"

When they heard this they were greatly enraged, and shouted, "Great is
Artemis of the Ephesians!" The uproar spread throughout the whole city
until the people all rushed into the theatre, dragging along Gaius and
Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, who were Paul's travelling companions.
Paul wanted to enter the assembly, but the disciples would not let him.
Some of the leading religious officers of the province of Asia, who were
friends of his, also sent messages begging him not to risk going into
the theatre.

Some of the people shouted one thing and some another, for the assembly
was all in confusion, and most of those present did not know why they
had come together. For about two hours they shouted, "Great is Artemis
of the Ephesians!" When the city recorder had quieted the mob, he said:
"Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that this city is
the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the statue that
fell from heaven? As these facts cannot be denied, you should keep calm
and do nothing reckless. You have brought these men here who are
neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. If Demetrius
and his fellow workers have a complaint against anybody, there are the
courts and the Roman officials; let both sides state their charges. But
if there is anything else you want, it must be settled in the regular
assembly. We are indeed in danger of being charged with riot because of
what we have done to-day, for there is no good reason that we can give
for this gathering." With these words he dismissed the assembly.

When the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged
them. Then, after bidding them good-by, he started for Macedonia.

PAUL WRITES TO THE CHRISTIANS AT ROME

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart to
tell God's good news about Jesus Christ our Lord, to all God's loved
ones who are in Rome and have been called to be his people: Love to you,
and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First of all I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because
your faith is reported throughout the whole world. The God whom I serve
with my spirit, as I tell the good news about his Son, is my witness how
often I speak of you in my prayers, asking that at last the way may be
opened for me to come to you, if it is God's will. For I long to see you
that I may give you some spiritual gift, that you may be strengthened;
or r