Acts 19:24

24 For a man, Demetrius by name, a worker in silver, made silver houses to Diana, and gave to craftsmen much winning; [+Forsooth some man, Demetrius by name, an argentary, making silveren houses to Diana, that is, a false goddess, gave to craftsmen not little winning;]

Acts 19:24 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 19:24

For a certain man, named Demetrius, a silversmith
Who worked in silver, not in coining silver money, but in making silver vessels, in melting silver, and casting it into moulds, and forming it into different shapes; and particularly,

which made silver shrines for Diana;
who Diana was, (See Gill on Acts 19:27), these were not coins or medals of silver, struck by Demetrius, with the figure of the temple of Diana on them, nor images of Diana, as the Ethiopic version reads; but they were chaplets, or little temples made of silver, in imitation of the temple of Diana at Ephesus, with her image included in it; the words may be rendered, "silver temples": in some manuscripts it is added, "like little chests": which being sold to the people,

brought no small gain to the craftsmen:
who were of the same trade with him; masters of the same business, who employed others under them, as appears by what follows.

Acts 19:24 In-Context

22 And he sent into Macedonia two men, that ministered to him, Timothy, and Erastus, and he dwelled [he dwelt] for a time in Asia.

23 And a great troubling was made in that day, of the way of the Lord. [Therefore there was made in that day a troubling not least, in the way of the Lord.]

24 For a man, Demetrius by name, a worker in silver, made silver houses to Diana, and gave to craftsmen much winning; [+Forsooth some man, Demetrius by name, an argentary, making silveren houses to Diana, that is, a false goddess, gave to craftsmen not little winning;]

25 which he called together [and] them that were such manner workmen [whom he called together, and them that were such manner workmen], and said, Men, ye know that of this craft winning is to us;

26 and ye see and hear, that this Paul counseleth and turneth away much people, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, and said, that they be not gods, that be made with hands. [+and ye see and hear, that not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, this Paul counseleth and turneth away much company, saying, that they be not gods, that be made by hands.]