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Acts 7:54
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him withtheir teeth.

Acts 16:19-24
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drewthem into the marketplace unto the rulers, …

Acts 21:28-31
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth allmen every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place…

and cried.

Acts 19:34,35
But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Greatis Diana of the Ephesians…

1 Samuel 5:3-5
And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagonwas fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again…

1 Kings 18:26-29
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressedit, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. Butthere was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made…

they were enraged
The anger of the men is a response to the perceived attack on their goddess and their economic interests. This reflects the deep-seated devotion to Artemis, a central figure in Ephesian culture and religion. The rage can be seen as a defense of their identity and way of life, which was intertwined with the worship of Artemis. This mirrors other instances in scripture where economic interests clash with the spread of the Gospel, such as the opposition Paul faced in Philippi (Acts 16:19-24).

and began shouting
The shouting indicates a public and collective outcry, a common form of protest in ancient times. This public demonstration shows the intensity of their emotions and the communal nature of their worship. It also serves to rally others to their cause, creating a mob mentality that can quickly escalate into violence, as seen in other biblical accounts of public unrest (e.g.,Acts 14:19).

“Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Artemis was a major deity in Ephesus, and her temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The phrase underscores the civic pride and religious fervor of the Ephesians. Artemis was not only a religious figure but also a symbol of the city's prosperity and cultural identity. This chant is both a declaration of faith and a defense against the perceived threat of Paul's teachings. Theologically, this highlights the conflict between the worship of created things and the worship of the Creator, a theme echoed inRomans 1:25. The phrase also contrasts with the Christian proclamation of the greatness of Jesus Christ, who is the true and living God.

• The “this” is Demetrius’ alarm that Paul’s gospel was turning people from idols (Acts 19:24-27). Hearing truth always provokes a response—either humble faith or hardened resistance (Acts 2:37;Hebrews 3:15).

•Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes by hearing,” yetJohn 3:20 shows that those who love darkness recoil when the light exposes them.

• The episode underscores that Scripture presents spiritual battle as factual, not figurative; hearts truly change or harden when confronted with the Word.

• Envy and economic fear ignited fury: the silversmiths’ livelihood and civic pride were at stake (1 Timothy 6:10;Proverbs 29:22).

• Similar rage appeared when Stephen confronted religious leaders (Acts 7:54) and when Jesus exposed hypocrisy (Luke 4:28-29).

• Anger here is not righteous but a carnal defense of idolatry;James 1:20 states, “man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.”

• The scene shifts from private indignation to public uproar. Mob psychology often drowns reason (Acts 21:30-34).

• Scripture records crowds shouting “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:23) and “Away with him!” (Acts 22:22), reminding us that majority volume does not equal truth.

•Proverbs 15:1 contrasts this chaos: “A gentle answer turns away wrath,” highlighting the gospel’s call to peace even amid disorder.

• Their chant reveals their true allegiance: a man-made deity tied to cultural identity (Exodus 32:4;Psalm 115:4-8).

• Paul had already taught that “gods made by human hands are not gods at all” (Acts 19:26), echoingIsaiah 44:19-20 and1 Corinthians 8:4-6.

• The repetition (Acts 19:34 notes a two-hour chant) shows spiritual blindness; when truth is rejected, empty slogans fill the void.

Acts 19:28 pictures a chain reaction: truth heard, pride wounded, anger kindled, idolatry defended. It warns that the gospel will confront both wallets and worldviews, stirring opposition from those invested in false worship. Yet the scene also comforts believers—Scripture accurately records this conflict so we can stand firm, knowing the living God eclipses every man-made “greatness.”

Great is Diana of the Ephesians.--The cry was probably the usual chorus of the festivals of Artemis. Stress was now laid on the distinctive adjective, "Great she was, whoever might attack her greatness."