The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “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. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. And the same time there arose no small stir about that way”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared about, “a certain man named Demetrius” where we read:
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana,
brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
The verse begins, “For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, ...” Luke began with the words, “for a certain man” which means “because, since and on account that a particular male human being” “named Demetrius” or “who was called and known as Demetrius whose name means belonging to Ceres”, “a silversmith” which means “a beater and worker of silver”, “which made silver shrines” or “who made ready, produced, constructed and formed heathen temples made of silver metal” “for Diana” which means “on behalf of Diana whose name means complete light or flow restrained and was also known as Artemis, 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”. Luke shared about a man who was a “worker in silver” whose name was “Demetrius” who constructed temple or shrines for worship for the man made goddess named “Diana”.
The verse continues, “... brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;” Luke added the words, “brought no small gain” which means “which afforded, supplied and rendered not a little profit” “unto the craftsmen” or “to the builder or artificer”. Luke shared how the men who formed and fashioned temples and shrines to “Diana” made a large “profits” from the silver structures.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn about “Demetrius” who formed temples and shrines to the goddess “Diana” in “Ephesus” from silver. “Demetrius” and his fellow “silversmiths” made a large “profits” off their work, and we can imagine how people believing in Jesus rather than “Diana” cost them dearly. We shall see what “Demetrius” does about his loss of revenue in our next verse, but for now, let us be mindful that “all things new” from becoming a Christian often produces consequences against people who make money off their previous life. Things purchased are purchased no more. Places attended are not attended any longer, and those who promote these things lose “financial profits” from their lack of purchasing. God's desire is to have a loving personal relationship with every person, and when they yield to His Son Jesus, they leave the old things behind and begin their new life in God. Those who are wise will not worry over what they cost those who profit from their former life and surrender to Jesus' way of living that leaves the past behind.
Next time Luke shares how Demetrius, “called together with the workmen of like occupation”, 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".
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