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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Acts 19:23 - 19:27
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_19:23-27
23About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. 24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; 25these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 26"You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. 27"Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."
Act_19:23 "the Way" This was the earliest designation for Christianity. It speaks of the OT concept (ex. Psa_1:1; Psa_1:6; Psa_5:8; Psa_25:4; Psa_25:8-9; Psa_25:12; Psa_27:11; Psa_37:5; Psa_37:7; Psa_37:23; Psa_37:34; Psa_119:101; Psa_119:105) of lifestyle faith (cf. Act_9:2; Act_19:9; Act_19:23; Act_22:4; Act_24:14; Act_24:22; also possibly Act_18:25-26).
Act_19:24 "silver shrines" This refers to small silver images (1) of the Temple of Artemis or (2) the meteorite which looked like a multi-breasted woman. Archaeology has found many silver images of this goddess, but none of the shrine (temple) itself. It was one of the seven wonders of the world. See note at Act_18:19; #Act_18:4.
▣ "Artemis" The Artemis who was worshiped at Ephesus is not to be identified with Diana of the Roman pantheon. This goddess is closer to Cybele, the mother goddess. This religious practice had much in common with the fertility cults of Canaan (see M. R. Vincent, Word Studies, vol. 1, p. 271).
▣ "was no little business" This persecution had an economic basis (cf. Act_19:25; Act_19:27). See full note on Luke's purposeful understatements (i.e., litotes) at Act_12:18.
▣ "craftsmen" From this Greek word we get the English word "technician." In the ancient Mediterranean world guilds or associations of craftsmen were very popular and powerful. Paul would have been a part of the tent-making guild.
Act_19:26-27 This gives us an insight into the success and permeation of Paul's ministry in Asia.
▣ "that gods made with hands are not gods at all" This reflects the OT concept of the vanity of idolatry (cf. Deu_4:28; Psa_115:4-8; Psa_135:15-18; Isa_44:9-17; Jer_10:3-11).
Act_19:27 There are numerous passages in Greek literature of the first century that mention Artemis of the Ephesians. Apparently there were thirty-nine separate cities of the Mediterranean world which were involved in the fertility worship of this mother goddess.