The name Artemis (Greek: Artemis) refers to a major deity in the Greco-Roman world, known as the goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, the Moon, and chastity. However, in the biblical context, the name is specifically tied to the goddess worshipped in the city of Ephesus, who was often identified by her Roman name, Diana.
The biblical narrative references her not as a mythological figure, but as the focus of a powerful, entrenched pagan cult that violently opposed the Gospel message.
The Great Goddess of the Ephesians
The primary and most significant biblical mention of Artemis occurs in Acts 19, detailing the Apostle Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (circa A.D. 52–55). The Ephesians revered her as their city’s patron deity, believing that an image of her had fallen from heaven.
The Ephesus form of the goddess was distinct from the Greek Artemis; the Ephesian statue depicted a multi-breasted or multi-egg-shaped figure, symbolizing fertility, motherhood, and the life force of nature.
Her temple, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—a colossal structure that served as a religious center, a bank, and a place of asylum. This immense prestige meant her worship was intertwined with the entire economic and social fabric of the city.
The Conflict with the Gospel
Paul’s successful preaching in Ephesus, which declared the one true God and refuted idolatry, began to turn many people away from the worship of Artemis. This success directly threatened the livelihoods of those who profited from the goddess’s cult.
Acts 19:24-25 identifies the ringleader of the opposition, Demetrius, a silversmith who made miniature silver shrines of the goddess:
“For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.” (KJV, emphasis added).
Demetrius framed the argument in two parts: economics (their trade was in danger) and religious pride (the great goddess would be despised).
The Great Uproar
The resulting backlash was a furious, city-wide riot that spilled into the theatre. The mob, incited by the economic threat and their loyalty to the idol, created a chaotic spectacle:
“And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. … And they cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” (Acts 19:29, 34, KJV, emphasis added).
For about two hours, the crowd shouted this phrase, a powerful public demonstration of their loyalty to the goddess and their rejection of Paul’s teachings.
The Theological Significance
The biblical account of Artemis/Diana serves several key purposes:
- Demonstration of the Gospel’s Power: The conversion of so many people that it caused a major economic and political crisis demonstrated the immense power of the Gospel to challenge and overturn entrenched paganism.
- The Conflict of Two Kingdoms: The riot highlights the fundamental conflict between the Kingdom of God, which demands spiritual allegiance and often results in suffering and economic loss for its followers, and the idolatrous kingdoms of this world.
- The Folly of Idolatry: The entire episode, where men cry out to an image made by hands to save their trade, stands as a biblical warning against the vanity and profit-driven nature of false worship.
In conclusion, Artemis is a figure known in the Bible not as a person, but as the goddess whose powerful cult in Ephesus was directly and successfully challenged by the preaching of the Apostle Paul, resulting in one of the most violent confrontations recorded in the New Testament.