The Ephesian Artemis is totally distinct from the Greek, partaking of the Asiatic character, and of the attributes of the Lydian Cybele, the great mother of the gods. Her worship near Ephesus appears to have existed among the native Asiatic population before the foundation of the city, and to have been adopted by the Greek immigrants, who gradually transferred to her features peculiar to the Grecian goddess. She was the personification of the fructifying and nourishing powers of nature, and her image, as represented on current coins of the time, is that of a swathed figure, covered with breasts, and holding in one hand a trident, and in the other a club. This uncouth figure, clad in a robe covered with mystic devices, stood in the shrine of the great temple, hidden by a purple curtain, and was believed to have fallen down from heaven (ver. 35). In her worship the oriental influence was predomi- nant. The priests were eunuchs, and with them was associated a body of virgin priestesses and a number of slaves, the lowest of whom were known as neocori, or temple-sweepers (ver. 35). “Many a time must Paul have heard from the Jewish quarter the piercing shrillness of their flutes, and the harsh jangling of their timbrels ; many a time have caught glimpses of their de- testable dances and Corybantic processions, as, with streaming hair, and wild cries, and shaken torches of pine, they strove to madden the multitudes into sympathy with that orgiastic wor- ship which was but too closely connected with the vilest de- baucheries” (Farrar, “ Life and Work of Paul 2)
Magnificence. See on 2 Pet. i. 16.
98. Cried out (écpatov). The imperfect is graphic; they
556 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. XIX.
continued crying. This reiteration was a characteristic of the oriental orgiastic rites.
29. The theatre. ‘The site of which can still be traced. It is said to have been capable of seating fifty-six thousand persons,
Having seized (cvvaprdcartes). Lit., “ having seized along with (atv) :” carried them along with the rush.
Companions in travel (cuvexdnpous). Only here and 2 Cor. viii. 19. The word is compounded of cvv, along with, éx, forth, and duos, country or land, and means, therefore, one who has gone forth with another from his country.
31. Of the chief officers of Asia (trav “Aciapyav). The Asiarchs. These were persons chosen from the province of Asia, on account of their influence and wealth, to preside at the public games and to defray their expenses.
33. They drew (mpoe8iBacav). More correctly, urged for- ward. See on before instructed, Matt. xiv. 8.
34. With one voice cried out. Thereverberations of their voices from the steep rock which formed one side of the theatre must have rendered their frenzied cries still more ter- rifie.
35. The towneclerk. Or recorder, who had charge of the city-archives, and whose duty it was to draw up official decrees and present them to assemblies of the people. Next to the cominander, he was the most important personage in the Greek free cities.
Worshipper (vewxopov). Lit., a temple-sweeper. See on ver. 27. This title, originally applied to the lowest menials of the temple, became a title of honor, and was eagerly appropriated by the most famous cities. Alexander says, “The city of Eph- esus is the sacrestan of the great goddess Artemis.”
Cu. XX.) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 557
36. Quiet (cateotadpévous). Compare quieted (ver. 35). The verb means to let down or lower ; and so is applied, meta- phorically, to keeping one’s self'in check ; repressing.
Rash (sporrerés). Lit., headlong.
37. Robbers of churches (iepocvdous). The A. V. puts a droll anachronism into the mouth of the town-clerk of a Greek city. Render, rather, as Rev., robbers of temples.
38. The law is open (ayopator dryovtat). Lit., the court-days are being kept. Rev., the courts are open. Compare ch. xvil. 5.