19:26a
And: For these workers, 19:26 describes something upsetting to the workers. It comes after information they were very happy about. In some languages indicating contrast is more natural. For example:
But (New Living Translation (2004))
But in some languages introducing a new matter/subject is more natural. For example:
Now (Good News Translation)
In some languages a conjunction is not needed here.
in nearly the whole province of Asia: This refers to almost all of Asia. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
almost throughout all Asia (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
from almost every part/corner of the province of Asia
The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase the…province of. At that time the name Asia referred to a region in what is now the western part of the country of Turkey. See how you translated this phrase in 19:22.
Paul: The Greek says more literally, “this Paul.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible leaves untranslated indicates that Demetrius disliked Paul. If possible, indicate or imply the dislike. For example:
this Paul (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
this fellow Paul (New International Version)
-or-
this ⌊bad⌋ fellow Paul
has persuaded: This word refers to talking to someone in a way that the person listening changes what he thinks about something. Other ways to translate this word are:
has convinced (New International Version)
-or-
has succeeded in changing the minds (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
19:26b
a great number of people: This phrase in Greek is literally “a large crowd.” Here it refers to many people from Ephesus and many people from the province of Asia. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
large numbers of people (New International Version)
-or-
multitudes
to turn away: This phrase refers to taking someone to a bad place. Here it is used figuratively. Demetrius thought Christianity was bad and Paul caused people to turn away by teaching it and convincing them that it was true. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
pulled away
-or-
corrupted
-or-
made them follow bad ways
19:26c
He says: The Greek word is literally “saying.” It indicates that what Paul said here was one of the ways that he led people astray from the worship of Artemis.
man-made gods are no gods at all: This clause in Greek is literally “the things made with hands are not gods.” It refers to the shrines and such other things that people used when worshiping Artemis. The phrase “made with hands” indicates that people made them. Other ways to translate this clause are:
things made with hands cannot be gods
-or-
images/models that people make are not gods
-or-
what a person has made is not a true god
-or-
images made by men are not appropriate to worship
-or-
our worship of idols made by man is worthless
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