1216. Démétrios

Lexical Summary

Démétrios: Demetrius

Original Word: Δημήτριος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Démétrios
Pronunciation: day-MAY-tree-os
Phonetic Spelling: (day-may'-tree-os)
KJV: Demetrius
NASB: Demetrius
Word Origin: [from Demeter (Ceres)]

1. Demetrius, the name of an Ephesian and of a Christian

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Demetrius.

From Demeter (Ceres); Demetrius, the name of an Ephesian and of a Christian -- Demetrius.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Démétér (Gr. goddess of agriculture)
Definition
Demetrius, the name of a silversmith and of a Christian
NASB Translation
Demetrius (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1216: Δημήτριος

Δημήτριος, Δημετριου, ὁ, Demetrius;

1. a silversmith of Ephesus, a heathen: Acts 19:24, 38.

2. a certain Christian: 3 John 1:12.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Meaning

Demetrius (Greek Δημήτριος) was a common Greek personal name in the Greco-Roman world. It means “devoted to Demeter,” the mythical Greek goddess of grain and fertility. In Scripture, however, the bearers of the name are presented entirely within a biblical worldview; the pagan origin of the name is incidental to the inspired narrative.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Acts 19:24 – Demetrius the Ephesian silversmith who incited a riot against Paul.
2. Acts 19:38 – The same Demetrius is mentioned again within the legal counsel of the town clerk.
3. 3 John 12 – A different Demetrius, warmly commended by the Apostle John.

Demetrius the Ephesian Silversmith (Acts 19:23-41)

• Vocation and influence: Luke identifies him as “a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis” (Acts 19:24). The lucrative business of crafting miniature temple models or cultic figurines placed him among the economic elite of Ephesus.
• Catalyst for opposition: Paul’s proclamation that “gods made by human hands are not gods at all” (Acts 19:26) threatened the idolatry-based economy. Demetrius organized fellow artisans, inflaming civic pride and economic fear to rally a mob in the theater.
• Political savvy: His speech (Acts 19:25-27) cleverly blended commercial concerns with civic religion, invoking both personal livelihood and the honor of Artemis.
• Outcome: The town clerk’s intervention (Acts 19:35-41) exposed the legality of Paul’s ministry and the illegality of the riot. Demetrius’s plot failed; the gospel advanced without violence from the disciples.
• Spiritual lesson: The episode highlights the inevitable collision between the gospel and idolatrous systems. Economic self-interest often disguises itself as piety, yet the power of the risen Christ exposes and overcomes such resistance.

Demetrius Commended by the Apostle John (3 John 12)

“Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself; and we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true”.
• Character: John presents Demetrius as a model believer whose life aligns with “the truth itself.” His reputation is affirmed by three witnesses—local believers, objective truth, and apostolic endorsement—satisfying Deuteronomy’s standard of multiple witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).
• Probable role: Most interpreters see him as the courier of 3 John or as a traveling teacher whom Gaius is urged to receive. In either case, he embodies faithful missionary service and hospitality.
• Contrast with Diotrephes: Positioned after Diotrephes’ self-serving authoritarianism (3 John 9-10), Demetrius stands as an antithesis—humble, trustworthy, and submissive to apostolic authority.

Historical and Cultural Background

• Ephesus: Home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Ephesus thrived on pilgrimage tourism and idol manufacture. The silversmith guild wielded economic and social power.
• Travel and commendation letters: In the first-century church, itinerant teachers carried letters of recommendation (cf. Acts 18:27; 2 Corinthians 3:1). John’s commendation of Demetrius fits this custom, underscoring communal discernment.
• Names in mission: The presence of a second Demetrius—this one a Christian—illustrates the gospel’s reach into the Hellenistic population, transforming people without erasing their cultural identity.

Theological and Practical Lessons

1. The gospel challenges societal idols—whether religious, economic, or ideological.
2. Christian testimony rests on both character and truth; reputation must accord with apostolic doctrine.
3. Spiritual leadership is validated by godly witness, not by self-promotion or economic leverage.
4. Hospitality to faithful servants remains a non-negotiable duty for the church.

Reception in Church History

Early writers such as Irenaeus and Tertullian cited Acts 19 to illustrate pagan resistance to monotheism. Ecclesiastical commentators contrasted the two Demetriuses: one hardened by greed, the other softened by truth. Medieval homilists used the silversmith’s riot to warn against covetousness, while Reformation preachers highlighted Scriptural authority over ecclesiastical profiteering.

Applications for the Church Today

• Discern modern parallels to idolatry—consumerism, nationalism, celebrity culture—and uphold the supremacy of Christ.
• Foster transparent commendation of Christian workers, ensuring that personal integrity and doctrinal fidelity align.
• Engage the marketplace with integrity, acknowledging that faithful witness may provoke opposition but trusting God’s providence in the advance of the gospel.

Forms and Transliterations

Δημητριος Δημήτριος Δημητριω Δημητρίῳ Demetrio Dēmētriō Demetríoi Dēmētríōi Demetrios Demḗtrios Dēmētrios Dēmḗtrios

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 19:24 N-NMS
GRK: Δημήτριος γάρ τις
NAS: named Demetrius, a silversmith,
KJV: [man] named Demetrius, a silversmith,
INT: Demetrius indeed a certain [man]

Acts 19:38 N-NMS
GRK: μὲν οὖν Δημήτριος καὶ οἱ
NAS: if Demetrius and the craftsmen
KJV: if Demetrius, and
INT: indeed therefore Demetrius and the

3 John 1:12 N-DMS
GRK: Δημητρίῳ μεμαρτύρηται ὑπὸ
NAS: Demetrius has received
KJV: Demetrius hath good report of
INT: To Demetrius witness is carried by

Strong's Greek 1216
3 Occurrences

Δημητρίῳ — 1 Occ.
Δημήτριος — 2 Occ.