That is your "careful reading"?
28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, Great is [r]Artemis of the Ephesians! 29 The city was filled with the CONFUSION, and they rushed [s]with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Pauls traveling companions from Macedonia. 30 And when Paul wanted to go into the [t]assembly (people), the disciples would not let him. 31 Also some of the [u]Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to [v]venture into the theater. 32 So then, some were shouting ONE THING and some ANOTHER, for the [w]ASSEMBLY (ekklasia) was in CONFUSION and the majority did not know [x]for WHAT REASON they had come together."
Sounds like Rome to me...
Yes, it is a careful reading, considering every word and meaning.The confusion existed, not in the language, but in the empowerment of the ekklesia. Greek tradition and culture was that the ekklesia held supreme power, not unlike the Temple priests in Jerusalem, however, like Jerusalem, Ephesis was under Roman control rendering the ekklesia powerless. That is why there were the references to officials, courts and even a proconsul (Acts 19:38) the same rank as Pilate.
I invite your comments on why the author of Acts chose to use the work ekklesia and not homilos as was used with the crowd of Jews who demanded that Jesus be crucified and that Barabbas be freed.
Peace be with you