Acts 19:35 - When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Acts 19:35" mean?
This verse is a pivotal moment in the story of the riot in Ephesus, as described in Acts 19. Let's break down its meaning:
"When the town clerk had quieted the multitude...": A silversmith named Demetrius stirred up the Ephesians against Paul's preaching because it threatened their livelihood, which depended on selling idols of Artemis. A large crowd gathered, full of anger and confusion. The town clerk was a high-ranking official in Ephesus, responsible for maintaining order. His first action was to calm the crowd. This highlights his authority and the precariousness of the situation. He needs to bring the crowd under control before things escalate further.
"You men of Ephesus...": This is the town clerk addressing the assembled crowd. He is speaking to them as citizens of Ephesus, appealing to their sense of civic pride and identity.
"...what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis...": This is the core of the town clerk's argument. He asserts that Ephesus is universally known as the guardian and protector of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This was a point of immense civic pride for the Ephesians. By emphasizing this, the town clerk is reminding them of their reputation and trying to appeal to their sense of reason. It would have been an embarrassing and disgraceful claim to deny.
"...and of the image which fell down from Zeus?": This is a claim about the origin of the image of Artemis worshipped in Ephesus. The town clerk is asserting that the statue of Artemis in their temple did not originate from human hands, but rather "fell down from Zeus," meaning it was of divine origin. This was meant to add legitimacy to their worship and differentiate their religious practices from other religions. This detail was intended to reinforce the perceived superiority and divine sanction of Ephesian Artemis worship.
In Summary:
The town clerk's statement is a strategic attempt to de-escalate a dangerous situation. He's using the following tactics:
Acknowledging the importance of Artemis: He affirms their devotion to Artemis, thus removing the immediate sense of threat that Paul's teachings might be perceived as an attack on their goddess.
Appealing to civic pride and identity: He reminds them that Ephesus's reputation is tied to Artemis, suggesting that their current actions are counterproductive and could damage their image.
Asserting the unique and divine nature of their Artemis image: He underscores the special status of their idol, subtly implying that it is invulnerable and does not need defending from perceived threats.
Essentially, the town clerk is saying, "Calm down! Everyone knows Ephesus is the protector of Artemis and her divine image. This is our city's reputation! There's no need for this riot; our goddess and our city are secure in their fame and power." He's attempting to quell the riot by appealing to their pride, reason, and self-interest, rather than through force. It is a calculated political move, using rhetoric to restore order and protect Ephesus's reputation and stability.
Acts 19:35 - When the town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, “You men of Ephesus, what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?
What does "Acts 19:35" mean?
This verse is a pivotal moment in the story of the riot in Ephesus, as described in Acts 19. Let's break down its meaning:
"When the town clerk had quieted the multitude...": A silversmith named Demetrius stirred up the Ephesians against Paul's preaching because it threatened their livelihood, which depended on selling idols of Artemis. A large crowd gathered, full of anger and confusion. The town clerk was a high-ranking official in Ephesus, responsible for maintaining order. His first action was to calm the crowd. This highlights his authority and the precariousness of the situation. He needs to bring the crowd under control before things escalate further.
"You men of Ephesus...": This is the town clerk addressing the assembled crowd. He is speaking to them as citizens of Ephesus, appealing to their sense of civic pride and identity.
"...what man is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great goddess Artemis...": This is the core of the town clerk's argument. He asserts that Ephesus is universally known as the guardian and protector of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This was a point of immense civic pride for the Ephesians. By emphasizing this, the town clerk is reminding them of their reputation and trying to appeal to their sense of reason. It would have been an embarrassing and disgraceful claim to deny.
"...and of the image which fell down from Zeus?": This is a claim about the origin of the image of Artemis worshipped in Ephesus. The town clerk is asserting that the statue of Artemis in their temple did not originate from human hands, but rather "fell down from Zeus," meaning it was of divine origin. This was meant to add legitimacy to their worship and differentiate their religious practices from other religions. This detail was intended to reinforce the perceived superiority and divine sanction of Ephesian Artemis worship.
In Summary:
The town clerk's statement is a strategic attempt to de-escalate a dangerous situation. He's using the following tactics:
Acknowledging the importance of Artemis: He affirms their devotion to Artemis, thus removing the immediate sense of threat that Paul's teachings might be perceived as an attack on their goddess.
Appealing to civic pride and identity: He reminds them that Ephesus's reputation is tied to Artemis, suggesting that their current actions are counterproductive and could damage their image.
Asserting the unique and divine nature of their Artemis image: He underscores the special status of their idol, subtly implying that it is invulnerable and does not need defending from perceived threats.
Essentially, the town clerk is saying, "Calm down! Everyone knows Ephesus is the protector of Artemis and her divine image. This is our city's reputation! There's no need for this riot; our goddess and our city are secure in their fame and power." He's attempting to quell the riot by appealing to their pride, reason, and self-interest, rather than through force. It is a calculated political move, using rhetoric to restore order and protect Ephesus's reputation and stability.