Acts 19:26

Acts 19:26

24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of¹ Diana, brought ^ano small profit to the craftsmen.

25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.

26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that ^athey are not gods which are made with hands.

27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and¹ her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized ^aGaius and ^bAristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.

30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.

31 Then some of the¹ officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.

32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And ^aAlexander ^bmotioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.

34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess¹ Diana, and of the image which fell down from² Zeus?

36 Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.

37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of¹ your goddess.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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ye see and hear—The evidences of it were to be seen, and the report of it was in everybody's mouth.

that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath . . . turned away much people—Noble testimony this to the extent of Paul's influence!

saying that they be no gods which are made with hands—The universal belief of the people was that they were gods, though the more intelligent regarded them only as habitations of Deity, and some, probably, as mere aids to devotion. It is exactly so in the Church of Rome.

Acts 19:24-26

silver shrines for—"of"

Diana—small models of the Ephesian temple and of the shrine or chapel of the goddess, or of the shrine and statue alone, which were purchased by visitors as memorials of what they had seen, and were carried about and deposited in houses as a charm. (The models of the chapel of our Lady of Loretto, and such like, which the Church of Rome systematically encourages, are such a palpable imitation of this heathen practice that it is no wonder it should be regarded by impartial judges as Christianity paganized).

gain to the craftsmen—the master-artificers.

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