The Early Church

(And there were certaine sonnes of Sceua a Iewe, the Priest, about seuen which did this)

And the euil spirit answered, and said, Iesus I acknowledge, and Paul I know: but who are ye?

And the man in whome the euil spirit was, ranne on them, and ouercame them, and preuailed against them, so that they fledde out of that house, naked, and wounded.

And this was knowen to all the Iewes and Grecians also, which dwelt at Ephesus, and feare came on them all, and the Name of the Lord Iesus was magnified,

And many that beleeued, came and confessed, and shewed their workes.

Many also of them which vsed curious artes, brought their bookes, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fiftie thousand pieces of siluer.

So the worde of God grewe mightily, and preuailed.

Nowe when these things were accomplished, Paul purposed by the Spirite to passe through Macedonia and Achaia, and to goe to Hierusalem, saying, After I haue bene there, I must also see Rome.

So sent hee into Macedonia two of them that ministred vnto him, Timotheus and Erastus, but he remained in Asia for a season.

And the same time there arose no small trouble about that way.

For a certaine man named Demetrius a siluersmith, which made siluer temples of Diana, brought great gaines vnto the craftesmen,

Whom he called together, with the workemen of like things, and saide, Syrs, ye knowe that by this craft we haue our goods:

Moreouer ye see and heare, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath perswaded, and turned away much people, saying, That they be not gods which are made with handes.

So that not onely this thing is dangerous vnto vs, that this our portion shall be reproued, but also that the temple of the great goddesse Diana should be nothing esteemed, and that it would come to passe that her magnificence, which all Asia and the world worshippeth, should be destroyed.

Now when they heard it, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And the whole citie was full of confusion, and they rushed into the common place with one assent, and caught Gaius, and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, and Pauls companions of his iourney.

And when Paul would haue entred in vnto the people, the disciples suffred him not.

Certaine also of the chiefe of Asia which were his friendes, sent vnto him, desiring him that hee woulde not present him selfe in the Common place.

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assemblie was out of order, and the more part knewe not wherefore they were come together.

And some of the company drew foorth Alexander, the Iewes thrusting him forwards. Alexander then beckened with the hande, and woulde haue excused the matter to the people.

But when they knew that he was a Iewe, there arose a shoute almost for the space of two houres, of all men crying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Then the towne clearke when hee had stayed the people, saide, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is it that knoweth not howe that the citie of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddesse Diana, and of the image, which came downe from Iupiter?

Seeing then that no man can speake against these things, ye ought to be appeased, and to doe nothing rashly.

For yee haue brought hither these men, which haue neither committed sacrilege, neither doe blaspheme your goddesse.

Wherefore, if Demetrius and the craftes men which are with him, haue a matter against any man, the lawe is open, and there are Deputies: let them accuse one another.