The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul was spreading the gospel throughout the city of Ephesus, and “there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen. Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover you see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Demetrius said, “not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised” where we read:
So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.
The verse begins, “So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought;” Luke began with the words, “so that not only this our craft” which means “moreover not solely or alone our, Demetrius and the silversmiths', course, division , share, portion and business” “is in danger” or “exists as in jeopardy or peril” “to be set at nought” which means “to come to, arise and appear as worthless and contemptible”. Luke shared how “Demetrius” told his fellow silversmiths the effect of “Paul” teaching people that there are no gods or goddesses which are made with hands would be that the silversmiths would no longer be needed and their “craft” would be worthless.
The verse goes on to say, “but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.” Luke continued with the words, “but also that the temple” which means “even so and indeed the sacred worship place used for Diana or Artemis at Ephesus” “of the great goddess Diana” or “belonging to the preeminent and esteemed female deity Diana which means complete light or flow restrained and was the so called Tauric or Persian or Ephesian Artemis, the goddess of many Asiatic people, to be distinguished from the Artemis of the Greeks, the sister of Apollo” “should be despised” which means “will be reckoned, computed, deemed, judged, calculated and thought as nothing and no one”, “and her magnificence” or “and her, the goddess Diana's, greatness, majesty and mighty power” “should be destroyed” which means “will be taken down and thought of as cast down, lowered and demolished”, “whom all Asia” or “that each, every, the whole and everyone throughout Asia whose name means orient and was the proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today” “and the world worships” which means “and the entire earth, arable land, country and territory is devout to, reveres and adores”. Luke shared how “Demetrius” appealed to his fellow silversmiths by telling them that not only would their “craft” be made as nothing, but also would the goddess “Diana” and the “sacred worship place” for the goddess “Diana” would be thought of as nothing even though the whole “earth” gives homage and reverence to her.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Demetrius” expounded the effect of “Paul's” teachings in the minds of his fellow silversmiths. He told them the their “business, the goddess Diana and her temple” would be thought of as nothing if they allowed this to continue. He said the entire “world” worshiped “Diana”, and if “Paul” was allowed to continue sharing and the people believed, everyone on the earth would recognize “Diana” is as nothing. God's desire is to turn people from their idols to worship the true and living God, (See 1 Thessalonians 1:9) and He does this through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus. God loves everyone, and when they yield to His Son Jesus, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Whatever they were “worshiping” before becomes as nothing, and Jesus Christ is their “Lord and Savior”. Those who carefully examine the words of “Demetrius” will understand the effect of people turning themselves over to Jesus, and they should no longer be concerned with what happens with worthless “gods and goddesses”.
Next time Luke shares, “when they heard these saying, they were full of wrath”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
No comments:
Post a Comment