August 10, 2023 | Be On Mission
The Riot in Ephesus
Scripture: Acts 19:23-41(NIV)
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
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!”
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
Devotional
The city of Ephesus was a thriving metropolis in that day, the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire. It was the leading city of the Roman province of Asia (part of modern day Turkey). Ephesus was a hub for commerce, politics, scholarship, arts, athletics, wealth, and pagan religion. The city showed off its wealth with mosaic floors, marble-paved streets, and a 25,000 seat Roman theater. But Ephesus was best known for the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
This Artemis was a localized takeoff of the Artemis of Greek mythology. The Ephesian Artemis was believed to help people in their quest for fertility and childbearing. Silversmiths made a fortune selling small statues of her, with what looks like rows and rows of breasts on her torso. Travelers came from days away to visit the temple and return home with a handheld goddess that would give them fertility and family. Artemis was a money making machine for the Ephesian people.
Now over two years into Paul’s stay in Ephesus, his counter-cultural message was taking root. People were burning sorcery scrolls and abandoning their beliefs that a silver pagan handheld figurine could be the answer to all their worries. Even the famed Temple of Artemis’ stature as a wonder of the world was in jeopardy. Talk about Christian influence!
So, one of the silversmiths dragged some of Paul’s companions into the 25,000 seat amphitheater. Soon, the place filled up with an angry mob who spent two hours shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” It was no peaceful demonstration. It took a city official to quell the commotion, warning them that the Roman authorities could charge everyone with rioting. Everybody finally went home, no doubt murmuring about the crazy Christians who were threatening the Ephesian way of life.
It’s true. Christianity is a threat to ungodly living. Following Jesus means un-following the ways of the world. Everyone has a choice: surrender to Jesus or sell out to culture.
Think about where you live. How is it like Ephesus? How are you and others like the Ephesian citizens? In what ways are Christians called to disciple people to be followers of Jesus in your context?
Poem
Be Ready
The Gospel is not easy
The Gospel causes rifts
The Gospel is a two-edged sword
The Gospel’s cut is swift
When Gospel is recited
Creation is reshaped
The Light of God exposes
What’s truth and what is fake
Be ready for the anger
Be ready for the ire
For treasures from God’s heaven
Are not by all desired
The chains of things full worldly
Are often hard to break
A practice known leaves one enslaved
Reluctant to forsake
Be ready for the anger
Be ready for the ire
For treasures from God’s heaven
Are not by all desired
When Gospel is recited
Creation is reshaped
The Light of God exposes
What’s truth and what is fake
The Gospel is not easy
The Gospel causes rifts
The Gospel is a two-edged sword
The Gospel’s cut is swift
