JMNT(i)
23 Now corresponding to that particular situation [in Ephesus] (or: Now during that season) there occurred no slight disturbance (agitation; trouble) about (or: concerning) the Way.
24 You see, a certain silversmith named Demetrius was habitually furnishing a continual supply of no small working profit (or; trade; business for gain; income) to (or: for) the craftsmen (or: artisans) – by constantly making silver temples (or: shrines) of Artemis –
25 whom convening into a crowded body (or: assembly) – as well as the workers and laborers involved with such things (= workers in similar trades) – then says, "Gentlemen! You men continue well knowing and habitually stand upon [the fact] that from out of this trade (vocation; business) is prosperity (a good means of passing through life; = wealth and a high standard of living) for us.
26 "And yet, you folks continue as spectators gazing with contemplation, and you are constantly hearing that not only in regard to Ephesus, but as it pertains to nearly all of the [province] of Asia, this Paul, by persuading, caused a considerable crowd to change positions and stand with a changed opinion, now continually saying that they are not gods which are periodically coming into being (or: existence) by means of [people's] hands.
27 "Now not only this, but the part for us (= the trade done by us) is now progressing in danger (or: peril) to come into discredit (refutation and disrepute), but further, even (or: also) the temple of the great goddess Artemis will come into being logically considered nothing, and reckoned of no account. Besides this, her magnificence – which the whole [district or province of] Asia and the inhabited area [of the empire] continues adoring with godly fear and worship – also proceeds in being about to be progressively pulled (or: brought) down and demolished."
28 Now at hearing these things and coming to be full of rushing and violent emotions (or: impetuous passion leading to indignation and fury) [D adds: then (or: while) running (or: dashing; rushing out forward) into the street], they began crying out, one after another repeatedly saying, "Great [is] Artemis of [the] Ephesians!" (or: they continued making exclamations of entreaty, constantly saying, "O Great Artemis of Ephesus!")
29 So the city came to be filled with the confusion that comes with the actions of a disorderly mob [D reads: And thus the whole city was being poured together with the sense of shame and disgrace]. What is more, with similar emotions and passion they rushed headlong (or: stampeded) into the theater, having suddenly and violently seized and drug away Gaius and Aristarchus – the Macedonian traveling companions of Paul (or: folks traveling abroad with Paul).
30 Now at Paul's persistent desiring and intending to go inside unto the people of the local society, the disciples [D: began preventing (hindering)] [and] continued not letting him [do so].
31 Moreover, even some of the annually elected officials who presided over and funded the public games and religious festivals in the province of Asia [note: called Asiarchs, they acted as high priests of the cult of the goddess Roma, and of the Emperor cult], being friendly to him and having affection for him, were sending [word] to him, continuing in offering assistance, as well as entreating him (= kept on insisting for him) not to give himself unto the theater (or: not to venture into the theater).
32 Indeed, other folks then kept on crying out some other thing – for you see, that called-out group was one having been commingled into a state of confusion, and the majority had not seen, and were thus unaware of, what reason or account they had come together.
33 So folks of the Jews, thrusting him forward, together made Alexander stand out of the crowd. Thus now Alexander, gesturing (or: motioning) downward with [his] hand, was wanting and intending to be defending himself to the people (or: populace).
34 Yet upon recognizing (or: coming to clearly know) that he is a Jew, one voice was birthed (= arose) forth from the midst of all of them, [like a flock of gulls] continuously crying out for about two hours, "Great [is] Artemis of [the] Ephesians (or: O Great Artemis of Ephesus)!"
35 Finally, upon quelling and composing the crowd (or: throng), the city recorder (or: town clerk; [note: this was the chief elected magistrate of the city]) continued saying, "Gentlemen! Ephesians! Now really, who is there of mankind who does not continue with personal, experiential knowledge and insight [that] the city of [the] Ephesians continues being the temple keeper (warden; custodian; sexton; official in charge of keeping the temple clean, decorated and in repair) of the great Artemis, and of the [stone; statue] fallen from Zeus?