Acts 19:25 kjv
Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
Acts 19:25 nkjv
He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: "Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.
Acts 19:25 niv
He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: "You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.
Acts 19:25 esv
These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.
Acts 19:25 nlt
He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: "Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.
Acts 19 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:3-5 | "You shall have no other gods... make for yourself an idol...bow down to them..." | Forbids idol worship and creation |
| Deut 4:28 | "...there you will serve gods made by human hands, objects of wood and stone..." | Idols are man-made and worthless |
| Ps 115:4-8 | "Their idols are silver and gold, The work of human hands... Those who make them..." | Describes impotent idols made by men |
| Isa 40:19-20 | "A craftsman casts an idol, and a goldsmith overlays it... a poor man chooses a wood..." | Details idol creation by craftsmen |
| Isa 44:9-20 | "All who fashion idols are nothing... who will form a god or cast an image?" | Highlights futility and foolishness of idols |
| Jer 10:3-5 | "For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree from the forest..." | Exposures the emptiness of pagan practices |
| Hab 2:18-19 | "What profit is the idol... the mute stone that teaches?..." | Questioning the value and teaching of idols |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money." | Impossible to serve both God and materialism |
| Luke 12:15 | "Beware, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist..." | Warning against greed and seeking earthly wealth |
| 1 Tim 6:10 | "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil..." | Dangers of loving wealth over God |
| Heb 13:5 | "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money..." | Encouragement to avoid covetousness |
| Jas 5:1-3 | "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you..." | Condemns the misuse of wealth and greed |
| Acts 17:16 | "While Paul was waiting... he was greatly distressed and exasperated as he saw the city full of idols." | Paul's distress over widespread idolatry |
| Acts 17:29 | "So, then, since we are God's children, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature..." | Critique of human-made representations of God |
| Acts 19:26-27 | "You see and hear... that not only in Ephesus... but almost throughout all Asia... no gods made with hands." | Paul's teaching undermines idol manufacturing |
| Acts 16:16-19 | "Her masters realized that their hope of profit was gone..." | Economic motivation for opposing the Gospel (Philippi) |
| Rom 1:22-23 | "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image..." | Describing human exchange of God for idols |
| 1 Cor 8:4-6 | "...that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one." | Emphasizes the nothingness of idols |
| 1 Thes 1:9 | "...how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God..." | Turning from idols is a mark of true conversion |
| Col 3:5 | "Therefore, put to death... greed, which amounts to idolatry." | Identifying greed as a form of idolatry |
| Eph 5:5 | "For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance..." | Linking covetousness to idolatry |
| Rev 18:11-13 | "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn... silver and gold..." | Symbolic merchants mourn loss of profits from evil |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 25 Meaning
In Acts 19:25, Demetrius, a silversmith in Ephesus, addresses fellow craftsmen and laborers. He explicitly states that their collective financial well-being, their wealth and prosperity, directly stems from their business of creating and selling silver shrines of Artemis (Diana). This declaration serves as his primary premise for inciting them against the apostle Paul and his ministry, which threatened their lucrative idol-making enterprise. It underscores the deep intertwining of economic gain with the established pagan religious system in Ephesus.
Acts 19 25 Context
Acts chapter 19 describes Paul's significant and fruitful ministry in Ephesus, a prominent city known for its grand temple dedicated to Artemis (Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. For over two years, Paul preached the Gospel, leading to numerous conversions and a substantial shift away from pagan practices, evidenced by many burning their magic books. This spiritual awakening began to significantly impact the local economy, particularly those whose livelihood depended on idolatry. Demetrius, a leading silversmith who crafted silver shrines for Artemis, saw his profitable business threatened. Acts 19:23 notes "no small disturbance" concerning the Way (Christianity) had arisen. It is in this environment that Demetrius gathers other craftsmen who shared his financial stake in the cult of Artemis, leading to his impassioned and strategic speech starting in verse 25. He aims to stir up their economic fears and loyalty to the goddess to confront Paul's ministry.
Acts 19 25 Word analysis
- And he called them together: (Greek: καὶ συγκαλέσας αὐτούς, kai sygkalesas autous) Demetrius initiated a deliberate, urgent assembly. The verb sygkalesas (from sygkaledō) means to 'call together, convene,' indicating a planned gathering, not a chance encounter. This suggests a strategic move to rally support and organize opposition. It shows Demetrius as a leader among the craftsmen, taking decisive action.
- and said, 'Men': (Greek: εἶπεν, 'Ἄνδρες, eipein, Andres) A direct address, specifically to 'men,' which was a common rhetorical form in public speaking. It appeals to a sense of shared identity, purpose, and male authority, crucial in that societal context for initiating collective action. This address immediately fosters a sense of unity among his listeners.
- you know: (Greek: οἴδατε γινώσκω, oidate ginōskō) The verb oida denotes a factual, often intuitive or experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual assent. Demetrius asserts they have a common, undisputed understanding of their situation. This common ground makes his subsequent statements resonate powerfully with his audience's shared experience and self-interest.
- that from this business: (Greek: ὅτι ἐκ τῆς ἐργασίας ταύτης, hoti ek tēs ergaseas tautēs) The word ergasia refers to work, trade, craft, or business activity. In this context, it clearly denotes their profession of making silver shrines. The preposition ek ('from, out of') clearly links their income directly to this specific craft, underscoring cause and effect. This "business" is their entire economic foundation.
- we have our wealth: (Greek: ἔχομεν τὴν εὐπορίαν, echomen tēn euporian) Euporia means 'prosperity, abundance, plenty, financial success, profit.' Demetrius points to their collective material security and comfort. It's not just a living, but substantial prosperity. This phrase lays bare the true, underlying motive for their anger: not necessarily deep theological conviction, but rather their threatened economic welfare due to Paul's gospel.
Acts 19 25 Bonus section
The appeal made by Demetrius is a classic example of how economic threats are often weaponized to rally people against perceived challengers. His initial focus is purely financial, leveraging the universal desire for security. It's only after securing their attention through this shared interest in wealth that he subtly shifts the argument in the subsequent verses (Acts 19:26-27) to include concern for the "dignity" of Artemis and the fear that her worship might fall into disrepute. This rhetorical strategy demonstrates a clever manipulation of sentiment, beginning with self-preservation and then escalating to a more "noble" cause, aiming to elicit a stronger, more emotional reaction from his audience. The craftsmen likely weren't concerned with the theological depth of Artemis worship, but rather the gold and silver she brought them. This verse therefore underlines how deeply interwoven material gain and false religion can become in a society.
Acts 19 25 Commentary
Acts 19:25 is a crucial turning point, revealing the true impetus behind the opposition to Paul's ministry in Ephesus: economic self-interest masked by religious zeal. Demetrius masterfully connects their prosperity directly to the idol-making trade, appealing to the fundamental human desire for financial security. He isn't primarily arguing theology; he's warning of impending financial ruin. This statement highlights how the Kingdom of God often challenges existing societal structures, particularly when those structures are built upon practices contrary to God's will. The Ephesian incident is a stark reminder that opposition to the Gospel can frequently stem from worldly concerns and the fear of losing influence or wealth, rather than genuine intellectual or spiritual disagreement.