What was the crowd's reaction when Alexander attempted to defend Paul?

• A. They cheered him loudly.
• B. They cried out for two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
• C. They demanded a fair trial.
• D. They fell silent.

Answer: (B)

The moment shows how strongly the people of Ephesus were tied to Artemis. When Alexander stepped forward to defend Paul, the crowd didn’t listen to a debate or a legal appeal; they erupted in a communal chant that lasted about two hours, declaring, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” This prolonged, vocal outcry captures the power of the local cult and the crowd’s willingness to express devotion through public, repetitive proclamation. It also explains why Paul’s defender couldn’t sway them—their allegiance to Artemis was emotionally and socially entrenched, overriding a single argument in his favor. The other responses—cheering, seeking a fair trial, or becoming silent—don’t fit what Luke records for this scene.