Acts Devotional Week 12

Acts: Confusion, Riots, and The Way

July 22, 2012

Acts 19:23-31

About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way.  It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy.  He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.  But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!  Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!”  At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”  Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.  Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.

 Ephesus contains the temple of Artemis, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  The town was very wealthy and very active.  Paul spends three years preaching the message of Jesus (The Way) here.  God is working in such a powerful way that the political and business leaders are beginning to notice.  Things are changing.  The town is becoming different and it is hitting the businessmen in their pocketbooks and the political leaders in maintaining public order.  It all comes to a head in a near riot started by a man named Demetrius who was concerned about business (and Artemis worship).

This entire event can be boiled down to one idea.  Safety.  Demetrius and the business leaders felt threatened while their profits and jobs were not safe.  The politicians (town clerk) in Acts 19:35-41 were afraid of Roman retaliation if a riot were to break out.  Their goal was staying safe.  Paul’s desire was to rush into the riot.  He wanted in.  His goal was not safety.  He saw an opportunity to stand up for God and he was eager to take it, even if it was not safe.  Paul’s traveling companions faced the wrath of a mob and Paul wanted to stand next to them.  How often does our desire to be “safe” keep us from following God?  Are we more like the business leaders and politicians or Paul in our service to God?