- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
April 3, 2022 at 12:56 pm #319
Sulhazan
KeymasterDemetrius was the Silversmith of Ephesus who incited riot against Paul and his coworker after his business felt threatened by the decreasing popularity of Artemis owing to Paul’s Evangelism.
For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. ACTS 19:24 ESV
One thing is clear about Demetrius: He loved silver. From the silver shrines he made of the goddess Artemis to the silver coins he received from selling them, silver was definitely first and foremost in his mind.
Demetrius lived in the great city of Ephesus in Asia Minor, the location of the temple of Artemis. People traveled from all over the Roman world to visit this temple, which was listed by the ancient
historian Herodotus as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Demetrius was a leader among the silversmiths and other craftsmen who
made shrines and other trinkets for people paying homage to Artemis, so he had a vested interest in making sure the temple remained a top attraction throughout the world.
Enter Paul and his coworkers. After two years in Ephesus, Paul’s evangelistic work was so successful that it apparently began to threaten the popularity of the temple of Artemis itself (Acts 19:24–27). So Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen incited a riot against Paul and his coworkers, and Paul decided to leave for Macedonia. The Bible records nothing further of Demetrius, but the temple of Artemis remained popular for generations to come so he very possibly was able to
continue on with his silver business.
The Ephesian temple of Artemis that existed in Paul’s day was first built around 550 BC at the expense of Croesus, the wealthy king of Lydia. The temple met its demise at the hand of an arsonist in AD 356. -
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.