How does Ephesian ministry lead to confession and the theatre tumult?

While Apollo is at Corinth, Paul passes through the upper coasts to Ephesus and finds disciples. Asked whether they received the Holy Ghost since believing, they say they have not heard whether there is one and identify their baptism as John’s. Paul explains John’s baptism of penance and direction to believe in the coming Jesus. They are baptized in the Lord Jesus’s name. Paul imposes hands, the Holy Ghost comes, and they speak with tongues and prophesy. There are about twelve men.

Paul disputes boldly and exhorts about the kingdom in the synagogue for three months. When some harden, disbelieve and publicly speak evil of the Lord’s way, he separates the disciples and disputes daily in Tyrannus’s school. This continues two years, so Asian Jews and Gentiles hear the word. God performs more than common miracles through Paul: handkerchiefs and aprons brought from his body to the sick are followed by departing diseases and wicked spirits. Travelling Jewish exorcists invoke Jesus whom Paul preaches. Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, do so. The spirit knows Jesus and Paul but asks who they are. The possessed man leaps on them and, in the printed wording, masters them both; they flee naked and wounded. The text’s seven and both are not harmonized. Ephesus hears, fears and magnifies Jesus. Many believers confess deeds, while practitioners of curious arts publicly burn books valued at fifty thousand silver pieces. The word grows and is confirmed.

Paul purposes to pass through Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem and afterward see Rome. He sends Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia and remains in Asia for a time. Demetrius makes silver temples of Diana, bringing craftsmen much gain. Gathering related workers, he says their craft supplies gain and Paul’s denial of handmade gods draws many in Ephesus and almost all Asia. He warns of danger to their trade, Diana’s temple and her majesty, which he says Asia and the world worship. Angry hearers cry Diana’s greatness. The confused city seizes the Macedonian companions Gaius and Aristarchus and rushes to the theatre. Paul wishes to enter, but disciples refuse him and friendly Asian rulers urge him not to venture. The assembly shouts different things, most not knowing why they gathered. Jews put Alexander forward to give satisfaction; recognizing him as a Jew, they chant for about two hours.

The town clerk quiets them and declares the city a worshipper of great Diana and Jupiter’s offspring, saying these things cannot be contradicted and urging restraint. He says the men brought are guilty neither of sacrilege nor goddess-blasphemy. Demetrius and the craftsmen may bring charges to open courts and proconsuls; other inquiries belong in a lawful assembly. They risk being questioned for the uproar without a guilty man to account for the gathering. He dismisses the assembly. His claims concerning Diana remain his speech.