Acts 19:33
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
This moment belongs to the uproar at Ephesus during the festival of Diana, when the gospel's challenge to pagan worship stirred hostility against believers. It came after Paul had labored at Ephesus for over three years, raised up a flourishing church, and spread the gospel throughout Asia among both Jews and Gentiles. At that time Paul had purposed to pass through Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem and afterward to see Rome, had sent Timothy and Erastus on into Macedonia, and had decided to remain at Ephesus until after Pentecost, until the uproar hastened his departure.
The tumult arose because the spread of the gospel threatened the income of the image-makers and pagan priests, while city officials judged Paul innocent of unlawful conduct. The Jews put Alexander forward to make clear that they did not support the Christians, and to turn the crowd's anger against Paul and his companions. Alexander beckoned with the hand and tried to address the crowd to make his defense. The crowd recognized that he was a Jew and thrust him aside before he could make his defense, and the uproar continued.