Acts 19:26 kjv
Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
Acts 19:26 nkjv
Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.
Acts 19:26 niv
And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.
Acts 19:26 esv
And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.
Acts 19:26 nlt
But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren't really gods at all. And he's done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!
Acts 19 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 20:4-5 | "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness... you shall not bow down to them..." | Commandment against idol-making and worship. |
| Deut 4:28 | "There you will serve gods made by human hands, wood and stone, which neither see, hear, eat, nor smell." | Describes the impotence of idols. |
| Psa 115:4-7 | "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands... They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see..." | Highlights the lifelessness and inability of idols. |
| Isa 44:9-20 | Extensive critique of idol worship, how wood is used for fire and carved into a god. | Exposes the foolishness and futility of idols. |
| Jer 10:3-5 | "For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree from the forest, and a craftsman shapes it... they are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak..." | Denounces the vanity of pagan idol worship. |
| Hab 2:18-19 | "What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it... a mute idol, a source of teaching lies? Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, ‘Awake’; to a silent stone, ‘Arise’!" | Questions the utility and deception of idols. |
| Acts 7:48-50 | "However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands... As the prophet says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what kind of house will you build for me?’" | God cannot be confined to man-made structures or idols. |
| Acts 14:15 | "turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them." | Paul and Barnabas calling people to forsake idols for the true God. |
| Acts 17:24-25 | "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands..." | Paul's sermon in Athens, directly addressing God's nature versus idols. |
| 1 Thess 1:9 | "how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God..." | Describes the Thessalonian believers' conversion from idolatry. |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | "What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God..." | Emphasizes separation from idol worship. |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | "...we know that 'an idol has no real existence,' and that 'there is no God but one.'" | Paul's theological stance on the nullity of idols. |
| 1 Jn 5:21 | "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." | Simple command for believers to avoid idolatry. |
| Col 2:8 | "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." | Paul warns against human-centered teachings over Christ. |
| Phil 3:19 | "Their end is destruction, their god is their stomach, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." | Connects carnal desires to a form of idolatry (serving appetites). |
| Eph 5:5 | "For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." | Defines covetousness as idolatry. |
| Mt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." | Spiritual choice between God and material gain, paralleling Demetrius's concern. |
| Acts 16:16-19 | Describes how Paul cast out a spirit of divination, costing owners their livelihood. | Parallel instance where Paul's ministry impacts economic gain. |
| Deut 5:8-9 | "You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness... you shall not bow down to them or serve them..." | Reiterates the prohibition against images. |
| Ps 135:15-17 | "The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear..." | Further emphasizes the sensory inability of idols. |
| Isa 40:18-20 | "To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him? ...He who carves an idol, and a goldsmith plates it with gold..." | Challenges the idea of representing God with human-made objects. |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 26 Meaning
This verse states the central accusation leveled by Demetrius, a silversmith in Ephesus, against the Apostle Paul. Demetrius complains that Paul's successful ministry, not only in Ephesus but across the Roman province of Asia, has persuaded and turned many people away from worshipping idols. The core of Paul's teaching, according to Demetrius, is the fundamental truth that gods made by human hands are not true gods, directly challenging the economic basis and religious practice of idol worship.
Acts 19 26 Context
Acts chapter 19 describes the powerful and widespread impact of Paul's ministry in Ephesus over a period of two years. His teaching resulted in numerous conversions, deliverance from evil spirits, and public rejection of magic through the burning of costly books of spells. This profound spiritual awakening directly challenged the pagan culture and particularly threatened the livelihood of those whose businesses depended on idol worship, especially the cult of Artemis (Diana). The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, making the city a significant center for idol pilgrimage and the production of related artifacts. This verse immediately follows Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines for Artemis, gathering fellow craftsmen and expressing his deep concern that Paul's teachings were not only diminishing the reverence for the great goddess Artemis but also severely damaging their lucrative trade. The historical context highlights the immense economic and religious stakes involved, setting the stage for the dramatic uproar that follows.
Acts 19 26 Word analysis
- Moreover: Kai (Greek: καὶ). Connects this statement to Demetrius's previous complaint about their trade, showing it as further evidence of Paul's negative impact. It highlights the obviousness of the situation.
- you see and hear: Horaō (ὁράω) and Akouō (ἀκούω). Emphasizes that the phenomenon Paul caused was widely observable and known. It was not a hidden issue but a public disruption.
- that not only in Ephesus: Ouch monon en Ephesō (οὐ μόνον ἐν Ἐφέσῳ). "Ephesus" was a major metropolitan and religious center. The phrasing highlights that Paul's influence was not confined to a single locality.
- but in almost all of Asia: All' schedon pasēs tēs Asias (ἀλλ᾽ σχεδὸν πάσης τῆς Ἀσίας). "Asia" refers to the Roman province of Asia Minor. This demonstrates the remarkable scope and effectiveness of Paul's missionary work. It underscores the pervasive reach of the Gospel message beyond the city limits.
- this Paul: Ho Paulos houtos (ὁ Παῦλος οὗτος). The demonstrative pronoun "this" here often carries a tone of contempt, disdain, or dismissal. It dehumanizes Paul, reducing him to merely "this fellow" or "this one," despite his significant impact.
- has persuaded: Epeisen (ἔπεισεν), from peithō (πείθω). Implies Paul used rational argument, teaching, and conviction to change people's minds. He was a highly effective communicator who gained genuine converts, not merely coerced them.
- and drawn away: Metestēsen (μετέστησεν), from methistēmi (μεθίστημι). Means to move, transfer, or remove from one place/position to another, signifying a complete change in allegiance, loyalty, and religious practice. It implies a turning from old ways to new ones.
- a considerable number of people: Hikanon ochlon (ἱκανὸν ὄχλον). "Considerable" (hikanon) means sufficient, adequate, or in this context, "many" or "a great many." "Number of people" or "crowd" (ochlon) denotes a multitude, signifying the large-scale conversions that threatened Demetrius's industry.
- saying that: Legōn hoti (λέγων ὅτι). Introduces Paul's direct theological teaching, which is the root cause of the opposition.
- gods made with hands: Theoi hoi dia cheirōn ginomenoi (θεοὶ οἱ διὰ χειρῶν γινόμενοι). "Gods made by means of hands" is a pejorative, standard biblical phrase used to describe idols, emphasizing their human origin and therefore their created, limited, and non-divine nature.
- are not gods at all: Ouk eisin theoi (οὐκ εἰσὶν θεοί). A categorical denial of the divinity of idols. It uses the strong negative ouk to emphasize the absolute nullity and powerlessness of these man-made objects, contrasting them with the one living God. This was a direct, unambiguous challenge to pagan theology.
- "You see and hear that... this Paul has persuaded and drawn away...": This phrase-group reveals Demetrius's motivation: not theological debate, but visible, tangible impact on his business. It also underlines Paul's effective methodology, using persuasion (teaching/reasoning) to lead people to spiritual reorientation. The common knowledge ('you see and hear') underscores the undeniable success of the Christian message.
- "not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia": This emphasizes the expansive nature of Paul's ministry. It shows the breadth of the Gospel's reach, making the threat to idol worship a widespread rather than localized problem for Demetrius.
- "gods made with hands are not gods at all": This core theological statement is a fundamental declaration of Christian monotheism. It clearly differentiates the biblical understanding of God as uncreated and sovereign from pagan concepts of deities fashioned by human effort. This bold assertion directly attacked the spiritual and economic foundation of idolatry.
Acts 19 26 Bonus section
The strong wording used by Demetrius ("this Paul," "considerable number") indicates not just observation but alarm and indignation at the swift and substantial change Paul's preaching was bringing about. The focus on "gods made with hands" reveals a key tension point in the early church's evangelism: the radical nature of monotheism that directly invalidated all forms of idol worship, cutting to the heart of ancient religious systems. This confrontation was not merely theological but also economic and social, illustrating how spiritual awakening often challenges established structures of power and profit. The idol-makers saw the decline of their business as synonymous with the blasphemy against their gods, fusing financial interest with religious zeal against the Gospel.
Acts 19 26 Commentary
Acts 19:26 succinctly presents Demetrius's accusation against Paul, driven by the profound economic threat Paul's successful ministry posed to the Ephesian silversmiths. The verse showcases the undeniable and widespread impact of Paul's preaching across the Roman province of Asia. Paul’s method involved persuasive reasoning, leading to genuine spiritual transformation where people renounced idols. The core of his message—that idols "made with hands are not gods at all"—was a clear and uncompromising theological challenge to the prevailing paganism, echoing foundational biblical truths about the futility of worshiping created things. This powerful truth not only liberated individuals but also directly undermined industries built upon false worship, sparking a predictable conflict where material interests clashed violently with spiritual truth. It highlights the nature of Christian mission: confronting false worship by proclaiming the unique sovereignty of the living God, regardless of the cost or societal upheaval.