A wise man sat in the theater among the agitated multitude. He was calm, and understood his people. They called him the city clerk. He did not try to speak to the loud shouters, but left them to scream and roar for two hours. He deemed it advisable to scold them after they became tired. When he saw that the majority had grown tired in that hot weather, he stood up and began to speak. The multitude became completely silent. The city clerk first emphasized the fame of the Ephesians. He testified that the black wooden idol of the goddess Artemis fell down from heaven, a fact there was no need at all to dispute. The whole world knew of this, and nobody could deny this belief. Calmness was therefore necessary, so that nothing reckless might be done. He also showed his preparedness to settle any incidents that might arise.
He proceeded to proclaim that Paul’s fellows and the young Alexander had not robbed anyone or said evil things about the temples. This enquiry he had made with them while the crowd was angrily shouting for two hours. Thus the three men were innocent, and the multitude was to be blamed for grabbing them wrongfully.
Demetrius, the leader of the silversmiths, had not brought an official complaint against Paul (it is probable that he had not yet come to the assembly out of fear of being accused of revolution). Therefore, the clerk could still expect from him and his silversmith co-workers an official complaint if they had any sufficient evidence against anyone. In this way, the case could run its legal course.
The clerk continued to calm the crowd little by little. He did not prevent them from forming their opinion or making a decision together. But he did ask them to make their demands in an official meeting, in the presence of all the people, who also had the right of suffrage. The details Luke gives here offer deep insight into the organization of cities in Greek culture during the Roman occupation.
Finally, the mayor threatened the listening crowd. He indicated to them the danger of instigating Roman anger, which had at times withdrawn privileges from unworthy cities, and granted new privileges to those more deserving. Not one of the Ephesians wanted to be the reason for losing the kind Roman treatment they had experienced. On the contrary, they all sought this as their chief end, over and above all else. The anger of the fiery people was calmed by the speech of the wise clerk, and they all returned to their houses.