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Godless Money Worries

Acts 19:23-27

About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 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. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.' (NIVUK)

Businesses and trades ought to be concerned about anything which may affect their profit. It was the same in 1stC Ephesus as in any market today. However, one trade was particularly worried about the effect of Paul's preaching on their business. He said that if human beings created them, they could not be real gods with real power (Psalm 115:3-8). The silversmiths in Ephesus were frightened that Paul's teaching had been so effective that many people were starting to believe what he said about the traditional idol gods of the region – that they had no power at all.