May 20, 2026 | Be Connected
Two Hours of Frenzy
Scripture: Acts 19:32-34(NIV)
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Devotional
I find myself reading posts on social media and often becoming emotionally caught up in the arguments and back-and-forth trading of opinions on a variety of topics - typically of a political or religious nature. People jump on an individual for a statement they made and then these quarrels turn bitter leading to lies and insults being thrown into the “conversation.” Some then enter the dispute not even knowing what started the entire episode. It’s all I can do to keep myself from jumping into the middle of it all with a comment or two. Back and forth, back and forth. Getting absolutely nowhere. I wonder whether this might be our 21st century version of the confusion and frenzy experienced in Ephesus that we read about today.
The theater in Ephesus was a natural place for people to gather for official meetings. It’s estimated that it could hold more than 25,000 people. But this gathering was anything but official. It was spontaneous, informal and uncontrolled, leading to a confusing and chaotic situation. This chaos originated with Demetrius, a silversmith whose business producing shrines of the goddess Artemis was being threatened by Paul who was preaching that these were false gods and unnecessary. If people were to believe Paul and fail to purchase his idols, Demetrius’ profit would plummet. This was truly all about money. By claiming that Paul’s actions were dishonoring their goddess, Demetrius was able to provoke the people and mob mentality set in. Confusion and violent actions can be contagious. So, a two-hour shouting match took place. The people didn’t care about a Jewish Messiah when their precious Artemis was being disgraced.
What can we learn today from this “frenzy” in Ephesus? Before we are tempted to get involved in an unproductive argument or try to insert our opinion into a conversation (which is usually futile anyway), maybe we should be asking ourselves some questions.
- Do I actually know what started the exchange in the first place or am I just hearing the end of the conversation?
- Am I responding to facts of a situation or am I getting emotionally excited by the energy of the argument?
- Am I making assumptions about people because of how I might label them or am I actually listening to their words?
- What “Artemis” am I defending without really gathering all the facts or understanding the debate?
- And maybe most importantly, if Jesus were reading or listening to my comments, would he see his own character in me or would he weep over my actions?
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19-20)
