Thus far the crafts have been regarded on a large scale. But iron-work (see Iron) took finer forms (Rev 18'-) : e.g. certain parts of the warrior's equipment ; also the balance, if made of this metal (Rev 6^). This is equally true of working in wood : idols (Rev 9-'") ; thyine wood, most precious wood, in juxtaposition to ivory (Rev 18^-) ; foot- stool (Ja 2*) ; vessels (2 Ti 2^"). The coppersmith iq.v.) is expressly named in 2 Ti 4'*. With the free use of iron at this time it is probable the copper- smith worked mostly on ornamental lines, being skilled in alloys, refining, engraving, burnishing (Rev 1'5 218). isiirrors (1 Co 13'2, 2 Co S^*, Ja 1^) were among the articles produced (see MiRROR). 'Brass' should in all probability be replaced by ' bronze' or ' copjjer ' throughout the NT.
Still finer was the work done in gold, silver, and precious stones. The silversmiths of Ephesus (Ac 19-^) were a powerful gild, working at a particular craft, viz., the making of silver shrines or models of the Temple of Diana (see Ramsay, The Church in the Roman Empire, London, 1893, p. 112 ff. ; and art. Diana). This was part of a wider practice of fashioning idols in the precious metals (Ac 17-", Rev 9"-"). These elements entered into dress and personal ornament (1 Ti 2^ 1 P 3*, Ja 2^), as also into house furniture (2 Ti 2^**). The refer- ences in Rev. are too numerous to mention, includ- ing garments (girdle, etc.), articles for food and drink (bowl, cup, etc.), and even altar and throne. Although these here appear as seen in vision, they were all of them possible to antiquity.
The use of gold, silver, etc., in coinage should not be overlooked. See artt. Gold, Silver.
7. There were also workers in stone and clay (including terra-cotta) along artistic lines. When graven by art and device of man (Ac 17^^), stone, especially marble, took high value (Rev 9'-" 18'-). Tablets of stone ^vere also fashioned for commem- orative purposes (Ac Yi^, 2 Co S^- '', Rev 2'^), attached to statues, tombs, etc., and the inscrip- tions in certain cases remain, yielding welcome archaeological evidence.
The potter's ai't (see Potter) was as necessary as ever for liousehold use (2 Co 4^ 2 Ti 2-", Rev 2-'). It provides St. Paul with a well-known metaphor (Ro 9-^). Interesting details regarding Jewish pot- tery of this period are to be found in Conferences de'Saint-Etienne, 1909-10, p. 99 fi". Glass appears only figuratively (Rev 2p8- ^i ; cf. 4«152). But it was quite a common article of manufacture at this time (see, further, art. Lamp, etc.).
A whole system of trade (Ac 12^0 27-* ®, Ja 4^*^ Rev 18"'-) was built upon the practice of such arts as have here been passed in review, giving a liveli- hood to merchants, money-lenders, and also tax- collectors. The correspondence necessitated by trade and by the diti'usion of knowledge must also have given occupation to many who prepared the
materials for writing (parchment, papyrus, pen, ink, etc.).
8. Serious as most arts were, we yet learn that many spent their lives in following after pseudo- arts, e.g. the ' curious arts ' [to. irepiepya) of Ac 19^^ ; cf. Simon Magus (Ac 8^'^-), Elymas (Bar-Jesus; Ac 13'''''-), and the masters of the Philippian maid (Ac 16'"). As seriously taken as any were the gymnastic arts : running, boxing (1 Co 9-'**^'), and wrestling (Eph 6^^). See art. Games.
Literature.— The art. ' Arts and Crafts ' in SDB may be con- sulted. An exhaustive list of authoritative works will be found in HDB V. 571-, appended to the art. ' New Testament Times.' Another very complete list of a specialized order appears in S. Krauss, l^almud. Archdulogie, Leipzig-, 1910-11, ii. 249. This work is very important. M. B. Schwalm, La Vie privee du peuple juif a I'epoque de J^sus-Christ, Paris, 1910, written from the sociological standpoint, is useful. The works of W. M. Ramsay and A. Deissmann are also helpful.
W. Cruickshank.
ASCENSION 1. NT statements The his- torical account of the Ascension is given in Ac r-^"'^, for the Gospel story does not carry us so far. The Ascension, the last of the series of the post- Resuirection appearances, is a new subject, and the description of it begins a new book. This is the case whatever view we take of the text of Lk 24*1, as that in any case is no detailed description of the event, but only a brief summary of the in- cidents. The First and Fourth Gospels end before the final departure, and so probably did the Second, the conclusion of which (after 16^) Ave have lost.
The place of the Ascension was Olivet (Ac V^, 'EXaiuv — so, according to some editors, we ought to read the word in Lk 19-" 21^'), usually called the Mount of Olives. It was ' over against Bethany ' (Lk 24^"), and therefore on the far or S.E. side of the hill, looking down on Bethany, which lies in a hollow ; the reputed site overlooks Jeiusalem, and is unlikely to have been the real one (Swete, Appearances, p. 103 ; but see C. Warren, in HDB iii. 619). As they were talking, Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed the disciples (Lk 24^"), and in the act of blessing He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight (Ac 1"). Two angels (' men in white apparel') appeared and assured them of His future return to earth, and they went back to Jerusalem (v.^"^-) with great joy (Lk 24^-). There had been no record of angelic appearances when the risen Jesus was seen by the disciples, as we might have expected from Jn P' ; the angels appeared only to announce the Resurrec- tion and to explain the Ascension. The account in Lk 24^"'^^ can hardly apply to any other parting than the Ascension, even if with ' Western ' author- ities (DA, some Old-Lat. MSS, Augustine*) we omit the last half of v.®^ : ' was carried up into heaven.' On no other supposition can the 'joy' of the disciples be understood. At any rate, the person who inserted the words, whether the Evangelist or a scribe, so took them.