Acts 19 27

Acts 19:27 kjv

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

Acts 19:27 nkjv

So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship."

Acts 19:27 niv

There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."

Acts 19:27 esv

And 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, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship."

Acts 19:27 nlt

Of course, I'm not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I'm also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis ? this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world ? will be robbed of her great prestige!"

Acts 19 verses

Acts 19 27 Meaning

This verse captures the fear and agitation expressed by Demetrius, a silversmith in Ephesus, who saw his prosperous business, based on making silver shrines for the goddess Artemis (Diana), severely threatened by the successful preaching of the Apostle Paul. His concern was twofold: first, the economic ruin of his craft and fellow artisans; and second, the discrediting and eventual collapse of the worship of Artemis, whose magnificent temple and cult were globally renowned. He leveraged both the economic loss and perceived religious sacrilege to stir up a powerful opposition against Paul and his Christian message.

Acts 19 27 Context

Acts chapter 19 details Paul's influential three-year ministry in Ephesus, the capital of the Roman province of Asia (modern-day Turkey). Ephesus was a highly significant city, serving as a major commercial, political, and religious center. Its crowning glory was the immense Temple of Artemis (also known by her Roman name, Diana), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The worship of Artemis was deeply interwoven with the city's identity and economy, attracting pilgrims from across the Greco-Roman world who purchased votive offerings and silver effigies of the goddess and her temple from local artisans.

Paul's preaching of the Gospel, which proclaimed one true God and challenged the worship of man-made idols, was extraordinarily effective, leading many to repent of their pagan practices and embrace Christianity (Acts 19:18-20). This spiritual transformation had direct economic consequences: as more people abandoned idolatry, the demand for pagan shrines and idols plummeted. Demetrius, a prominent silversmith, represents the business community whose livelihoods were directly threatened by the spread of Christianity. In verses 24-26, he calls together his fellow craftsmen, explaining how Paul's message that "gods made with hands are no gods at all" was not only ruining their trade but also jeopardizing the glory and worship of the "great goddess Artemis." Verse 27 explicitly outlines the twin motivations behind Demetrius's agitated speech and the subsequent riot: economic self-interest ("our craft") and perceived religious affront ("her magnificence should be destroyed"). This narrative vividly portrays the disruptive power of the Gospel as it confronts established religious, cultural, and economic systems based on idolatry.

Acts 19 27 Word analysis

• So that not only: Indicates a logical consequence arising from Paul's ministry (mentioned in v. 26).
• this our craft: Greek: technēs (τέχνης). Refers to their "art," "skill," or "trade" of silversmithing and idol-making. It highlights the direct personal impact on their livelihood and source of income.
• is in danger: Greek: kindyneuō (κινδυνεύει). To be "in peril," "to run the risk," or "to be threatened." It conveys a sense of impending and serious jeopardy.
• to be set at nought: Greek: eis apelegmon (εἰς ἀπελεγμὸν). Means to come into "disrepute," "contempt," "be discredited," "be utterly put to shame," or "made worthless." Their reputable and profitable trade was losing its status and value.
• but also that: Signifies an additional, equally significant concern, implying a "spiritual" or "religious" dimension to their grievances.
• the temple: Greek: hieron (ἱερόν). The sacred building, the massive and awe-inspiring Temple of Artemis, which was the central focus of their worship and a major tourist attraction.
• of the great goddess Diana: Greek: tēs te megalēs theas Artemidos (τῆς τε μεγάλης θεᾶς Ἀρτέμιδος). KJV uses "Diana" (Roman equivalent for the Greek "Artemis"). "Great" (megalēs) emphasizes her celebrated status and presumed universal veneration among pagans, highlighting the perceived insult to her majesty.
• should be despised: Greek: logisthēnai eis outhen (λογισθῆναι εἰς οὐθέν). To be "reckoned as nothing," "counted as worthless," or "held in utter contempt." The implication is that Paul's teaching made people view Artemis and her worship as valueless.
• and her magnificence: Greek: megaleiotes (μεγαλειότης). Refers to her "majesty," "splendor," "grandeur," "exaltation," or the impressive, renowned worship surrounding her. Demetrius implies a perceived loss of dignity and reputation for the goddess herself.
• should be destroyed: Greek: kathaireō (καθαιρεῖσθαι). To "tear down," "pull down," or "demolish." While not necessarily implying a literal physical destruction of the temple at this point, it points to the destruction of her veneration, influence, and the cult surrounding her. It denotes bringing down from a high status to nothing.
• whom all Asia and the world worshippeth: Greek: proskyneō (προσκυνεί). To "worship," "prostrate oneself," or "do homage." This is Demetrius's rhetorical flourish, exaggerating the global reach and universal adoration of Artemis, aiming to evoke a stronger emotional response from his audience and justify the severity of the perceived threat.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "this our craft is in danger to be set at nought": This phrase concisely conveys the economic and professional threat faced by Demetrius and his guild. The word "nought" signifies being reduced to nothing, rendered meaningless or worthless, encapsulating the potential financial ruin.
• "but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed": This reveals Demetrius's two-pronged argument: first, the tangible economic impact, and second, the religious desecration. He connects their business loss directly to an affront to their revered deity, appealing to both self-interest and religious zeal. The shift from "despised" (loss of reverence) to "destroyed" (loss of her renown/cult) shows the ultimate outcome they fear.
• "whom all Asia and the world worshippeth": This hyperbolic statement serves as a potent rhetorical device. Demetrius inflates Artemis's standing to make the perceived threat to her worship seem all the more blasphemous and universally damaging, justifying a passionate, collective response.

Acts 19 27 Bonus section

• Idolatry in Modern Context: While direct worship of statues may be less common in some cultures today, the spirit of idolatry persists. Anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives—money, power, reputation, material possessions, even national identity or comfort—can become an "idol." Demetrius's concern for his "craft" highlights that vocational and economic endeavors, when detached from divine principles, can become the objects of our primary allegiance, making us resistant to anything that threatens them.
• The Gospel's Disruptive Nature: This event exemplifies that the Gospel, when genuinely preached and embraced, is inherently disruptive to status quo systems built on anything other than Christ. It calls for repentance, a turning away from vain things (idols, sinful practices, self-worship), which inevitably challenges economic models, social norms, and personal habits that clash with God's truth. The persecution faced by Paul was often a direct consequence of the positive impact and spiritual liberation his message brought.
• Rhetorical Manipulation: Demetrius's speech reveals the use of rhetorical manipulation where a base motive (financial loss) is cloaked in a noble, public-minded concern (defense of a revered deity). This strategy of using a collective grievance (religious insult) to mask personal gain is a timeless tactic employed by those who oppose spiritual advancement for worldly reasons.

Acts 19 27 Commentary

Acts 19:27 stands as a powerful microcosm of the inherent tension between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and entrenched societal systems, particularly those founded on idolatry and economic exploitation. Demetrius's impassioned speech artfully intertwines two core grievances: the very tangible threat to his personal and professional wealth and the perceived blasphemy against the "great goddess" Artemis. He cleverly frames a financially motivated protest as a defense of religious sanctity, understanding that religious indignation often ignites deeper, more widespread fervor.

The "danger to be set at nought" applies not only to the literal silver craft but also metaphorically to the entire system that profited from pagan worship. Paul's simple proclamation that "gods made with hands are no gods at all" directly challenged the legitimacy of Artemis, rendering her cult, and thus the industry surrounding it, "despised" and ultimately "destroyed" in terms of influence and public reverence. This illustrates the fundamental nature of the Gospel's truth: it demands exclusive devotion to the one true God, exposing all other "gods" and the systems built upon them as vain and worthless. The fear expressed here is not merely for their idols, but for the loss of their comfortable, prosperous way of life that those idols enabled. It underscores how economic interests can profoundly fuel opposition to spiritual truth, demonstrating that material gain can be a powerful idol in itself, provoking resistance when threatened by genuine faith.