Acts 19:24
What does Acts 19:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 19:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 19:24 means
Demetrius, a silversmith making silver shrines of Diana, brings substantial business to the craftsmen. His trade profits from the city’s devotion to the goddess and its pilgrimage economy. By naming him and his craft, Luke identifies a concrete source of opposition: the gospel’s advance has economic implications. Idolatry is not merely spiritual error; it is intertwined with livelihoods and status. Demetrius’s prominence gives him leverage to stir others. The upcoming speech will reveal how financial interests cloak themselves in pious language. The scene prepares us to see that when Christ claims hearts, revenue streams tied to false worship will feel the impact—and react.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For there was a certain man named Demetrius, a silver-worker, who made silver boxes for the images of Diana, and gave no small profit to the workmen;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for a certain one, Demetrius by name, a worker in silver, making silver sanctuaries of Artemis, was bringing to the artificers gain not a little,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver temples for Diana, brought no small gain to the craftsmen.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For a certain [man] by name Demetrius, a silver-beater, making silver temples of Artemis, brought no small gain to the artisans;
Context
This introduction personalizes the opposition to the Way after the earlier notice of disturbance. Demetrius becomes the mouthpiece for those whose income depends on the temple trade. The next verses report his gathering of craftsmen and his persuasive appeal that blends profit and piety. His agitation will ignite a city-wide uproar that sweeps up Paul’s companions and fills the theater with confusion.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 16:19
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,
- Acts 16:16
And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.
- Acts 19:27
and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
- Acts 19:34
But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
- Isaiah 56:11
Yea, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds that cannot understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.
- 1 Timothy 6:9
But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.
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