Acts 19:28 - Printer Friendly

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

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

NASB: When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began shouting, saying, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'

CSB: When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

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

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

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

The story of Jesus is needed everywhere in the Roman Empire, but the power of the Holy Spirit is perhaps nowhere more needed than in Ephesus. In addition to the traditional god-worship, the city was saturated with witchcraft and demonic activity. The Holy Spirit empowers Paul to heal both physical and spiritual ailments, and people from all over the province of Asia exult in their newfound freedom (Acts 19:11–12).

Paul has met resistance in nearly every city where he has preached. In Pisidian Antioch and Thessalonica, it was jealousy (Acts 13:45; 17:5). In Galatia and Athens, it was unbelief (Acts 14:2; 17:32). In Philippi, like now in Ephesus, it was money (Acts 16:19; 19:26–27). Paul's preaching that the true God is not represented by idols made by hands threatens the Ephesian craftsmen who make idols. They can't say that, of course, so they resort to regional fidelity to the temple of Artemis. They start a protest, affirming their devotion.

As they march to the theater, which also serves as a forum, others in the city get caught up in the fervor, joining the chant with no idea why they're chanting. The craftsmen grab two of Paul's companions; people from the church prevent Paul from following. Alexander, a Jew, tries to make a defense, but when the crowd realizes his ethnicity, they shout louder. Eventually, the town clerk steps in and threatens the crowd with the charge of rioting. He tells the craftsmen they can take Paul to court if they have an actual case and dismisses the crowd (Acts 19:29–41).

In Acts 19:28–34, a marketing campaign turns into a riot. Silversmiths and other craftsmen are losing business because so many in the city of Ephesus are turning to Jesus. They shout their allegiance to Artemis, the city goddess, as they march through the streets. Other residents join their cry and follow them to the theater. Along the way, they grab two of Paul's companions. Paul tries to intervene, but other church members hold him back. The mob marches to the theater, most of them not knowing what is actually going on, and chant for two straight hours.

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.