Acts 19:27 - Printer Friendly

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."

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."

NASB: Not only is there danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.'

CSB: Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world worship."

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!'

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.

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.”

The story of the silversmiths in Ephesus is intensely relevant for the modern world. Paul brings the message of Jesus: His loving sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection that offers forgiveness and reconciliation with God. The Holy Spirit works through Paul to heal infirmities and release people from bondage to demons and witchcraft. People from all over the district come to find the grace they so desperately need (Acts 19:8–12, 18–20, 26).

But the worship of Jesus threatens the livelihoods of craftsmen who make idols (Acts 19:23–25). They gather to brainstorm a marketing campaign. What they come up with is the fact that the province of Asia is identified by the worship of Artemis. If people return to worshiping Artemis, the craftsmen will get their business back.

It's telling that the worship of their goddess is a means to an end: the financial exploitation of people. The craftsmen would rather see the people stay enslaved to demons and witchcraft than find freedom. It's easier to make money off people who are oppressed than those who are free.

Asia is a province that takes up a large part of the southwest portion of modern-day Turkey; Ephesus is its capital. The temple to Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Despite that the craftsmen nearly start a riot and Paul leaves soon after (Acts 20:1), pockets of Greek people in Asia continue to follow Jesus until 1923, when they are relocated to Greece after the Turkish war.

Acts 19:23–27 is the story of how people often value money and civil identity more than the freedom and salvation found in Christ. Paul's work in Ephesus is so effective that people are turning to Jesus in noticeable numbers. Fearful for their income, the craftsmen who make idols start a pro-Artemis rally that nearly turns into a riot. They know people are being healed and rescued from demons, but they'd rather have money, so they use the religious and civil identities of the Ephesians to secure it.

Acts 19 recounts Paul's three-year visit in Ephesus. He starts by revealing how Jesus of Nazareth has brought to life the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit validates Paul's message by healing those struck with physical ailments and demon possession. Amazed by Paul's authority over evil spirits, so many magicians turn to Christ that the craftsmen who make idols fear for their livelihoods. They nearly incite a riot before the town clerk settles them down. Paul realizes his time in Ephesus has ended, and he travels to Macedonia (Acts 20:1).

Acts 19 is the meat of Paul's third missionary voyage. He has already revisited the churches in central modern-day Turkey (Acts 18:23). Now he returns to Ephesus for a three-year stay. After firmly establishing the church there, rescuing many from pagan magic and the worship of Artemis, he returns to Macedonia and Greece. A threat on his life sends him back up to Macedonia and across to Troas. He meets briefly with the Ephesian elders to tell them they will not meet again (Acts 20). When he returns to Jerusalem, he is arrested and, eventually, taken to Rome.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.