ACC ~ Acts 19 v23 - 29

OVERVIEW:

For the sake of clarity we have divided this incident into two parts: an account of Demetrius’s successful attempt to stir up the silversmiths and others of Ephesus (Acts 19:23-29) and the continued story of the riot and its quelling by the city clerk (Acts 19:30-41). In regard to the first part, the modern commentators provide valuable information concerning the cult of Artemis. They also remind us of how closely religion, finance, politics and the crafts can be intertwined in ancient culture, though they are not in agreement as to how important a role the religious aspect of the Artemis cult played in this event. Among the Fathers, Bede picks up on the economic implications of the events and extends them to the very materials of Demetrius’s craft; for Bede, everything about Demetrius points to an inward emptiness of worth, regardless of how rich his words or his metals are. Chrysostom, too, focuses on the worldly thrust of Demetrius’s concerns, but he, unlike Bede, notes how the silversmith’s words are an unwitting witness to Paul’s truthfulness and his imitation of Christ. Ammonius concludes that Demetrius is afraid that his deception would be exposed through Paul’s teaching.

19:24 | Demetrius, a Silversmith

A SILVERSMITH NAMED DEMETRIUS. BEDE: This Demetrius, who strove to make trouble for the way of the Lord, acted in accord with his own name, for it means “persecuting greatly.” Hence it is appropriate that the shrines of Diana that he made were constructed of no other metal than silver, for in the Scriptures eloquence is customarily indicated by silver, just as true knowledge is indicated by gold, and the craftiness of the Gentiles customarily constructed its religion not out of any consideration of meaning but out of the empty brilliance of discourse. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19.24.

19:25 | Wealth from the Making of Shrines

MONEY IS ALWAYS BEHIND IDOLATRY. CHRYSOSTOM: Notice how in every case idolatry arises from money. With those people it was because of money, and likewise here. They did not fear that their religion was in danger but that their skills might no longer have a market. And look at the man’s evil. He was well-off and to him this would have been no great loss. But to them it would have been a great loss, since they were poor and subsisted on their daily earnings. Nevertheless, it was not these men who said anything, but he. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 42.

19:26 | A Large Number of People

DEMETRIUS BEARS WITNESS TO PAUL. CHRYSOSTOM: Do you see how he demonstrated that Paul’s power was the greater and revealed all their gods to be miserable wretches, since a mere human, persecuted and only a tentmaker, had so much power? See how the enemies bore witness to the apostles. Earlier they said, “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.” Here, “Artemis may be deposed from her magnificence.” Earlier, the men “who had turned the world upside down” heard, “They have come here also.” Here, “There is danger that this trade of ours may come into disrepute.” So said the Jews with regard to Christ, “You see how the world is going after him,” and, “The Romans shall come and take away our city.” HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 42.

19:27 | Artemis Deposed from Her Magnificence

THEIR RELIGION IS RIGHTLY THREATENED. BEDE: That is: Not only will our work be discredited as vain and not deserving of payment but indeed our religion too will be brought into disgrace, if Paul prevails with his teaching that idols are not gods and that it is an extraordinary stupidity on the part of the Gentiles not to be ashamed to worship those whom they acknowledge can be constructed or destroyed. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19.27.

DEMETRIUS KNEW BETTER. AMMONIUS: Demetrius knew that he was deceiving people by making temples and gods of silver for them. So he was afraid that his roguery and deception would be exposed through Paul’s true teaching. It must be noted that the true faith shined forth to such an extent, even though it had not yet conquered the world, that Demetrius was afraid that ultimately the temple of Artemis in Ephesus would be destroyed. He thus prophesied the temple’s destruction, which has come to pass. CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 19.25.