Great Is Artemis of the Ephesians

Angry men surge forward in a hostile crowd, their faces tightened with accusation, shouting, pointing, and raising clenched fists. The scene reflects the uproar in Ephesus after Paul’s preaching threatened the idol trade connected with Artemis. In Acts 19:28, the crowd becomes enraged and cries out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The pointed hand and raised fist emphasize the power of mob anger when religious pride, economics, and public fear collide. For Christian teaching, this artwork highlights the cost of gospel witness in a city devoted to false worship, showing how the message of Christ exposes idols and provokes opposition. by Jeff Preston