How does Acts 19:25 connect with the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? The Back-to-Back Verses Acts 19:25: “Demetrius called them together along with the workmen in similar occupations and said, ‘Men, you know that we prosper from this business.’” Exodus 20:3: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” The Scene in Ephesus • Ephesus was renowned for the temple of Artemis—one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. • Silversmiths, led by Demetrius, made miniature shrines of the goddess; their income depended on the city’s idolatry. • Paul’s preaching threatened that economy by proclaiming “gods made by human hands are not gods at all” (Acts 19:26). The Unchanging Divine Demand • The First Commandment calls for exclusive worship of Yahweh, forbidding any rival deity. • Demetrius’ speech exposes the direct violation of that command: he fights to preserve allegiance to Artemis because it fills his purse. • Idolatry here is both religious (worshiping Artemis) and economic (trusting wealth). Compare Matthew 6:24; Colossians 3:5. Echoes of Sinai in the Marketplace • At Sinai, the command was given in the wilderness; in Acts, the same divine demand confronts a cosmopolitan city. • Both contexts show that idols—whether a golden calf (Exodus 32) or silver shrines—cannot coexist with devotion to the living God. Key Parallels • False gods: Artemis statues vs. any god “before Me.” • Human craftsmanship: idols fashioned by hands (Psalm 115:4-8) vs. the Creator who fashions people. • Motive of profit: Demetrius’ “we prosper” mirrors the heart-level idolatry condemned in 1 Timothy 6:10. Why the Connection Matters Today • The First Commandment is not merely ancient law; Acts 19 shows its relevance in every culture. • When careers, possessions, or cultural icons demand ultimate loyalty, they stand in the place of other gods. • The gospel still topples idols, calling believers to trust solely in Christ for identity, security, and provision. |
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