Acts 19:26

“Moreover, ye see and hear, etc.] Demetrius appeals to their senses of seeing and hearing; they saw what was done in their own city, and they had heard how things were elsewhere; they might believe what they saw with their eyes, and they had reason to depend upon the report which was brought to their ears: that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people; by “all Asia” is meant Ionia, that part of Asia, of which Ephesus was the metropolis; from whence great multitudes came to Ephesus, and heard Paul in the school of Tyrannus, (<441910>Acts 19:10) so that not only many in the city of Ephesus, but even in almost every city and town…”

“ye see and hear--The evidences of it were to be seen, and the report of it was in everybody's mouth. that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath . . . turned away much people--Noble testimony this to the extent of Paul's influence! saying that they be no gods which are made with hands--The universal belief of the people was that they were gods, though the more intelligent regarded them only as habitations of Deity, and some, probably, as mere aids to devotion. It is exactly so in the Church of Rome.”

“Ye see and hear - You see at Ephesus, and you hear the same in other places. Throughout all Asia - All Asia Minor; or perhaps the province of which Ephesus was the capital. See the notes on Acts 2:9. This Paul hath persuaded - We have here the noble testimony of a pagan to the zeal and success of the ministry of Paul. It is an acknowledgment that his labors had been most strikingly successful in turning the people from idolatry. Saying that they be no gods ... - See the notes on Acts 14:14-15. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Saying, that they are not gods which are made with hands - This manifestly shows, that the contrary opinion did then generally prevail, namely, that there was a real Divinity in their sacred images. Though some of the later heathens spoke of them just as the Romanists do now. Acts 19:27”

“that not: Act 19:10, Act 19:18-20; Co1 16:8, Co1 16:9; Th1 1:9 that they: Act 14:15, Act 17:29; Psa 115:4-8, Psa 135:15-18; Isa 44:10-20, Isa 46:5-8; Jer 10:3-5, Jer 10:11, Jer 10:14, Jer 10:15; Hos 8:6; Co1 8:4, Co1 10:19, Co1 10:20, Co1 12:2; Gal 4:8 made: Act 19:35 Acts 19:27”