Acts 19:25

Verse

Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.

American Standard Version (1901)

whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

Bible in Basic English

Whom he got together, with other workmen of the same trade, and said to them, Men, it is clear that from this business we get our wealth.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Whom he calling together, with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade;

Free Bible Version

Demetrius called them together, along with others who worked in similar trades, and said, “Fellow-workers, you know that it's through this business we make our money.

Geneva Bible 1599

Whom he called together, with the workemen of like things, and saide, Syrs, ye knowe that by this craft we haue our goods:

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

Demetrius had a meeting with his work-men and the other men that made things for that god called Artemis. Demetrius said to them, “Men, you know that we make these things and we sell them for a lot of money.

Translation for Translators

Demetrius called a meeting of his workmen and also of others who made the little silver images. He said to them, “Men, you know that we (inc) earn a lot of money doing our kind of work.

Unlocked Literal Bible

So he gathered together the workmen of that occupation and said, “Sirs, you know that in this business we make much money.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.

Young's Literal Translation

whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who did work about such things, he said, 'Men, ye know that by this work we have our wealth;

Context

The Riot in Ephesus

²⁴It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.²⁵Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.²⁶And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.

Summary

In Acts 19:25, Demetrius, a silversmith, stirs up a riot in Ephesus because he sees Paul's preaching as a threat to his business of making silver shrines for the goddess Artemis. This verse illustrates the clash between the spread of the Gospel and the economic interests tied to idolatry. It reveals how the preaching of the truth can disrupt the status quo and challenge the prevailing beliefs and practices of a society. The incident serves as a reminder that following Christ may lead to opposition and persecution, but it also demonstrates the power of the Gospel to transform lives and communities.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

By this craft we have our wealth - The word ευπορια not only signifies wealth, but also abundance. It was a most lucrative trade; and he plainly saw that, if the apostles were permitted to go on thus preaching, the worship of Diana itself would be destroyed; and, consequently, all the gain that he and his fellows derived from it would be brought to nought.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the whole city was filled with confusion,.... For the workmen that made the silver shrines very likely ran up and down in the city, crying out, great is Diana of the Ephesians, which brought the people out of their houses to inquire what was the matter; and the mob gathering and increasing, as they went along, threw the whole city into confusion and disorder: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia; the latter of these was of Thessalonica in Macedonia, as appears from Act 20:4 but of what place the former was, is not certain; however, being a Macedonian, he could not be the Gaius of Derbe, mentioned in the same place, nor the Gaius of Corinth, Co1 1:14 but some third person. They are both Greek names; Aristarchus signifies the chief of princes, or the prince of chiefs; and Gaius is a name taken from the joy of parents, and is the same with the Roman name, Caius; they are both reckoned among the seventy disciples; the former is said to be bishop of Apamea in Phrygia, and the latter Bishop of Ephesus; See Gill on Luk 10:1. Paul's companions in travel; whom he brought with him out of Macedonia, and who had been with him to Jerusalem and Antioch, and were now returned with him to Ephesus, where they had been with him for the space of two years, or more: it is very much that this mob had not seized on Paul himself: it may be Paul was within doors, and these were without in the streets, and so were laid hold upon and carried away in a most forcible and violent manner by them: who having got them, they rushed with one accord into the theatre; where the public plays were acted in honour of the goddess Diana, and where, among other things, men were set to fight with wild beasts; and very likely the intention of the mob, in hurrying Paul's companions thither, was to throw them to the wild beasts. A theatre is a spectacle or show, so called, because in them fights were shown, plays were acted, games exercised, and battles fought between men and men, and between men and beasts, and between beasts and beasts; concerning which, take the following account (x): "Theatre, among the ancients, is a public edifice for the exhibiting of scenic spectacles, or shows to the people--under the word theatre was comprehended not only the eminence, whereon the actors appeared, and the action passed, but also the whole area, or extent of the place common to the actors and spectators: in this sense the theatre was a building encompassed with porticos, and furnished with seats of stone, disposed in semicircles, and ascending gradually over one another, which encompassed a space called the "orchestra"; in the front whereof was the "proscenium" or "pulpitum", whereon the actors performed the "scena", a large front adorned with orders of architecture; behind which was "postscenium", or the place where the actors made themselves ready, retired, &c. so that the "scena", in its full extent, comprehended all the part belonging to the actors. In the Greek theatres, the "orchestra" made a part of the "scena"; but in the Roman theatres, none of the actors ever descended into the "orchestra", which was taken up by the seats of the senators.'' For the better understanding the terms used, and the several parts of the theatre, let it be observed, that the "scena", according to others (y) was the place from whence the actors first went out; and it reached from one corner of the theatre to the other, and was threefold; "tragical", which was adorned in a royal manner with pillars and signs; "comical", which represented private buildings; and "satirical", which exhibited trees, caves, mountains, &c. Likewise, the "scena" was either "versile", when on a sudden the whole scene was turned by some machines; or "ductile", when by drawing away the boards the inward face of the scene appeared, or by drawing curtains. The "proscenium" was a place lower than the scene, in which the actors chiefly spoke and acted: the "postscenium" was a place in which these things were done, which could not be done fitly, and with decorum in the scenes: the "pulpitum" was a higher place in the "proscenium", in which those that recited stood: the "orchestra" was the last place, in which they danced, and near which the senators sat. Tarquinius Priscus was the first who introduced plays among the Romans; and the temple of Bacchus at Athens was the first theatre in the world, the remains of which are still to be seen. Of this theatre at Ephesus I have not met with any account; whether it was in the temple, or without, is not certain; very likely it might be a part of it, or adjoin unto it. (x) Chamber's Cyclopaedia in the word "Theatre". (y) Nieupoort. Compend. Antiqu. Roman. p. 285, 286. Yid. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Diet. l. 5. c. 16.

Acts 19:25

The Riot in Ephesus

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.

American Standard Version (1901)

whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

Bible in Basic English

Whom he got together, with other workmen of the same trade, and said to them, Men, it is clear that from this business we get our wealth.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Whom he calling together, with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade;

Free Bible Version

Demetrius called them together, along with others who worked in similar trades, and said, “Fellow-workers, you know that it's through this business we make our money.

Geneva Bible 1599

Whom he called together, with the workemen of like things, and saide, Syrs, ye knowe that by this craft we haue our goods:

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

Translation for Translators

Demetrius called a meeting of his workmen and also of others who made the little silver images. He said to them, “Men, you know that we (inc) earn a lot of money doing our kind of work.

Unlocked Literal Bible

So he gathered together the workmen of that occupation and said, “Sirs, you know that in this business we make much money.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.

Young's Literal Translation

whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who did work about such things, he said, 'Men, ye know that by this work we have our wealth;

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 19:25

Verse

Context

The Riot in Ephesus

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Acts 19:25

The Riot in Ephesus

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary