19:25a
Demetrius assembled the craftsmen: This clause refers to summoning the craftsmen. Other ways to translate this clause are:
These he gathered together (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
called a general meeting of them (New Jerusalem Bible)
the workmen in related trades: This clause in Greek is literally “the workmen also occupied with such things.” Demetrius called together other men who had similar work to the silversmiths. They probably all made things related to the temple of Artemis and the worship of this goddess. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
others whose work was like theirs (Good News Translation)
-or-
the workmen of similar trades (New American Standard Bible)
workmen: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as workmen refers to any kind of worker. It does not imply skilled workers like the Greek word in 19:24b (“craftsmen”).
19:25b
this business is our source of prosperity: This clause in Greek is literally “from this trade/work is prosperity to us.” It indicates that the workers earned a fair amount of money from the work that they did. It indicates that they were prosperous. They earned enough money to buy all the things they needed and have some extra. It does not indicate that they were wealthy. Other ways to translate this clause are:
we earn plenty of money from this work
-or-
we are getting much money from this work of ours
-or-
our income is very good in this work
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