Acts 19:35

King James Version (KJV)

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?

Translations

Acts 19:35 - Amplified Bible

And when the town clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the sacred stone [image of her] that fell from the sky?

Acts 19:35 - American Standard Version

And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

Acts 19:35 - Bible in Basic English

And when the chief secretary had got the people quiet, he said, Men of Ephesus, is any man without knowledge that the town of Ephesus is the keeper of the holy place of the great Diana, who was sent down from Jupiter?

Acts 19:35 - Darby Bible

And the townclerk, having quieted the crowd, said, Ephesians, what man is there then who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of Artemis the great, and of the [image] which fell down from heaven?

Acts 19:35 - English Standard Version

And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?

Acts 19:35 - King James Version

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?

Acts 19:35 - La Biblia de las Americas

Entonces el secretario (I.e., secretario municipal que presidìa las asambleas populares), después de calmar a la multitud, dijo*: Ciudadanos de Efeso, ¿hay acaso algùn hombre que no sepa que la ciudad de los efesios es guardiana del templo de la gran Diana y de la imagen que descendiò del cielo?

Acts 19:35 - The Message

Finally, the town clerk got the mob quieted down and said, "Fellow citizens, is there anyone anywhere who doesn’t know that our dear city Ephesus is protector of glorious Artemis and her sacred stone image that fell straight out of heaven? Since this is beyond contradiction, you had better get hold of yourselves. This is conduct unworthy of Artemis. These men you’ve dragged in here have done nothing to harm either our temple or our goddess.

Acts 19:35 - New American Standard Bible

After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the {image} which fell down from heaven?

Acts 19:35 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Entonces el secretario (que presidìa las asambleas populares), después de calmar a la multitud, dijo: "Ciudadanos de Efeso, ¿hay acaso algùn hombre que no sepa que la ciudad de los Efesios es guardiana del templo de la gran Diana y de la imagen que descendiò del cielo?

Acts 19:35 - World English Bible

When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, "You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn`t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?

Acts 19:35 - Young's Living Translation

And the public clerk having quieted the multitude, saith, `Men, Ephesians, why, who is the man that doth not know that the city of the Ephesians is a devotee of the great goddess Artemis, and of that which fell down from Zeus?

Acts 19:35 - Additional Comments

The "image which fell down" was likely a reference to a meteorite that was regarded as divine, they had been placed in the temple for veneration and worship. This object was considered proof that Artemis (Diana) was a great and powerful goddess.
The city clerk was probably a Roman, which may have given him more weight to get the people to listen to him.
If they had failed to control the city, Rome would have had to intervene, removing officials from office, and probably putting martial law in effect, greatly limiting their freedoms.
It is amazing that this Roman was using the law to protect Christians in this most idolatrous region in Asia. This probably was because he didn't care about the faiths, but of civil peace.

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