Acts 19:25
Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
The setting is Ephesus, where the worship of Diana centered on a magnificent temple that held a large share of the wealth of Western Asia, giving the cult both religious and economic importance in the city. The verse belongs to the close of over three years of work centered in Ephesus that raised up a flourishing church and spread the gospel throughout the province of Asia among both Jews and Gentiles. At that time Paul purposed to pass through Macedonia and Achaia to go to Jerusalem and afterward to see Rome, and he sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia while deciding himself to remain in Ephesus until after Pentecost, but the gathering of the craftsmen hastened his departure.
The craftsmen's complaint arose at the time of the yearly ceremonies at Ephesus in honor of Diana, which drew great numbers from all parts of the province with pomp and splendor. An extensive and profitable business had grown up there from making and selling small silver shrines and images copied after the temple and image of Diana, and those in the industry found their gains diminishing. Demetrius, a maker of silver shrines, called together the workmen of his trade and fellow craftsmen of like occupation to defend their livelihood, telling them that by this craft they had their wealth and prosperity and appealing to their shared financial interest. His statement lays bare the economic interest at work, that their livelihood and prosperity depended on this craft.
Paul's labors and preaching had given heathen worship a telling blow by turning people from idol worship, causing a perceptible falling off in attendance at the national festival and in the enthusiasm of the worshipers. His influence extended far beyond actual converts, so that many who had not openly accepted the new doctrines were enlightened to lose all confidence in their heathen gods. This spread of the gospel threatened the image-making business and the income of pagan priests and artisans.
The opposition to Paul was driven by danger to livelihood as well as by religious concern, as fear of losing that income drove the craftsmen to unite in blaming the unwelcome change on Paul's labors and to stir up hostility against him. The company of believers meeting in the school of Tyrannus stood as an inharmonious note in the festive chorus and faced ridicule, reproach, and insult.