whom all Asia and the whole world worships, may be stripped of her majesty."
οὐ μόνον δὲ τοῦτο κινδυνεύει ἡμῖν τὸ μέρος εἰς ἀπελεγμὸν ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ τῆς μεγάλης θεᾶς ⸂Ἀρτέμιδος ἱερὸν⸃ εἰς οὐθὲν λογισθῆναι, μέλλειν ⸀τε καὶ καθαιρεῖσθαι ⸂τῆς μεγαλειότητος⸃ αὐτῆς, ἣν ὅλη ἡ Ἀσία καὶ ἡ οἰκουμένη σέβεται.
Starting the Riot in Ephesus
Demetrius' speech stirred up anger among the craftsmen, and they began shouting, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!' This led to a chaotic riot in the city.
28When they heard this, they were filled with rage and began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
Ἀκούσαντες δὲ καὶ γενόμενοι πλήρεις θυμοῦ ἔκραζον λέγοντες· Μεγάλη ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων.
29The city was thrown into confusion, and they rushed as one into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions.
καὶ ἐπλήσθη ἡ ⸀πόλις τῆς συγχύσεως, ὥρμησάν τε ὁμοθυμαδὸν εἰς τὸ θέατρον συναρπάσαντες Γάϊον καὶ Ἀρίσταρχον Μακεδόνας, συνεκδήμους Παύλου.
The Riot at the Theater
The crowd rushed into the great theater in Ephesus and seized Paul's traveling companions Gaius and Aristarchus. The confusion was so great that most did not know why they had gathered.
29The city was thrown into confusion, and they rushed as one into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions.
καὶ ἐπλήσθη ἡ ⸀πόλις τῆς συγχύσεως, ὥρμησάν τε ὁμοθυμαδὸν εἰς τὸ θέατρον συναρπάσαντες Γάϊον καὶ Ἀρίσταρχον Μακεδόνας, συνεκδήμους Παύλου.
30Paul wanted to go before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.
⸂Παύλου δὲ⸃ βουλομένου εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν δῆμον οὐκ εἴων αὐτὸν οἱ μαθηταί·
31Even some of the officials of Asia who were his friends sent word to him, urging him not to venture into the theater.
τινὲς δὲ καὶ τῶν Ἀσιαρχῶν, ὄντες αὐτῷ φίλοι, πέμψαντες πρὸς αὐτὸν παρεκάλουν μὴ δοῦναι ἑαυτὸν εἰς τὸ θέατρον.
32Meanwhile some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in an uproar, and most of them had no idea why they had come together.
ἄλλοι μὲν οὖν ἄλλο τι ἔκραζον, ἦν γὰρ ἡ ἐκκλησία συγκεχυμένη, καὶ οἱ πλείους οὐκ ᾔδεισαν τίνος ἕνεκα συνεληλύθεισαν.
The City Clerk Calms the Riot
The city clerk of Ephesus calmed the crowd and warned them that the Romans could accuse them of rioting. He urged Demetrius to use the legal courts if he had any complaints.
35Then the city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, is there anyone who does not know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven?
καταστείλας δὲ ⸂ὁ γραμματεὺς τὸν ὄχλον⸃ φησίν· Ἄνδρες Ἐφέσιοι, τίς γάρ ἐστιν ⸀ἀνθρώπων ὃς οὐ γινώσκει τὴν Ἐφεσίων πόλιν νεωκόρον οὖσαν τῆς ⸀μεγάλης Ἀρτέμιδος καὶ τοῦ διοπετοῦς;
36Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to calm down and do nothing rash.
ἀναντιρρήτων οὖν ὄντων τούτων δέον ἐστὶν ὑμᾶς κατεσταλμένους ὑπάρχειν καὶ μηδὲν προπετὲς πράσσειν.
37For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
ἠγάγετε γὰρ τοὺς ἄνδρας τούτους οὔτε ἱεροσύλους οὔτε βλασφημοῦντας τὴν θεὸν ⸀ἡμῶν.
38If Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a charge against anyone, there are courts in session and there are proconsuls; let them bring their charges there.
εἰ μὲν οὖν Δημήτριος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τεχνῖται ἔχουσιν πρός τινα λόγον, ἀγοραῖοι ἄγονται καὶ ἀνθύπατοί εἰσιν, ἐγκαλείτωσαν ἀλλήλοις.
39And if you are seeking anything further, it can be settled in a lawful assembly.
εἰ δέ τι ⸀περαιτέρω ἐπιζητεῖτε, ἐν τῇ ἐννόμῳ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐπιλυθήσεται.
40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting over today's events, since there is no reason for it and we would not be able to give any account of this commotion." With that he dismissed the assembly.
καὶ γὰρ κινδυνεύομεν ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως περὶ τῆς σήμερον μηδενὸς αἰτίου ὑπάρχοντος περὶ οὗ οὐ δυνησόμεθα ⸀ἀποδοῦναι λόγον ⸀περὶ τῆς συστροφῆς ταύτης. καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν ἀπέλυσεν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν.