And when the town clerk had quieted the people, he said, You men of Ephesus, what man is there that knows not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
The town-clerk Literally, the scribe, or the recorder of the city.
Jupiter's offspring. His daughter, according to the poets. The Greek text seems to signify a statue, or figure of Diana, which was pretended to have fallen from heaven, and from Jupiter. (Witham)
Is a worshipper. Neokoron ousan; the word Neokoros is found in this sense in the Arundel Ian marbles, and more frequently on ancient coins and inscriptions. Its derivation is from neos, a temple, and kore, a virgin, or rather korein, to cleanse and decorate; as if this city were especially destined to ornament the Diana of Ephesus, which the people supposed came to them not by the work of man, but a present from heaven.
As if the thing were not palpable. With this saying first he extinguished their wrath. And of the Diopetes. There was another sacred object (ἱ ερὸν) that was so called. Either he means the piece of burnt earth or her image. This (is) a lie. Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For you have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
(coming to the point) which they were frightened about. Is it this, says he, that you do not worship her? And he does not say, That knows not Diana, but, our city, that it always worshipped her. Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against.
