Acts 19:27
What does Acts 19:27 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 19:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 19:27 means
Demetrius warns of dual danger: their trade may be discredited, and the temple of the great goddess Diana may be regarded as nothing, even deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worship. He blends economic anxiety with civic-religious zeal, invoking the temple’s global fame to inflame passions. The argument is savvy: threaten people’s income and identity simultaneously. The gospel strikes both, because it calls for exclusive worship of the true God. Demetrius portrays the shift as an existential crisis for Ephesus itself. His rhetoric succeeds, not by refuting Paul’s message, but by arousing fear of loss and wounding local pride.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611So 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And there is danger, not only that our trade may be damaged in the opinion of men, but that the holy place of the great goddess Diana may be no longer honoured, and that she to whom all Asia and the world give worship, will be put down from her high position.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and not only is this department in danger for us of coming into disregard, but also, that of the great goddess Artemis the temple is to be reckoned for nothing, and also her greatness is about to be brought down, whom all Asia and the world doth worship.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, but also the temple of great Diana shall be reputed for nothing! Yea, and her majesty shall begin to be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Now not only there is danger for us that our business come into discredit, but also that the temple of the greatgoddess Artemis be counted for nothing, and that her greatness should be destroyed whom the whole of Asia and the world reveres.
Context
Following the claim that Paul’s preaching turns people from idols, this verse adds a high-stakes appeal to temple prestige and city honor. It pushes the crowd to a tipping point. The next verse records their wrath and the chant “Great is Diana of the Ephesians,” which will cascade into a chaotic city-wide scene. What began as an economic complaint becomes a full-fledged public riot.
v.26And 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:
v.27This passage
v.28And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 19:21
Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
- 1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
- Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.
- Revelation 13:3
And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;
- Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.
- Zephaniah 2:11
Jehovah will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the nations.
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