Demetrius the Silversmith

When was Demetrius active?

Demetrius the Silversmith is dated fl. c. 55 (death unrecorded) in the archive, which places Demetrius in the Apostolic Age (AD 4–70). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

Which early sources mention Demetrius?

Demetrius the Silversmith is named in 2 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Luke and John Chrysostom. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Demetrius from?

The archive associates Demetrius the Silversmith with Ephesus.

Who were Demetrius’ contemporaries?

The archive links Demetrius the Silversmith to 3 other figures, including Gaius of Macedonia, Aristarchus of Thessalonica and Paul of Tarsus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.

Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

“For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver temples of Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen.” … And how is it possible that temples could be made of silver? Perhaps as small boxes (κιβώρια). … See how, wherever there is idolatry, in every case we find money at the bottom of it. … It was not for their religion, because they thought that in danger; no, it was for their lucrative craft, that it would have nothing to work upon. Observe the maliciousness of the man. He was wealthy himself, and to him indeed it was no such great loss; but to them the loss was great, since they were poor, and subsisted on their daily earnings. Nevertheless, these men say nothing, but only he. … Then he brought the danger home to them, that we are in danger of falling from this our craft into starvation. … Throughout, he drives his speech at their craft. Then that which most grieved them he brings in afterwards. … Then, lest he should seem to say this for the sake of lucre, see what he adds: “Whom the whole world worshippeth.” … And yet the very things he spoke were enough to bring them to true religion … For if this man is strong enough to turn away all, and the worship of the gods is in jeopardy, one ought to reflect, how great must this man’s God be. … Observe the testimonies borne to the Apostles by their enemies, that they overthrew their worship. … They wanted to make religion the pretext for what concerned their own money-making.