And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
After the town clerk got everyone to chill out, he was like, 'Listen up, people of Ephesus, everyone knows our city worships the great goddess Diana and that sacred statue that came down from heaven.'
Sometimes you need someone with authority to remind people of what they already know to calm things down.
📚 Historical Context
In the ancient city of Ephesus, a major center in the Roman province of Asia Minor, the worship of the goddess Diana (Artemis in Greek) was a cornerstone of the local economy and culture, with a famous temple dedicated to her. Paul the Apostle had been preaching the Gospel, which threatened the livelihoods of silversmiths who made idols for Diana, leading to a riotous crowd. The town clerk, a civic official, stepped in to calm the people by appealing to their pride in Ephesus's status as a guardian of the goddess and her sacred image.
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