Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 19]
together (\athroos\, a crowd), in the N.T. only here and Ac
12:12. {With the workmen of like occupation} (\kai tous peri ta
toiauta ergatas\). "And the workmen concerning such things,"
apparently those who made the marble and terra-cotta shrines who
would also be affected in the same way. It was a gathering of the
associated trades, not for a strike, for employer and employees
met together, but in protest against the preaching of Paul. {We
have our wealth} (\h• euporia h•min estin\). The wealth is to us
(dative of possession). This old word for wealth occurs here
alone in the N.T. It is from \eu\ and \poros\, easy to pass
through, easy to accomplish, to be well off, wealthy, welfare,
weal, well-being, rich. Demetrius appeals to this knowledge and
self-interest of the artisans as the basis for their zeal for
Artemis, piety for revenue.
19:26 {At Ephesus} (\Ephesou\). Genitive of place as also with
\Asias\ (Asia). Cf. Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 494f. {This Paul}
(\ho Paulos houtos\). Contemptuous use of \houtos\. {Hath turned
away} (\metest•sen\). Changed, transposed. First aorist active
indicative, did change. Tribute to Paul's powers as a preacher
borne out by Luke's record in 19:10. There may be an element of
exaggeration on the part of Demetrius to incite the workmen to
action, for the worship of Artemis was their wealth. Paul had cut
the nerve of their business. There had long been a Jewish colony
in Ephesus, but their protest against idolatry was as nothing
compared with Paul's preaching (Furneaux). {Which are made with
hands} (\hoi dia cheir•n ginomenoi\). Note the present tense,
made from time to time. No doubt Paul had put the point sharply
as in Athens (Ac 17:29). Isaiah (Isa 44:9-17) had pictured
graphically the absurdity of worshipping stocks and stones,
flatly forbidden by the Old Testament (Ex 20:4; Ps 135:15-18).
The people identified their gods with the images of them and
Demetrius reflects that point of view. He was jealous of the
brand of gods turned out by his factory. The artisans would stand
by him on this point. It was a reflection on their work.
19:27 {This our trade} (\touto to meros\). Part, share, task,
job, trade. {Come into disrepute} (\eis apelegmon elthein\). Not
in the old writers, but in LXX and _Koin•_. Literally,
reputation, exposure, censure, rejection after examination, and
so disrepute. Their business of making gods would lose caste as
the liquor trade (still called the trade in England) has done in
our day. They felt this keenly and so Demetrius names it first.
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