Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
Parallel translations
- WEB whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, “Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.
- BSB Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity.
- NKJV He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.
- NASB he gathered these men together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.
- NLT He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Demetrius gathered the tradesmen and reminded them their wealth depended on this idol-making business.
Overview
He frankly appealed to their financial self-interest, making profit the real motive behind the coming uproar. Religious zeal would be invoked, but money was the driving concern. The verse exposes how human hearts often cloak material greed in pious language.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Acts 16:19And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
- Hos 12:7–8He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
- 2 Pet 2:3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
- Rev 18:3For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
- Rev 18:11–19And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
- Hos 4:8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 19:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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