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Demetrius

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Silversmith in Ephesus who incited a riot against Paul to protect Artemis worship

Detailed Definition
Demetrius feared Paul’s preaching would ruin the idol-making trade and diminish Artemis’ prestige, sparking city-wide chaos (Acts 19). In poetry, Demetrius symbolizes economic idolatry, the clash between gospel truth and entrenched cultural systems, and how fear of loss can masquerade as religious zeal.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 19) embodies economic resistance to the gospel; In William Blake’s "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell," Demetrius symbolizes idolatrous commerce; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "The Seraphim," Demetrius represents the mob incited by profit; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Demetrius’s riot warns against materialism; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Demetrius illustrates the clash between faith and trade; In T.S. Eliot’s "The Waste Land," Demetrius’s shrine of Artemis echoes in modern idolatry.
Additional Notes
Demetrius: Silversmith in Ephesus who incited riot against Paul (Acts 19:24–41); also a disciple praised in 3 John 12. In poetry, distinguish contexts: the artisan represents economic idolatry (Artemis worship) and mob mentality; the disciple, integrity and good testimony. Both offer rich contrasts—ideal for exploring the duality of names, or the conflict between gospel and commerce.
Also Known As
Demetrius the Silversmith Demetrius of Ephesus
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