Acts 19:25
New International Version
He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.

New Living Translation
He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.

English Standard Version
These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.

Berean Standard Bible
Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.

Berean Literal Bible
whom having brought together along with the workmen in such things, he said, "Men, you know that from this business is our wealth.

King James Bible
Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

New King James Version
He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.

New American Standard Bible
he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.

NASB 1995
these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.

NASB 1977
these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.

Legacy Standard Bible
these he gathered together with the workers of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is from this business.

Amplified Bible
These [craftsmen] he called together, along with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you are well aware that we make a good living from this business.

Christian Standard Bible
When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said: “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business.

American Standard Version
whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

Contemporary English Version
Demetrius brought together everyone who was in the same business and said: Friends, you know we make a good living at this.

English Revised Version
whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He called a meeting of his workers and others who did similar work. Demetrius said, "Men, you know that we're earning a good income from this business,

Good News Translation
So he called them all together with others whose work was like theirs and said to them, "Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this work.

International Standard Version
He called a meeting of these men and others who were engaged in similar trades and said, "Men, you well know that we get a good income from this business.

Majority Standard Bible
Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.

NET Bible
He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business.

New Heart English Bible
whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth:

Weymouth New Testament
He called his workmen together, and others who were engaged in similar trades, and said to them, "You men well know that our prosperity depends on this business of ours;

World English Bible
whom he gathered together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who worked around such things, he said, “Men, you know that by this work we have our wealth;

Berean Literal Bible
whom having brought together along with the workmen in such things, he said, "Men, you know that from this business is our wealth.

Young's Literal Translation
whom, having brought in a crowd together, and those who did work about such things, he said, 'Men, ye know that by this work we have our wealth;

Smith's Literal Translation
Whom having collected together and the workmen of such things, he said, Men, ye know that out of this work is our good food.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Whom he calling together, with the workmen of like occupation, said: Sirs, you know that our gain is by this trade;

Catholic Public Domain Version
And calling them together, with those who were employed in the same way, he said: “Men, you know that our income is from this craft.

New American Bible
He called a meeting of these and other workers in related crafts and said, “Men, you know well that our prosperity derives from this work.

New Revised Standard Version
These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, “Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He called together all the craftsmen of his trade, with the workmen of like occupation, and said to them: Men, you know that all of our earnings are derived from this craft.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
This man gathered all members of his craft together and those who worked with them, and he said to them, “Men, you know that all of our profit is from this work.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
These he called together, with the workmen employed about such things, and said: Men, you know that our wealth arises from this trade:

Godbey New Testament
whom having assembled and the laborers about such things, he said, Men, you know that it is from this work that prosperity is to us:

Haweis New Testament
whom collecting together, with the workmen also of such trinkets, he said, Sirs, ye know that by this employment we make our advantageous livelihood:

Mace New Testament
summon'd the company, and thus address'd them, "tho' you know, sirs, it is by this craft that we are in such plight,

Weymouth New Testament
He called his workmen together, and others who were engaged in similar trades, and said to them, "You men well know that our prosperity depends on this business of ours;

Worrell New Testament
gathering whom together, and the workmen of like occupation, be said, "Men, ye know that out of this business we have our wealth.

Worsley New Testament
and with them the workmen they employed about such things, and said, My friends, ye know that by this employment we get our wealth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Riot in Ephesus
24It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen. 25 Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. 26And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.…

Cross References
Isaiah 44:10-20
Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. / The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint. ...

Jeremiah 10:3-5
For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

1 Kings 12:28-30
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” / One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. / And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

Exodus 32:1-4
Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” / So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” / Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. ...

2 Kings 17:16-18
They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal. / They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. / So the LORD was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained,

Psalm 115:4-8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...

Psalm 135:15-18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...

Deuteronomy 4:28
And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.

Isaiah 46:6-7
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

Hosea 8:4-6
They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction. / He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6
So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.

1 Corinthians 10:19-20
Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

Revelation 9:20
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

Revelation 18:11-13
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.

1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God


Treasury of Scripture

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth.

ye know.

Acts 16:19
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

Hosea 4:8
They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

Hosea 12:7,8
He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress…

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Arises Business Clear Craft Crowd Depends Engaged Gathered Good Occupation Others Ours Prosperity Receive Related Similar Sirs Together Trade Wealth Work Workmen Wrought
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Arises Business Clear Craft Crowd Depends Engaged Gathered Good Occupation Others Ours Prosperity Receive Related Similar Sirs Together Trade Wealth Work Workmen Wrought
Acts 19
1. The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands.
8. The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles.
13. The Jewish exorcists,
16. are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit.
19. Conjuring books are burnt.
21. Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;
35. which is appeased by the town clerk.














He called them together
The phrase "He called them together" indicates a deliberate and purposeful gathering. In the context of Acts 19, this refers to Demetrius, a silversmith in Ephesus, who is rallying his fellow craftsmen. The Greek word for "called together" is "συγκαλέω" (synkaleō), which implies a summoning for a specific purpose. This reflects the urgency and importance of the matter at hand, as Demetrius seeks to unite those who share a common economic interest. Historically, such gatherings were common in ancient trade guilds, where craftsmen would meet to discuss issues affecting their livelihoods.

along with the workmen in related trades
This phrase highlights the interconnectedness of various trades in Ephesus, a city known for its temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Greek term "συνεργός" (synergos) refers to those who work together or are co-laborers. This indicates that the prosperity of one trade was often linked to others, especially in a city thriving on religious tourism and idol manufacturing. The mention of "related trades" underscores the collective economic impact of the gospel's spread, which threatened the local idol-making industry.

and said, 'Men, you know
The address "Men, you know" is a rhetorical strategy used by Demetrius to appeal to the common knowledge and shared experiences of his audience. The Greek word "ἄνδρες" (andres) is a respectful term for men, often used to garner attention and respect. By stating "you know," Demetrius is appealing to their awareness and understanding of the situation, creating a sense of urgency and solidarity among the craftsmen.

that this business is our source of prosperity
The phrase "this business is our source of prosperity" reveals the central concern of Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen. The Greek word for "business" is "ἐργασία" (ergasia), which denotes work or occupation. The term "prosperity" is translated from "εὐπορία" (euporia), meaning wealth or abundance. This highlights the economic dependency of the craftsmen on the production and sale of idols. In a broader scriptural context, this reflects the tension between economic interests and the transformative power of the gospel, which often challenges societal norms and practices. The prosperity mentioned here is not just financial but also tied to identity and social status, which were threatened by the spread of Christianity.

(25) The workmen of like occupation.--The "craftsmen" of the previous verse represent the higher class of what we call skilled labour. Here we have the unskilled labourers whom they employed. The former were, in a sense, artists, these were artisans.

Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.--Literally, Men, the word used being different from that in Acts 16:30. The word for "craft" is the same as that translated "gain" in Acts 16:19, where see Note. The opening words of Demetrius bring before us, with an almost naive simplicity, the element of vested interests which has at all times played so prominent a part in the resistance to religious and political reforms, and entered largely into the persecutions against which the early preachers of the gospel had to contend. Every city had its temples and priests, its flamens, its oracles or sanctuaries. Sacrifices and feasts created a market for industry which would otherwise have been wanting. In its later development, the Christian Church, employing the services of art, encouraging pilgrimages, organising conventual and collegiate institutions, created a market of another kind, and thus gave rise to new vested interests, which in their turn were obstacles to the work of reformation. At first, however, the absence of the aesthetic element in the aims and life of the Church seemed to threaten those who were occupied in such arts with an entire loss of livelihood, and roused them to a fierce antagonism.

Verse 25. - Gathered for called, A.V.; bust. ness for craft, A.V., but "craft" is the better rendering. Workmen; ἐργάται, different from the τεχνῖται skilled laborers or artisans. Demetrius called together all who were in any way interested in the shrine trade. His true reason came out first.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Demetrius] assembled [the craftsmen],
συναθροίσας (synathroisas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4867: To gather together, assemble. From sun and athroizo; to convene.

along with
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

workmen
ἐργάτας (ergatas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2040: A field-laborer; then: a laborer, workman in general. From ergon; a toiler; figuratively, a teacher.

in
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

related
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

trades.
τοιαῦτα (toiauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 5108: (including the other inflections); from toi and houtos; truly this, i.e. Of this sort (to denote character or individuality).

“Men,”
Ἄνδρες (Andres)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435: A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.

he said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“you know
ἐπίστασθε (epistasthe)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1987: To know, know of, understand. Apparently a middle voice of ephistemi; to put the mind upon, i.e. Comprehend, or be acquainted with.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

this
ταύτης (tautēs)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

business
ἐργασίας (ergasias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2039: From ergates; occupation; by implication, profit, pains.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

our
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

[source of]
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

prosperity.
εὐπορία (euporia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2142: Wealth, gain, plenty. From the same as euporeo; pecuniary resources.


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NT Apostles: Acts 19:25 Whom he gathered together with the workmen (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 19:24
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