Acts 19:26
What does Acts 19:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 19:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 19:26 means
Demetrius points to observable impact: Paul has persuaded and turned away many, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. This is the ancient prophetic critique of idolatry stated plainly. The charge is accurate: the gospel declares the living God and exposes man-made deities as powerless. Demetrius frames this as a crisis for their trade, revealing how truth threatens deception-based economies. He notes the spread “not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia,” acknowledging the gospel’s regional reach. Ironically, his complaint becomes a testimony to the word’s effectiveness. His concern is not theological correction but financial survival.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And you see, for it has come to your ears, that not only at Ephesus, but almost all through Asia, this Paul has been teaching numbers of people and turning them away, saying that those are not gods who are made by men's hands:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and ye see and hear, that not only at Ephesus, but almost in all Asia, this Paul, having persuaded, did turn away a great multitude, saying, that they are not gods who are made by hands;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And you see and hear that this Paul, by persuasion hath drawn away a great multitude, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, saying: they are not gods which are made by hands.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and ye see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great crowd, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, saying that they are nogods which are made with hands.
Context
This evidence-based accusation follows Demetrius’s economic concern and provides the inflammatory content for his case. It bridges from private grievance to public alarm. The next verse widens the issue beyond profit to civic pride and religious devotion—danger to their trade, and danger to Diana’s temple and magnificence. This escalation will trigger the crowd’s wrath and the famous chant praising Diana.
v.25whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.
v.26This passage
v.27and 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 135:15
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.
- Acts 17:29
Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.
- 1 Corinthians 10:19
What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
- 1 Corinthians 16:8
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;
- 1 Corinthians 8:4
Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one.
- Galatians 4:8
Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:
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