Acts 19:24 Meaning and Explanation
“For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Demetrius, a silversmith who makes silver shrines of Diana, provides a profitable trade for the craftsmen of Ephesus.
What Does Acts 19:24 Mean?
Ephesus boasted the temple of Diana, counted among the wonders of the ancient world, and pilgrims bought silver shrines, small models of the goddess in her niche, as offerings and souvenirs. Demetrius stands at the head of this lucrative craft, and a God who cannot be cast in silver is bad for business.
Luke quietly shows how worship and wealth had fused: the goddess was an industry. The gospel threatens nothing Demetrius loves so much as his margins, as his own speech will confess (v. 25). Wherever devotion has become a revenue stream, the living God arrives as a disruption.
Acts 19:24 in the Original Language
naos (ναός), 'shrines' -- a temple; here the small silver temples of the goddess made for sale.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 19:24
What does Acts 19:24 mean?
Demetrius, a silversmith who makes silver shrines of Diana, provides a profitable trade for the craftsmen of Ephesus.