Acts 19:35

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} when the townclerk {G1122} had appeased {G2687} the people {G3793}, he said {G5346}, Ye men {G435} of Ephesus {G2180}, what {G5101}{G1063} man {G444} is there {G2076} that {G3739} knoweth {G1097} not {G3756} how that the city {G4172} of the Ephesians {G2180} is {G5607} a worshipper {G3511} of the great {G3173} goddess {G2299} Diana {G735}, and {G2532} of the image which fell down from Jupiter {G1356}?

Complete Jewish Bible

At last, the city clerk was able to quiet the crowd. “Men of Ephesus!” he said, “Is there anyone who doesn’t know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone which fell from the sky?

Berean Standard Bible

Finally the city clerk quieted the crowd and declared, “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?

American Standard Version

And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 19:35 captures the pivotal moment when the Ephesian townclerk intervenes to quell a volatile riot, appealing to the agitated crowd's civic pride and shared devotion to the goddess Diana. His address underscores the profound cultural and religious identity of Ephesus, inextricably linked to the worship of the great goddess and her sacred, divinely-fallen image, thereby highlighting the deep-seated resistance the nascent Christian message encountered in a pagan world.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of the significant Ephesian riot, a major conflict sparked by the success of Paul's ministry in the city. Preceding this, Paul had spent over two years teaching in Ephesus, leading many to abandon idolatry and embrace the Gospel, as detailed in [Acts 19:8-10](/acts/19-8-10 "Paul's Ministry in Ephesus"). This spiritual shift directly threatened the livelihood of artisans like Demetrius, a silversmith who made miniature shrines of Artemis (Diana), leading him to incite a mob against Paul and his companions ([Acts 19:23-29](/acts/19-23-29 "The Ephesian Riot Begins")). The crowd’s fervent chant, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ([Acts 19:34](/acts/19-34 "The Crowd's Chant")), demonstrates the peak of their irrational fury, setting the stage for the townclerk's authoritative intervention in [Acts 19:35](/acts/19-35 "The Townclerk's Intervention"). His speech is a masterclass in crowd control, strategically designed to restore order and avert Roman intervention.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ephesus was one of the most prominent cities in the Roman province of Asia, renowned for its immense wealth, political influence, and, most notably, the Temple of Artemis (Diana). This temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a colossal structure that served as a major pilgrimage site, a bank, and a sanctuary. The worship of Artemis was not merely a religious practice but the bedrock of Ephesian identity, economy, and civic pride. The city even bore the title "neokoros" (temple-keeper or worshipper) of Artemis, a prestigious designation granted by Rome. The "image which fell down from Jupiter" (or Zeus in Greek mythology) refers to a cultic statue, likely an aerolite or meteorite, believed to have fallen directly from the heavens, thus possessing immense divine authority and making its worship central to Ephesian life. The Roman Empire, while generally tolerant of local religions, maintained strict order, and riots could lead to severe repercussions, including the loss of a city's privileges or even direct military intervention. The townclerk, as the chief administrative officer, was acutely aware of these political realities.

* **Key Themes:** [Acts 19:35](/acts/19-35 "Acts 19:35 - The Townclerk's Speech") contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Acts and the broader New Testament. It powerfully illustrates the **clash between the Gospel and pagan idolatry**, showing how the advance of Christianity directly challenged deeply entrenched religious and economic systems. The townclerk's speech, though delivered by a pagan official, highlights the **importance of civic order and the rule of law**, even in a chaotic situation. His pragmatic approach to de-escalation underscores the tension between spiritual transformation and societal stability under imperial rule. Furthermore, the verse implicitly emphasizes the **power of the Gospel to disrupt established norms**, even when faced with fierce cultural and economic resistance, as seen in the silversmiths' fear for their trade ([Acts 19:27](/acts/19-27 "Demetrius's Concerns")). It also showcases the **providential protection of God** over His servants, as Paul and his companions were ultimately preserved from the mob's wrath.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Townclerk (Greek, _grammateús'_):** This term refers to a high-ranking municipal official, more than just a scribe or secretary. In Ephesus, the _grammateús_ was the chief administrative officer, responsible for city records, public decrees, and maintaining civic order. His role was crucial in mediating between the local populace and Roman authority, making his intervention in the riot particularly significant as he represented the official voice of the city.
* **Appeased (Greek, _katastéllō'_):** This verb means "to put down" or "to quell." It vividly describes the townclerk's successful action in calming the agitated multitude. His ability to bring a frenzied crowd to order demonstrates his authority, rhetorical skill, and the respect he commanded within the city.
* **Image which fell down from Jupiter (Greek, _diopetḗs'_):** This unique term literally means "sky-fallen" or "fallen from Zeus/Jupiter." It refers to a sacred object, likely a meteorite, believed to have been sent directly from the gods. This belief imbued the idol of Artemis with immense divine legitimacy and power in the eyes of the Ephesians, making their devotion to it absolute and their resistance to Paul's message understandable from their perspective.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when the townclerk had appeased the people":** This opening clause immediately establishes the townclerk's crucial role as the agent of de-escalation. His success in calming the agitated crowd underscores his authority and the respect he commanded, setting the stage for his subsequent address.
* **"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":** The townclerk begins with a rhetorical question designed to appeal to the Ephesians' collective identity and civic pride. By highlighting their universally acknowledged status as "worshipper" (neokoros) of Artemis, he validates their devotion while subtly implying that their current chaotic behavior is beneath their esteemed reputation and unnecessary given the self-evident nature of their faith.
* **"and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?":** This final phrase refers to the sacred, divinely-sent idol of Artemis, emphasizing its miraculous origin and central importance to Ephesian worship. By mentioning this revered object, the townclerk further connects with the crowd's deep-seated beliefs, reinforcing the idea that their goddess's status is unassailable and requires no defense through riotous behavior.

#### Literary Devices
The townclerk's speech is a masterful display of rhetoric and crowd psychology. He employs **Rhetorical Questions** ("what man is there that knoweth not...?") to engage the crowd, appealing to their shared knowledge and civic pride, thereby making his argument seem self-evident and unassailable. The phrase "great goddess Diana" is an example of **Hyperbole**, reflecting the Ephesians' exaggerated reverence for Artemis and serving to validate their devotion before subtly redirecting their energy. There is also a subtle **Irony** in a pagan official appealing to reason and order to calm a riot sparked by the spread of the monotheistic Christian message. Furthermore, the "image which fell down from Jupiter" is a powerful **Symbol** of the deeply ingrained paganism and superstition that the Gospel directly confronted, representing the false gods that held sway over the hearts and minds of the people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 19:35 offers profound theological insights into the nature of idolatry and the divine sovereignty that works even through unexpected channels. The unwavering devotion of the Ephesians to Artemis, rooted in their civic identity and belief in a "sky-fallen" image, vividly illustrates humanity's innate tendency to worship created things rather than the Creator ([Romans 1:25](/romans/1-25 "Worshiping the Creator, not the Created")). The townclerk's speech, while not divinely inspired, serves God's providential purposes by restoring order, thus protecting Paul and the nascent church from further harm. It highlights that God can use even secular authorities and their pragmatic concerns to advance His kingdom and ensure the safety of His people, demonstrating His overarching control amidst human chaos. This incident underscores the spiritual battle between the kingdom of God and the principalities and powers of this world, where the Gospel's advance inevitably exposes and challenges the strongholds of false worship.

* [Romans 1:22-23](/romans/1-22-23 "The Folly of Idolatry")
* [1 Corinthians 8:4-6](/1_corinthians/8-4-6 "One God, No Idols")
* [Psalm 115:4-8](/psalm/115-4-8 "The Impotence of Idols")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 19:35 serves as a powerful reminder that the Gospel's confrontation with idolatry is not limited to ancient Ephesus but remains a vital aspect of Christian witness today. While modern idols may not be physical statues, they are equally potent: wealth, power, fame, self-fulfillment, or even political ideologies can become objects of ultimate devotion, demanding allegiance that rightly belongs to God alone. This verse challenges us to critically examine our own hearts and societies, discerning what truly holds our ultimate trust and allegiance. It calls believers to courageous and wise engagement with cultures that may be hostile to the Gospel, recognizing that the truth of Christ often disrupts comfortable norms and vested interests. Like the townclerk, we are called to be agents of peace and reason, but unlike him, our ultimate aim is not merely civic order but the transformation of hearts through the power of Christ, leading people from false worship to the living God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "great goddesses" or "sky-fallen images" that demand allegiance in our modern society, and how might the Gospel challenge them?**
* **How can believers wisely and courageously proclaim Christ in contexts where their message might threaten established cultural or economic systems?**
* **In what ways does God use unexpected or even secular means to protect His people and advance His purposes today?**
* **How does the townclerk's appeal to "common knowledge" about Diana parallel or contrast with how we expect people to "know" about God today?**

### FAQ
**Who was Diana, and why was she so important to the Ephesians?**

Answer: Diana is the Roman name for the Greek goddess Artemis. In Ephesus, she was revered as a powerful fertility goddess and the patron deity of the city. Her temple in Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a massive and magnificent structure that attracted pilgrims and wealth from across the Roman Empire. The Ephesians considered themselves "neokoros," or "temple-keepers" and "worshippers" of Artemis, a title of great civic pride and religious significance. Her worship was deeply intertwined with the city's identity, economy, and social fabric, making any challenge to her cult a direct threat to the Ephesian way of life.

**What is meant by "the image which fell down from Jupiter"?**

Answer: This phrase translates the Greek word _diopetḗs_ (διοπετές), which literally means "fallen from heaven" or "sky-fallen." It refers to a sacred cultic image of Artemis in her temple that was believed to have miraculously fallen from the sky, likely a meteorite. This belief imbued the statue with immense divine authority and made it the central object of Ephesian devotion. The idea that it was not "made with hands" ([Acts 19:26](/acts/19-26 "Paul's Argument Against Idols")) but divinely sent made it particularly revered and its worship deeply entrenched, forming a significant point of contention with the Christian message.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative in [Acts 19:35](/acts/19-35 "Acts 19:35 - The Townclerk's Speech"), though centered on a pagan official's appeal to idolatry, powerfully highlights the ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment of humanity's deepest longings. The Ephesians' fervent devotion to Diana and their belief in a "sky-fallen" image reveal a universal human yearning for the divine, a desire to connect with something beyond themselves. Yet, their worship was misdirected towards a created thing, an idol "made with hands" ([Acts 17:29](/acts/17-29 "God Not Like Idols Made by Human Hands")), rather than the living God. Christ is the true "image" ([Colossians 1:15](/colossians/1-15 "Christ, the Image of the Invisible God")) of the invisible God, the one who truly "came down from heaven" ([John 6:38](/john/6-38 "Jesus Came Down from Heaven")) not as an inanimate object, but as the incarnate Son, bringing the ultimate revelation of God's character and salvation. Unlike the false peace offered by the townclerk's civic appeasement, Jesus offers true and lasting peace with God ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Christ is Our Peace")) and within the human heart, freeing individuals from the bondage of idolatry and the futility of worshipping created things. The Gospel's triumph in Ephesus, despite fierce opposition, foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over all false gods and spiritual strongholds, establishing His kingdom where He alone is rightly worshipped as Lord of all ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Every Knee Will Bow to Jesus")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Thessalonians 2:10

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:11

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

1 Timothy 4:2

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Ephesians 2:12

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Acts 14:12

And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Acts 14:13

Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

Acts 18:19

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.