Bible Strands
Acts 19:24
It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative introduces a silversmith named Demetrius who makes silver shrines of Artemis. This action initiates a disturbance among the local craftsmen whose trade depends on this religious commerce.
The words — The text identifies him as an argurokopos (argurokopos), a silversmith, and notes he makes naous (naous), which are silver shrines. These terms establish his specific trade and the exact objects driving the economic conflict.
The thread — The passage records Demetrius claiming the craftsmen's prosperity depends on the shrines. This profit-driven opposition aligns with the slave girl's earnings in Acts 16:16 and 16:19, and the warning against the desire for wealth in 1 Timothy 6:9.
Why it lands — The verse states that religious devotion directly funds the livelihood of local artisans. It requires readers to confront how material prosperity can become the foundation for opposing spiritual truth.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
Cross-references
- 1 Timothy 6:9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
- Acts 16:16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling.
- Acts 16:19 When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
- Acts 19:27 There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.”
- Acts 19:34 But when they realized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
- Isaiah 56:11 Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: