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Acts 19

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

And all the men were about twelve.

And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

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.

But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

What does Acts 19:24 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:24 introduces us to a man named Demetrius, a tradesman specializing in the production of silver shrines dedicated to the goddess Diana (also known as Artemis), who was venerated as a deity of fertility and the hunt, among other things.

The verse highlights that Demetrius was making considerable profit from this business.

This suggests that the demand for these religious artifacts was high, indicating the popularity of Diana's worship.

The verse sets the scene for the subsequent conflict between the makers of idols, whose livelihood depended on the traditional pagan practices, and the nascent Christian community.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

At the time of the writing of Acts, the city of Ephesus was a prominent city in the Roman province of Asia.

It was renowned for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Ephesus served as a major hub for commerce and religion, attracting many worshipers, as well as being a center for various trades linked to the religious practices, including silversmithing as mentioned in Acts 19:24.

The traditional pagan cults were deeply entrenched in the social and economic fabric of Ephesian society.

The rise of Christianity posed a threat to these established religious practices and, by extension, to the livelihoods of those like Demetrius who profited from them.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse reflects the inherent conflict between the worship of the one true God and idolatry.

It shows the disruptive power of the Gospel, which challenges economic systems and social structures based on pagan worship.

From an economic standpoint, the verse can also be seen as illustrating how faith can impact markets and occupations. Demetrius’ anxiety over his trade declining due to the spread of Christianity underlines the broader social upheavals that can accompany religious transformation.

Practical Applications

One key application derived from Acts 19:24 is the understanding that one’s livelihood should not depend on activities that are at odds with God’s teachings.

Christians are called to evaluate how their work aligns with their faith. Another application is the encouragement to stand firm in one's beliefs, even when they disrupt societal norms or threaten established economic interests, following the example of the early Christians.

Cross-References

Acts 19:25-27: "Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth..."
1 John 5:21: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Amen."

Isaiah 44:9-20: This passage illustrates the futility of idol worship and crafters who make idols.
1 Thessalonians 1:9: "...how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;"

Language Study

The key words in Acts 19:24 are:

"Demetrius": a Greek name, typical of the region.
"Silversmith": from the Greek "argurokopos," which refers to a craftsman who works with silver.
"Silver shrines": the Greek "naos," here meaning a shrine or small model of the Temple of Artemis.
"Diana": the Latin name for the Greek goddess Artemis, showing a blend of Greek and Roman cultural influences in Ephesus.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The Ephesian Artemis was something of a syncretic deity, drawing from both Greek mythology and local Anatolian worship.

Direct parallels can be found with other ancient civilizations, such as the cult of Isis in Egypt and the worship of Astarte in Phoenicia, where trade and religion were also closely intertwined.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically speaking, the verse touches upon the early interactions between evolving religious beliefs and their socioeconomic impacts.

Modern economic anthropology and sociology study how such shifts in spirituality affect trade, professional associations, and community structures, much like in the case of Demetrius and the silversmiths.

Commentaries

Scholars have various interpretations of this verse.

Some focus on the economic implications, seeing the story of Demetrius as a case study of how new religious movements impact local economies.

Others examine the sociopolitical dynamics of Ephesus, noting the public uproar that resulted from the conflict.

Still, others delve into the broader theme of idolatry versus the worship of God in Christian teaching, highlighting the transformation that the Gospel required from those living in a predominantly pagan society.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 19:24 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?