Which goddess was central to the Ephesian opposition against Paul?

Which goddess was central to the Ephesian opposition against Paul?

• A. Athena
• B. Hera
• C. Diana
• D. Isis

Answer: (C)

The key idea is identifying the goddess at the heart of the Ephesian opposition to Paul: Artemis, known in Roman naming as Diana. In Acts 19, Paul’s teaching challenged the Artemis cult that dominated Ephesus, especially the craft of artisans who made silver shrines of Artemis. Their livelihood depended on the temple-centered worship of Artemis, so they rioted when Paul’s message threatened that worship. The memorable cry, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” shows how closely the city’s identity and economy were tied to Artemis. Among the options, Artemis (Diana) is the only deity distinctly linked to Ephesus in this context, whereas Athena, Hera, and Isis are not the central figure in the Ephesian opposition.

The key idea is identifying the goddess at the heart of the Ephesian opposition to Paul: Artemis, known in Roman naming as Diana. In Acts 19, Paul’s teaching challenged the Artemis cult that dominated Ephesus, especially the craft of artisans who made silver shrines of Artemis. Their livelihood depended on the temple-centered worship of Artemis, so they rioted when Paul’s message threatened that worship. The memorable cry, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” shows how closely the city’s identity and economy were tied to Artemis. Among the options, Artemis (Diana) is the only deity distinctly linked to Ephesus in this context, whereas Athena, Hera, and Isis are not the central figure in the Ephesian opposition.