The conflict stemmed from the followers of Jesus, known as “the Way.” Ephesus was famous for its grand temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, worshiped throughout Asia. Demetrius, the leader of the silversmiths’ union, viewed Paul’s criticism of idolatry as a threat to their business of making statues and other religious items associated with the goddess. This sparked a large, violent, chaotic, and illegal protest. The crowd aimed to attack Paul and his companions. The Jews, also threatened by Paul’s stance against idols, joined the protest. They moved to the city theater, which could hold 24,000 people. Shouts filled the air. Luke notes that many in the crowd didn’t even understand why they were there. After several attempts to calm things down, local authorities managed to disperse the crowd and reason with them. Luke’s reason for sharing this story appears to be his focus on illustrating how Paul’s mission fit within Roman law. Later, Roman soldiers will save Paul’s life twice (21:27-40; 23:12-24). The Apostle will also later appeal to Caesar’s court to ensure his safety (25:1-12).