The Strand Study Bible

ACTS 19:26  19:40

1822

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost through- out all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, 1 which are made with hands: 27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, say- ing, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught 2 Gaius and 3 Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. 30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the 4 assembly was con fused; and the more part knew not where- fore they were come together.

33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. 34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35 And when the townclerk had ap- peased 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? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of 5 churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. 38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. 39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger to be 6 called in question for this day’s uproar, there being

1. Acts 17:29 & Psa 115:4 & Jere 10:3 2. Acts 20:4 & Rom 16:23 & I Cor 1:14 3. Acts 20:4 & 27:2 & Colo 4:10 & Phile 24 4. or, “mob”

5. or, “temples” 6 . Acts 21:31-32

19:27 History informs us that either Philo of Byzantium (c. 200 BC) 1 and/or Antipater of Sidon 2 , compiled the history behind ‘ The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World .’ The Bible, however, only mentions one of these ‘Wonders –” the temple of the great goddess Diana .” The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are: 1. The Great Pyramid (in Gizeh, Egypt) – Built c. 2550 BC, it is the only surviving ‘Wonder’ still in existence (See - Jere 32:20 ). 2. The Hanging Gardens (in Babylon) – Built by King Nebuchadnezzar around 600 BC, its walls were 350’ high, and 15 miles square. It was destroyed by the Medo-Persians c. 539 BC 3. The Temple of Diana (in Ephesus) – Built by Asiatic States around 544 BC, the first temple was destroyed by the Goths c. 356 BC. After the fire, the Ephesians decided to construct another temple. The new structure, which measured 425’ long, 220’ wide, with 127 marble columns at 60’ high, would take the Ephesians 220 years to build. This is the temple Paul would have seen when he entered the city for the first time back in Acts 18:19. The Goths destroyed it again c. AD 260. NOTE –When the Greek poet and historian Antipater of Sidon compiled his list of the ‘ The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World ,’ he included the Temple of Diana. Upon seeing the statue of Artemis inside the Temple of Diana for the first time, Antipater noted: I have set eyes on the walls of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the colossus of the Sun, and the huge labor of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, “Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand. 3 4. The Statue of Zeus (in Olympia, Greece) – Built by Phidias around 433 BC, Zeus sat enthroned on a chair nearly 60’ high, was clad in robes of gold, eyes of precious stones, and flesh of ivory. 5. King Mausolus Mausoleum (in Halicarnassus) – Built around 350 BC, it measured 140’ high, was made of pure marble, and was destroyed by the Crusaders around AD 1400. 6. The Colossus (in Rhodes) – Built around 290 BC, this bronze statue of the sun-god Apollo measured 105’ high and was destroyed by an earthquake around 224 BC. 7. The Pharos (in Alexandria, Egypt) – Built by Ptolemy Philadelphus around 280 BC, the Pharos was a lighthouse made of white marble, which measured 400’ high by a 100’ square. An earthquake is said to have destroyed the Pharos. 1 “The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.” plinia.net . 31 May 2009 2 “Ancient Wonders of the World.” Cool Maps . Google Pages. 13 Apr 2009 3 Ransome, Hilda M. The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1937) Print