Acts 19 28

Acts 19:28 kjv

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Acts 19:28 nkjv

Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

Acts 19:28 niv

When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

Acts 19:28 esv

When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

Acts 19:28 nlt

At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

Acts 19 verses

Acts 19 28 Meaning

When Demetrius, a silversmith from Ephesus, successfully agitated his fellow craftsmen by arguing that Paul's teaching threatened their livelihood and the revered worship of the goddess Artemis, the people's reaction was immediate and vehement. They were consumed by intense fury, likely fueled by a mixture of religious fervor, civic pride, and fear of economic ruin. This overwhelming wrath manifested in loud, continuous shouts affirming the supremacy and greatness of Artemis, the patron goddess of their city. This verse marks the explosive start of a widespread public disturbance, highlighting the profound conflict between the true Gospel and entrenched idolatry that threatens worldly interests.

Acts 19 28 Context

Acts chapter 19 describes Paul's significant ministry in Ephesus, lasting over two years. His powerful teaching led many to Christ and renounced pagan practices, even leading to public burning of magical scrolls (Acts 19:18-19). This success, however, began to directly impact the local economy, especially the trade of silversmiths who made shrines for Artemis. Demetrius, one of these silversmiths, shrewdly recognized that Paul's message ("gods made with hands are not gods") was not only discrediting their craft but also undermining the prestige of the great goddess Artemis, on whom their city's identity and prosperity largely depended. His appeal to their economic fears, coupled with a call to defend the honor of Artemis, ignited the passion of his fellow craftsmen and eventually the entire city. Verse 28 describes the immediate, furious eruption of this crowd in response to Demetrius's inciting words, signaling the transition from private discussion to public riot.

Acts 19 28 Word analysis

• Now when they heard this (ἀκούσαντες): Akousantes, an aorist participle, signifies an immediate and completed action – they heard, and immediately reacted. This emphasizes the swiftness of the emotional response, indicating how effectively Demetrius's speech struck a nerve.
• they were full of wrath (ἐπλήσθησαν θυμοῦ):
  • were full of (ἐπλήσθησαν): Eplēsthēsan from pletho, meaning "to fill," conveys an overwhelming, saturating emotion. Their wrath was not just present but completely dominated them.
  • wrath (θυμοῦ - thymou): Thymos refers to a strong outburst of passion, hot anger, indignation, or rage. It implies a seething, often unbridled, and furious indignation, often sudden and violent. It's an emotional explosion, distinguishing it from orgē (ὀργή), which denotes a more settled, abiding resentment or vengeful disposition. Here, it vividly portrays the mob's agitated state, their emotions reaching a boiling point.
• and cried out (ἔκραζον): Ekrazon from krazo is in the imperfect tense, signifying continuous or repeated shouting. It's a loud, vehement, often inarticulate or impassioned outcry, suggesting a tumultuous and sustained roar from the crowd, building in intensity rather than a single shout. This action reflects the overwhelming surge of collective emotion.
• saying (λέγοντες): Standard linking word, showing their cries were articulated.
• Great is Artemis (Μεγάλη ἡ Ἄρτεμις):
  • Great (Μεγάλη - Megalē): The feminine singular form of megas, meaning "great," "large," "mighty," or "powerful." It's an adjective declaring her immense power, influence, and stature, used here as an acclamatory statement. This public proclamation asserted her supreme position in their pantheon and daily life, countering Paul's assertion that she was not a god at all.
  • Artemis (ἡ Ἄρτεμις): The Greek goddess, equated with the Roman Diana. In Ephesus, her cult was immensely powerful, focused on fertility, and her temple was a major economic and religious center. She was depicted differently from the classical Greek Artemis, often as multi-breasted, embodying prolific motherhood and nature. The fervent cry underscores her centrality to Ephesian identity and worldview.
• of the Ephesians (Ἐφεσίων): Ephesiōn is a possessive genitive, indicating "of the Ephesians" or "belonging to the Ephesians." This emphasizes her specific role as the guardian deity and patroness of their city. It roots her power and their loyalty locally, reinforcing their civic pride and cultural heritage tied inextricably to her worship, all of which Paul's ministry threatened.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out": This phrase encapsulates the rapid escalation from apprehension to unbridled collective rage. The news of Paul's spiritual impact and Demetrius's strategic manipulation ignited an immediate and intense emotional conflagration, showing the power of misinformation combined with pre-existing beliefs and economic concerns to incite mass hysteria.
• "saying, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'": This declaration is both a religious creed and a defiant rallying cry. It functions as a counter-proclamation to the Christian message, publicly asserting the perceived divine truth of their culture and opposing the Gospel's challenge to their gods. The specific addition "of the Ephesians" transforms it from a generic worship statement into an expression of unique local identity and fervent civic and religious pride, further highlighting the profound cultural clash with Paul's universal message of the one true God.

Acts 19 28 Bonus section

The phrase "Great is Artemis!" echoes common acclamations to gods or emperors in the ancient world, like "Caesar is Lord." This spontaneous declaration in response to Paul's gospel serves as an inverted "confession of faith," mirroring the early Christian declaration of "Jesus is Lord" (Kyrios Iesous). The riot illustrates the fragility of idolatrous systems when confronted by divine truth; their foundation relies on human belief and economic stability, both of which were threatened by the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. This event underscores the comprehensive impact of the Gospel, challenging not just individual beliefs but also economic structures, cultural practices, and political stability, demonstrating that following Christ often demands a complete reorientation of life that can lead to significant social upheaval. The irony lies in the fact that their frantic shouts in defense of a "great" goddess ultimately showcased her powerlessness against the growing truth of the one, true, living God proclaimed by a single tentmaker.

Acts 19 28 Commentary

Acts 19:28 is a vivid snapshot of the collision between the Gospel of Christ and deeply entrenched pagan idolatry, amplified by economic self-interest and civic pride. The "wrath" of the Ephesian crowd was a profound human response to perceived threats against their prosperity and their core religious beliefs. Paul's simple yet revolutionary truth—that "gods made with hands are not gods"—directly undermined both their theology and their lucrative industry centered around idol worship. The continuous, vehement cry, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" serves as a collective confession of their idolatrous faith and a unified rejection of the Christian message. This moment powerfully illustrates the radical nature of the Gospel in challenging prevailing societal norms, economies, and spiritual darkness. It foreshadows the type of opposition the church would consistently face—not merely intellectual debate, but passionate, often violent, resistance rooted in material concerns and spiritual blindness. It underscores that proclaiming Christ as Lord inherently confronts and devalues all lesser lords and false gods, whether they be religious figures, economic systems, or cultural idols. The scene exemplifies the spiritual battle described in Ephesians 6:12, revealing the influence of demonic forces working through human systems and passions to resist God's kingdom.