While Paul was waiting in Athens for Silas and Timothy, he was greatly upset when he noticed how full of idols the city was.

At last the city clerk was able to calm the crowd. "Fellow Ephesians!" he said. "Everyone knows that the city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of the sacred stone that fell down from heaven.

All they had were some arguments with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus, who has died; but Paul claims that he is alive.

He says, "Do not follow the ways of other nations; do not be disturbed by unusual sights in the sky, even though other nations are terrified.

The religion of these people is worthless. A tree is cut down in the forest; it is carved by the tools of the woodworker

Bring a drought on its land and dry up its rivers. Babylonia is a land of terrifying idols that have made fools of the people.