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 |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 19:24 | "For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Artemis, was causing his tradesmen no little concern." | Chapter context |
| Acts 19:25 | "He called them together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said: 'Men, you know that our prosperity depends on this business.'" | Financial motivation |
| John 12:25 | "Whoever clings to their life will lose it, but whoever forgets their life for my sake will keep it." | Sacrifice for a greater cause |
| Philippians 3:19 | "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." | Earthly vs. heavenly focus |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains." | Dangers of greed |
| Revelation 18:11-12 | "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silks and scarlet cloth, and every sort of citron wood, every kind of object made of ivory, every kind of object of finest wood, of bronze, iron and marble, and cinnamon, cardamom, incense, myrrh and perfume, goods and olives, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and human bodies and souls." | Economic impact of divine judgment |
| Jeremiah 10:14 | "Everyone is without knowledge and mute. The idols show themselves to be fools; they are forever disgraced." | Futility of idolatry |
| Isaiah 44:19 | "Do they not consider? Have they not been taught? From early on? Has no one opened their eyes to see? Has no one opened their eyes to understand the force of my words?" | Spiritual blindness |
| Psalm 115:4-8 | "But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot handle, feet, but cannot walk; they can make no sound in their throats. Those who make them become like them, and so do all who rely on them." | Description of idols and idolaters |
| 1 Corinthians 10:14 | "Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry." | Warning against idolatry |
| 1 Corinthians 5:11 | "But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. But you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother if he is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler." | Warning against wrong associations |
| Matthew 6:24 | "'No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.'" | Incompatibility of serving God and greed |
| 1 John 5:21 | "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." | Final exhortation against idolatry |
| Colossians 3:5 | "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." | Greed as idolatry |
| Ephesians 5:5 | "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." | Warning to the greedy |
| Romans 1:21-23 | "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became worthless and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal men and birds and animals and reptiles." | Result of rejecting God for idols |
| Zechariah 7:10 | "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other in your hearts." | Oppression and wicked schemes |
| 1 Samuel 12:21 | "Do not turn away and follow the empty idols, which cannot help or rescue; they are useless." | Uselessness of idols |
| 2 Peter 2:3 | "In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." | Exploitation through greed |
| Proverbs 23:4-5 | "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own ability. Can you really fly? Does your wealth grow wings and fly away like an eagle to the sky?" | Danger of pursuing wealth |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 25 Meaning
This verse highlights the materialistic motivation behind the artisans' anger towards Paul. Their livelihood was threatened by Paul's ministry, which turned people away from worshipping idols like the goddess Artemis. Their outcry demonstrates a deep-seated attachment to their economic interests, portraying them as valuing financial gain over spiritual truth.
Acts 19 25 Context
This verse is part of Paul's ministry in Ephesus, a city renowned for the temple of Artemis (Diana to the Romans). Demetrius, a silversmith, rallies fellow artisans by appealing to their economic interests. He argues that Paul's preaching against idolatry directly threatens their livelihoods because the production of silver shrines for Artemis was a significant source of income. The ensuing uproar in the city highlights the clash between the burgeoning Christian faith and the entrenched pagan practices, driven by both religious and economic factors.
Acts 19 25 Word Analysis
- Men (Ἄνδρες - Andres): A general address to men, common in public discourse.
- you know (ὑμεῖς οἴδατε - humeis oidate): Emphasizes common knowledge and shared understanding among the artisans.
- that our prosperity (ὅτι ἐξέρχεται ἡ εὐημερία - hoti exérchetai hē euthymia): "Euthymia" refers to well-being, success, or good fortune, directly linking their economic state to their craft.
- depends on (ἐκ ταύτης τῆς ἐργασίας - ek tautēs tēs ergāsias): Literally "from this work/business," pointing to their trade as the source of their prosperity.
- this business (ἐργασίας - ergāsias): Refers to the trade or occupation of making silver shrines.
Word Groups Analysis
- "you know that our prosperity depends on this business": This phrase reveals the core motivation of Demetrius and the craftsmen. It frames their objection to Paul's teaching not on theological grounds, but on economic self-interest. It demonstrates how deeply intertwined their economic system was with their religious practices. The appeal is pragmatic: Paul's success means their failure. This mirrors the broader theme in Acts where the advancement of the Gospel often met resistance from those whose vested interests were challenged (e.g., Acts 16:16-19).
Acts 19 25 Bonus Section
The argument presented by Demetrius is a classic example of how economic vested interests can fuel opposition to religious or social change. This dynamic is not unique to ancient Ephesus but resonates throughout history and even today. The artisans were not necessarily deeply committed theological opponents of Christianity; rather, their primary concern was the potential loss of income. This highlights a critical point: the perceived threat to material well-being can be a powerful motivator for resisting transformative spiritual truths. The movement of the Holy Spirit, as seen through Paul's ministry, often brings societal upheaval because it challenges not just belief systems but also the economic structures built upon them.
Acts 19 25 Commentary
Demetrius frames his argument around a stark economic reality: their well-being is directly tied to the continued demand for their idol-related craft. He appeals to their shared livelihood to stir up a collective defense of their business and, by extension, their traditional way of life which included the worship of Artemis. This reveals that the opposition to the Gospel was often rooted in economic threat rather than solely religious conviction. Their prosperity was inextricably linked to the idolatry Paul was dismantling, making them the vanguard of resistance due to direct financial consequences.