Acts 19:34

Acts 19:34. But when they knew that he was a Jew. The old Gentile hate of the Jews at once flames out. His features, his foreign accent probably, and his dress told of his nationality, and the crowd refused to hear him, no doubt confounding him with the friends of Paul.

All with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. This strange repetition was no mere tumultuous cry; nor was it only an expression of fervid loyalty to the goddess, whose shrine they thought made Ephesus rich and prosperous; but it was no doubt an act of worship. Compare a similar procedure on the part of the worshippers of Baal in the days of Ahab and Jezebel, who ‘from morn even until noon cried, saying, O Baal, hear us!' (1 Kings 18:26), and see Matthew 6:7. The custom of the Mohammedans and the worshippers of Brahma in India to this day is well known, and they often for entire days practise these vain senseless repetitions.