SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:24
Porque un platero llamado Demetrio, el cual hacía de plata templecillos de Diana, daba a los artífices no poca ganancia;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 19:24
Verse 24. Silver shrines for Diana] It is generally known that the temple of Diana at Ephesus was deemed one of the seven wonders of the world, and was a most superb building. It appears that the silver shrines mentioned here were small portable representations of this temple, which were bought by strangers as matters of curiosity, and probably of devotion. If we can suppose them to have been exact models of this famous temple, representing the whole exterior of its magnificent workmanship, which is possible, they would be held in high estimation, and probably become a sort of substitute for the temple itself, to worshippers of this goddess who lived in distant parts of Greece. The temple of Diana was raised at the expense of all Asia Minor, and yet was two hundred and twenty years in building, before it was brought to its sum of perfection. It was in length 425 feet, by 220 in breadth; and was beautified by 127 columns, which were made at the expense of so many kings; and was adorned with the most beautiful statues. To procure himself an everlasting fame, Erostratus burned it to the ground the same night on which Alexander the Great was born. It is reported that Alexander offered to make it as magnificent as it was before, provided he might put his name on the front; but this was refused. It was afterwards rebuilt and adorned, but Nero plundered it of all its riches. This grand building remains almost entire to the present day, and is now turned into a Turkish mosque. See an account of it in Montfaucon, Antiq. Expliq. vol. ii., with a beautiful drawing on plate vi., No. 20. See also Stuart's Athens. There were also pieces of silver struck with a representation of the temple of Minerva on one side: many coins occur in the reigns of the first Roman emperors, where temples, with idols in the porch, appear on the reverse; and several may be seen in Muselius, in the reigns of Trajan, Adrian, Antoninus Pius, &c. A beautiful representation of the temple of Diana at Ephesus may be seen on a medal engraved by Montfaucon, in his Antiq. Expliq. Suppl. vol. ii. plate 33. It has eight Doric columns in front, which Pliny says were sixty feet in length. In the entrance, the figure of Diana is represented with a sort of tower upon her head; her arms are supported by two staves; at her feet are represented two stags with their backs towards each other. The sun is represented on the right side of her head, and the moon as a crescent on the left. On each side and at the bottom of this temple are the words, prwtwn asiav efesiwn. Some think that the medals here referred to are the same that are meant by the silver shrines made by Demetrius and his craftsmen. See the note on ver. 27.
Brought no small gain] There were many made, many sold, and probably at considerable prices.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 24. For a certain man, named Demetrius, a silversmith , etc.] 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 21-31 - Persons who came from afar to pay their devotions at the temple of Ephesus, bought little silver shrines, or models of the temple, to carry home with them. See how craftsmen make advantage to themselves of people's superstition, and serve their worldly ends by it. Men ar jealous for that by which they get their wealth; and many se themselves against the gospel of Christ, because it calls men from all unlawful crafts, however much wealth is to be gotten by them. There ar persons who will stickle for what is most grossly absurd, unreasonable and false; as this, that those are gods which are made with hands, i it has but worldly interest on its side. The whole city was full of confusion, the common and natural effect of zeal for false religion Zeal for the honour of Christ, and love to the brethren, encourag zealous believers to venture into danger. Friends will often be raise up among those who are strangers to true religion, but have observe the honest and consistent behaviour of Christians.
Greek Textus Receptus
δημητριος 1216 N-NSM γαρ 1063 CONJ τις 5100 X-NSM ονοματι 3686 N-DSN αργυροκοπος 695 N-NSM ποιων 4160 5723 V-PAP-NSM ναους 3485 N-APM αργυρους 693 A-APM αρτεμιδος 735 N-GSF παρειχετο 3930 5710 V-IMI-3S τοις 3588 T-DPM τεχνιταις 5079 N-DPM εργασιαν 2039 N-ASF ουκ 3756 PRT-N ολιγην 3641 A-ASF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
24. Silversmith (argurokopov). Lit., a silver-beater.Shrines. Small models of the temple of Diana, containing an image of the goddess. They were purchased by pilgrims to the temple, just as rosaries and images of the virgin are bought by pilgrims to Lourdes, or bronze models of Trajan's column or of the Colonne Vendome by tourists to Rome or Paris. 24 Craftsmen (tecnitaiv). In the next verse he mentions the workmen (ergatav), the two words denoting, respectively, the artisans, who performed the more delicate work, and the laborers, who did the rougher work.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
19:24 {Demetrius, a silversmith} (demetrios argurokopos). The name is common enough and may or may not be the man mentioned in #3Jo 1:12 who was also from the neighborhood of Ephesus. There is on an inscription at Ephesus near the close of the century a Demetrius called neopoios artemidos a temple warden of Artemis (Diana). Zoeckler suggests that Luke misunderstood this word neopoios and translated it into argurokopos, a beater (koptw, to beat) of silver (arguros, silver), "which made silver shrines of Artemis" (poiwn naous (argurous) Artemidos). It is true that no silver shrines of the temple have been found in Ephesus, but only numerous terra-cotta ones. Ramsay suggests that the silver ones would naturally be melted down. The date is too late anyhow to identify the Demetrius who was neopoios with the Demetrius argurokopos who made little silver temples of Artemis, though B does not have the word argurous. The poor votaries would buy the terra-cotta ones, the rich the silver shrines (Ramsay, _Paul the Traveller_, p. 278). These small models of the temple with the statue of Artemis inside would be set up in the houses or even worn as amulets. It is a pity that the Revised Version renders Artemis here. Diana as the Ephesian Artemis is quite distinct from the Greek Artemis, the sister of Apollo, the Diana of the Romans. this temple, built in the 6th century B.C., was burnt by Herostratus Oct. 13 B.C. 356, the night when Alexander the Great was born. It was restored and was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Artemis was worshipped as the goddess of fertility, like the Lydian Cybele, a figure with many breasts. The great festival in May would offer Demetrius a golden opportunity for the sale of the shrines. {Brought no little business} (pareiceto ouk oligen ergasian). Imperfect middle, continued to bring (furnish, provide). The middle accents the part that Demetrius played as the leader of the guild of silversmiths, work for himself and for them. {Unto the craftsmen} (tais tecnitais). The artisans from tecne (craft, art). Trade guilds were common in the ancient world. Demetrius had probably organized this guild and provided the capital for the enterprise.
