Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
, models either of the temple of Diana or of the statue of the goddess. This trade brought to him and his fellow-craftsmen “no small gain,” for these shrines found a ready sale among the countless thousands who came to this temple from all parts of Asia Minor. ) A Christian who is spoken of as having “a good report of all men, and of the truth itself” (3 John 1:12).
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1863)
(belonging to Ceres).
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
DEME'TRIUS. 1. A silversmith who resided at Ephesus and manufactured silver shrines or small portable temples and images of Diana. See Diana. Acts 19:24. These were purchased by foreigners, who either could not come to Ephesus, or else desired a memento of the city and a model of its famous temple. This was a very lucrative business in that city, where the worship of Diana was chiefly maintained; and hence, when the gospel began to make an impression, and the people to forsake their vain idols for the service of the living God.
Demetrius saw that he should lose his business unless he could still keep the people in sin. So he called a meeting of those who worked at that trade, and made a speech to them. By this harangue he inflamed the passions of his fellow-craftsmen, and they excited the multitude, until the whole city of Ephesus was thrown into an uproar, which was finally quelled by the politic and seasonable advice of the town-clerk. Acts 19. A disciple of high reputation, and, as some suppose (though without warrant), the Demetrius of Ephesus converted to the faith of the gospel. 3 John 12.
Hitchcock's Bible Names (1869)
belonging to corn, or to Ceres
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
DEME'TRIUS. 1. A silversmith who resided at Ephesus and manufactured silver shrines or small portable temples and images of Diana. See Diana. Acts 19:24. These were purchased by foreigners, who either could not come to Ephesus, or else desired a memento of the city and a model of its famous temple. This was a very lucrative business in that city, where the worship of Diana was chiefly maintained; and hence, when the gospel began to make an impression, and the people to forsake their vain idols for the service of the living God.
Demetrius saw that he should lose his business unless he could still keep the people in sin. So he called a meeting of those who worked at that trade, and made a speech to them. By this harangue he inflamed the passions of his fellow-craftsmen, and they excited the multitude, until the whole city of Ephesus was thrown into an uproar, which was finally quelled by the politic and seasonable advice of the town-clerk. Acts 19.