Acts 19:25
New International Version
He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.

New Living Translation
He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.

English Standard Version
These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.

Berean Standard Bible
Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.

Berean Literal Bible
whom having brought together along with the workmen in such things, he said, "Men, you know that from this business is our wealth.

King James Bible
Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

New King James Version
He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.

New American Standard Bible
he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.

NASB 1995
these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.

NASB 1977
these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.

Legacy Standard Bible
these he gathered together with the workers of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is from this business.

Amplified Bible
These [craftsmen] he called together, along with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you are well aware that we make a good living from this business.

Christian Standard Bible
When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said: “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.

American Standard Version
whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

Contemporary English Version
Demetrius brought together everyone who was in the same business and said: Friends, you know we make a good living at this.

English Revised Version
whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He called a meeting of his workers and others who did similar work. Demetrius said, "Men, you know that we're earning a good income from this business,

Good News Translation
So he called them all together with others whose work was like theirs and said to them, "Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this work.

International Standard Version
He called a meeting of these men and others who were engaged in similar trades and said, "Men, you well know that we get a good income from this business.

Majority Standard Bible
Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. ?Men,? he said, ?you know that this business is our source of prosperity.

NET Bible
He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business.

New Heart English Bible
whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth:

Weymouth New Testament
He called his workmen together, and others who were engaged in similar trades, and said to them, "You men well know that our prosperity depends on this business of ours;

World English Bible
whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who worked around such things, he said, “Men, you know that by this work we have our wealth;

Berean Literal Bible
whom having brought together along with the workmen in such things, he said, "Men, you know that from this business is our wealth.

Young's Literal Translation
whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who did work about such things, he said, 'Men, ye know that by this work we have our wealth;

Smith's Literal Translation
Whom having collected together and the workmen of such things, he said, Men, ye know that out of this work is our good food.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whom he calling together, with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade;

Catholic Public Domain Version
And calling them together, with those who were employed in the same way, he said: “Men, you know that our income is from this craft.

New American Bible
He called a meeting of these and other workers in related crafts and said, “Men, you know well that our prosperity derives from this work.

New Revised Standard Version
These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, “Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He called together all the craftsmen of his trade, with the workmen of like occupation, and said to them: Men, you know that all of our earnings are derived from this craft.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
This man gathered all members of his craft together and those who worked with them, and he said to them, “Men, you know that all of our profit is from this work.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
These he called together, with the workmen employed about such things, and said: Men, you know that our wealth arises from this trade:

Godbey New Testament
whom having assembled and the laborers about such things, he said, Men, you know that it is from this work that prosperity is to us:

Haweis New Testament
whom collecting together, with the workmen also of such trinkets, he said, Sirs, ye know that by this employment we make our advantageous livelihood:

Mace New Testament
summon'd the company, and thus address'd them, "tho' you know, sirs, it is by this craft that we are in such plight,

Weymouth New Testament
He called his workmen together, and others who were engaged in similar trades, and said to them, "You men well know that our prosperity depends on this business of ours;

Worrell New Testament
gathering whom together, and the workmen of like occupation, be said, "Men, ye know that out of this business we have our wealth.

Worsley New Testament
and with them the workmen they employed about such things, and said, My friends, ye know that by this employment we get our wealth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Riot in Ephesus
24It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen. 25 Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. 26And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.…

Cross References
Isaiah 44:10-20
Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. / The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint. ...

Jeremiah 10:3-5
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

Exodus 32:1-4
Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” / So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. ...

2 Kings 17:16-18
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. / So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained,

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...

Deuteronomy 4:28
And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

Isaiah 46:6-7
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

Hosea 8:4-6
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

1 Corinthians 10:19-20
Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Revelation 18:11-13
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.

1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God


Treasury of Scripture

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth.

ye know.

Acts 16:19
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

Hosea 4:8
They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

Hosea 12:7,8
He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress…

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Arises Business Clear Craft Crowd Depends Engaged Gathered Good Occupation Others Ours Prosperity Receive Related Similar Sirs Together Trade Wealth Work Workmen Wrought
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Arises Business Clear Craft Crowd Depends Engaged Gathered Good Occupation Others Ours Prosperity Receive Related Similar Sirs Together Trade Wealth Work Workmen Wrought
Acts 19
1. The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands.
8. The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles.
13. The Jewish exorcists,
16. are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit.
19. Conjuring books are burnt.
21. Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;
35. which is appeased by the town clerk.














Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades.
Demetrius was a silversmith in Ephesus, a city known for its temple to Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The craftsmen and workmen in related trades were likely involved in creating silver shrines and idols of Artemis, which were popular among pilgrims and worshippers. This assembly indicates the economic impact of the Christian message, as Paul's teachings were turning people away from idol worship, threatening their livelihood. The gathering of these tradesmen highlights the interconnectedness of religion and economy in ancient Ephesus, where the worship of Artemis was not only a spiritual practice but also a significant economic driver.

“Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.
Demetrius appeals to the economic interests of his fellow craftsmen, emphasizing the financial threat posed by the spread of Christianity. The phrase "source of prosperity" underscores the dependency of their wealth on the continued worship of Artemis. This reflects a broader theme in Acts, where the gospel challenges existing social and economic structures. The concern for prosperity also echoes the biblical warning against the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10) and the potential conflict between serving God and wealth (Matthew 6:24). The situation in Ephesus serves as a reminder of the transformative power of the gospel, which can disrupt established systems and provoke opposition from those whose interests are threatened.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Demetrius
A silversmith in Ephesus who made silver shrines of Artemis. He is the central figure in this verse, concerned about the impact of Paul's teachings on his trade.

2. Ephesus
A major city in Asia Minor, known for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was a center of commerce and pagan worship.

3. Artemis
The Greek goddess whose temple in Ephesus was a significant source of income for local craftsmen like Demetrius.

4. Paul
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Paul’s missionary work in Ephesus is the catalyst for the events described. His preaching against idolatry threatened the local economy based on idol worship.

5. Workmen in Related Trades
These are the craftsmen and artisans who, like Demetrius, profited from the production of religious artifacts and were concerned about the economic impact of the spread of Christianity.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Idolatry
Idolatry is not just about worshiping physical idols but can also be seen in prioritizing wealth and economic gain over spiritual truth.

Economic Impact of Faith
True faith in Christ can have significant economic implications, challenging industries and practices that are contrary to God’s will.

Courage in Witnessing
Like Paul, Christians are called to stand firm in their faith, even when it threatens societal norms or economic interests.

The Cost of Discipleship
Following Christ may require sacrificing personal or financial gain, as allegiance to Him takes precedence over all else.

Community Influence
Believers should be aware of how their faith and actions influence their community, for better or worse, and strive to be a positive witness.(25) The workmen of like occupation.--The "craftsmen" of the previous verse represent the higher class of what we call skilled labour. Here we have the unskilled labourers whom they employed. The former were, in a sense, artists, these were artisans.

Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.--Literally, Men, the word used being different from that in Acts 16:30. The word for "craft" is the same as that translated "gain" in Acts 16:19, where see Note. The opening words of Demetrius bring before us, with an almost naive simplicity, the element of vested interests which has at all times played so prominent a part in the resistance to religious and political reforms, and entered largely into the persecutions against which the early preachers of the gospel had to contend. Every city had its temples and priests, its flamens, its oracles or sanctuaries. Sacrifices and feasts created a market for industry which would otherwise have been wanting. In its later development, the Christian Church, employing the services of art, encouraging pilgrimages, organising conventual and collegiate institutions, created a market of another kind, and thus gave rise to new vested interests, which in their turn were obstacles to the work of reformation. At first, however, the absence of the aesthetic element in the aims and life of the Church seemed to threaten those who were occupied in such arts with an entire loss of livelihood, and roused them to a fierce antagonism.

Verse 25. - Gathered for called, A.V.; bust. ness for craft, A.V., but "craft" is the better rendering. Workmen; ἐργάται, different from the τεχνῖται skilled laborers or artisans. Demetrius called together all who were in any way interested in the shrine trade. His true reason came out first.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Demetrius] assembled [the craftsmen],
συναθροίσας (synathroisas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4867: To gather together, assemble. From sun and athroizo; to convene.

along with
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

workmen
ἐργάτας (ergatas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2040: A field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman in general. From ergon; a toiler; figuratively, a teacher.

in
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

related
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

trades.
τοιαῦτα (toiauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5108: (including the other inflections); from toi and houtos; truly this, i.e. Of this sort (to denote character or individuality).

“Men,”
Ἄνδρες (Andres)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435: A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.

he said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“you know
ἐπίστασθε (epistasthe)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1987: To know, know of, understand. Apparently a middle voice of ephistemi; to put the mind upon, i.e. Comprehend, or be acquainted with.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

this
ταύτης (tautēs)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

business
ἐργασίας (ergasias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2039: From ergates; occupation; by implication, profit, pains.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

our
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

[source of]
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prosperity.
εὐπορία (euporia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2142: Wealth, gain, plenty. From the same as euporeo; pecuniary resources.


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NT Apostles: Acts 19:25 Whom he gathered together with the workmen (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 19:24
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