Acts 19:28

And when they heard [these sayings], they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.

And {G1161} when they heard {G191} these sayings, they were {G1096} full {G4134} of wrath {G2372}, and {G2532} cried out {G2896}, saying {G3004}, Great {G3173} is Diana {G735} of the Ephesians {G2180}.

Hearing this, they were filled with rage and began bellowing, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

When the men heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Commentary

Context of Acts 19:28

Acts 19:28 captures a pivotal moment during the Apostle Paul's extensive ministry in Ephesus, a significant city in Asia Minor known for its grand Temple of Artemis (Diana). Paul's powerful preaching of the Gospel, which declared that "they be no gods, which are made with hands" (Acts 19:26), began to convert many people away from paganism. This threatened the lucrative trade of Demetrius, a silversmith, and his fellow craftsmen who made silver shrines for the goddess Diana. Their economic livelihood was directly tied to the idolatrous worship of Diana. When Demetrius exposed the perceived threat to their business and their goddess, the artisans were filled with intense anger, leading to the passionate outcry recorded in this verse and the subsequent riot in the city (Acts 19:29).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Clash Between Truth and Idolatry: This verse vividly illustrates the fundamental conflict between the monotheistic truth of the Gospel and entrenched pagan worship. The Ephesians' fervent defense of Diana highlights the deep-seated nature of their idolatry and their resistance to a God who cannot be fashioned by human hands.
  • Economic Opposition to the Gospel: The narrative underscores how the spread of Christianity can directly threaten established economic systems built upon false worship or unrighteous practices. The silversmiths' wrath was fueled by both religious zeal and, perhaps more powerfully, by the potential loss of their income.
  • Mob Mentality and Zeal for False Gods: The immediate, unified, and furious reaction of the crowd demonstrates the dangerous power of mob mentality. Their repetitive shouting, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians," was a declaration of loyalty and defiance, a passionate assertion of their faith in their goddess against the perceived threat of Paul's teachings.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Diana" is the Latin equivalent of the Greek goddess Artemis. In Ephesus, the worship of Artemis was central to the city's identity and economy, centered around the magnificent Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The cry, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians," was not merely a casual statement but a powerful, almost liturgical, declaration of her supreme status and the city's devotion to her. The phrase "full of wrath" (Greek: thymos) denotes a passionate, boiling anger, indicating the intensity of their emotional response.

Significance and Application

Acts 19:28 offers timeless insights into the challenges faced by the Gospel. It reminds us that:

  • The message of Christ often confronts and challenges deeply ingrained cultural, religious, and even economic norms.
  • People may react with hostility when their traditions, livelihoods, or comfort zones are threatened by spiritual truth, even if those traditions are rooted in falsehood. This is a common pattern seen throughout the Bible, such as when idolatry persisted in Judah despite prophetic warnings.
  • True faith requires a willingness to stand for God's truth, even in the face of widespread opposition, mob anger, or economic pressure. The early Christians faced significant persecution, as prophesied by Jesus in John 15:20.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that the Gospel's transformative power extends beyond individual salvation, often impacting societal structures and revealing where true allegiance lies.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 17:13

    These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

  • Revelation 13:4

    And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

  • Acts 21:28

    Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

  • Acts 21:31

    And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

  • Psalms 2:2

    The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying],

  • Acts 19:34

    But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.

  • Acts 19:35

    And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?
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