Demetrius is the silversmith who started the riot in Ephesus.
He made silver shrines of Artemis,
and brought no little business to the craftsmen.
Gods made with hands are not gods.
Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!
Demetrius is a silversmith in Ephesus. He makes silver shrines of Artemis and brings the craftsmen a good living. When the word of the Lord prevails, he gathers them. He names two losses: this trade may come into disrepute, and the temple of the great goddess may be counted as nothing. The wealth is said first. The goddess is the second argument. The city shouts. The town clerk dismisses the assembly. Demetrius does not get the decree he wanted.
- Paul is the man he blames. Paul has persuaded many that gods made with hands are not gods.
- The Ephesians hear the word, burn the books of magic, and then meet this riot. The trade fights the word that emptied it.
- Third John names another Demetrius, who has a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself. He is not this silversmith. Do not merge them.
A shrine-maker can speak for a goddess and mean his business. The shout followed him. The clerk ended it. The word had already prevailed.
He made silver shrines of Artemis.
This trade of ours may come into disrepute.
Gods made with hands are not gods.
The assembly was dismissed.
- Demetrius the silversmith is named in Acts 19:24.
- Silver shrines of Artemis are his trade.
- He puts the loss of business before the honor of the goddess.
- The riot’s cry is his cry: Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.
- The town clerk refuses the illegal assembly. Demetrius gets no city decree.
- The Demetrius of 3 John is a different man, well spoken of by the truth.
- The Trade – Silversmith, shrines of Artemis.
- The Gain – No little business to the craftsmen.
- The Speech – Trade and temple in one complaint.
- The Charge – Paul says gods made with hands are not gods.
- The Riot – The theater, about two hours.
- The Other Man – Demetrius in 3 John, attested by the truth.
- Acts 19:24-27 – “A man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, ‘Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth… Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods… there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing.’”
- Acts 19:28-29 – “When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ So the city was filled with the confusion.”
- Acts 19:40-41 – “For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
- 3 John:12 – “Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.” This is not the silversmith.
Demetrius, a silversmith, made silver shrines of Artemis and brought no little business to the craftsmen.
From this business we have our wealth.
Paul has persuaded many, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.
Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!
He spoke for the goddess and for the trade. The wealth came first. The assembly was dismissed. Do not confuse him with the Demetrius of 3 John, who has a good testimony from the truth.
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