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:

Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)

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At Ephesus (Efesou). Genitive of place as also with Asiav (Asia). Cf. Robertson, Grammar, pp. 494f.

This Paul (o Paulov outov). Contemptuous use of outov.

Hath turned away (metesthsen). Changed, transposed. First aorist active indicative, did change. Tribute to Paul's powers as a preacher borne out by Luke's record in Acts 19:10. There may be an element of exaggeration on the part of Demetrius to incite the workmen to action, for the worship of Artemis was their wealth. Paul had cut the nerve of their business. There had long been a Jewish colony in Ephesus, but their protest against idolatry was as nothing compared with Paul's preaching (Furneaux).

Which are made with hands (oi dia xeirwn ginomenoi). Note the present tense, made from time to time. No doubt Paul had put the point sharply as in Athens (Acts 17:29). Isaiah (Isaiah 44:9-17) had pictured graphically the absurdity of worshipping stocks and stones, flatly forbidden by the Old Testament (Exodus 20:4; Psalms 135:15-18). The people identified their gods with the images of them and Demetrius reflects that point of view. He was jealous of the brand of gods turned out by his factory. The artisans would stand by him on this point. It was a reflection on their work.

**Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 19:26:**

Acts 13:43
Acts 13:44
Acts 19:10
Philemon 1:1
Hebrews 9:22

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