[21] When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." [22] So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time. [23] And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. [24] For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. [25] He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: "Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. [26] "Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. [27] "So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship." [28] Now when they heard [this], they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, "Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians!" [29] So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions. [30] And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. [31] Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. [32] Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. [33] And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. [34] But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, "Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians!" [35] And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: "Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Zeus? [36] "Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. [37] "For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. [38] "Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. [39] "But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. [40] "For we are in danger of being called in question for today's uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering." [41] And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.1
. . . reckoned as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It covered an area four times as large as that of the Parthenon in Athens; it was supported by 127 pillars, each of them sixty feet high, and was adorned by . . . great sculptors of antiquity.7
She was undoubtedly a representative of the same power presiding over conception and birth that was adored in Palestine under the name Ashtoreth.8
Endnotes:
1. | NKJV, Acts 19:21-41 |
2. | Ref-0653, 372 |
3. | 2 |
4. | Ref-0653, 376 |
5. | Ref-0185, Gods, False |
6. | Ref-0485, Diana;Artemis |
7. | Ref-0653, 374 |
8. | Ref-0185, Gods, False |
9. | Ref-0485, Diana;Artemis |
10. | “She may, however, be identified with the Cybele of the Phrygians whose name she also bore, and with several other deities who were worshipped under different names in various parts of the Orient. In Cappadocia she was known as Ma; to the Syrians as Atargatis or Mylitta; among the Phoenicians as Astarte, a name which appears among the Assyrians as Ishtar; the modern name Esther is derived from it. The same goddess seems to have been worshipped by the Hittites, for a female deity is sculptured on the rocks at Yazili Kaya, near the Hittite city of Boghazkeui.”9 |
11. | Ref-0485, Diana;Artemis |
12. | Ref-0653, 373 |
Sources: