In his series looking at Acts, BRUCE C WEARNE looks at what happened when there was push back against the spread of the Gospel in Ephesus, particularly from those in the silver trade…
With the fulfilment of his work [as evidenced] in these events, Paul formed the spiritual resolution to pass on through Macedonia and Achaia as he proceeded on his way to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia while he stayed around for a while in Asia. That was the time that a considerable [public] panic was generated about The Way [as it was called]. This is how it came about. There was a silversmith by name of Demetrius who was in the business of making silver shrines of Artemis, a major supplier to the craftsmen of that place. He gathered them all together, along with workmen in similar trades, and said, “You fellows know how we derive our income from this business. And you are able to see and hear how this Paul fellow has persuaded and turned away a considerable company of people, telling them that gods made with hands are actually not gods – think about what this means for Ephesus but also reflect upon the impact it will have throughout Asia. Is there not a danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute? But more – is the temple of the great goddess Artemis to count for nothing? Will she be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship?”
And with accusations such as these, the anger [of those present] was stirred and the cry arose: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
And so the city was plunged into complete uproar. And so a meeting was convened and they, with one purpose, took over the theatre. They took hold of Paul’s Macedonian travelling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, taking them along with them.
Paul was eager to face the crowd, but the disciples refused to let him do so; some of the regional rulers who were his friends concurred, sending an urgent message, begging him to keep away from the theatre. Now some were crying one thing and some another; the crowd was very confused, with most not knowing the reason for the assembly. Then some in the crowd prevailed upon Alexander to step up [and address them] on behalf of the Jews. Alexander motioned with his hand, indicating he wished to defend himself by appeal to the mob. But recognising him as a Jew, they kept up the chant for two hours,”Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Eventually, the town clerk managed to quieten the crowd, and said,”Men of Ephesus, what man here does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against any one, the courts are open, and there are officers of the court you can go to; let them bring charges against whomever. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the normal legal process. For today we are in danger of being charged with riot, since we can give no cause to justify this commotion.”
So saying, he dismissed the assembly. – Acts 19:21-42/transilteration by Bruce C Wearne
CITY OF ARTEMIS: A model of the now long-gone Temple of Artemis which once stood in Ephesus, near Selçuk, west Turkey. PICTURE: Zee Prime/CC BY-SA 3.0
IN A NUTSHELL
The situation got nasty and dangerous. Paul had to lie low.
There was a reaction, a big reaction. The silversmiths and tradesmen sensed that their livelihood was under threat from Paul’s Gospel. The honour of Artemis, their temple goddess, was challenged.
They were not wrong. The Christians who lived there could hardly avoid the influence of “Great Artemis of the Ephesians”. When the town clerk finally quietened the crowd, he informed them that they had presented no charge and, as far as he was concerned, there was nothing he could do. The mob was dismissed. But the deep suspicion of the silversmiths remained and the Christians had to keep their heads down and hang on by their fingernails.
Luke tells us that Paul had decided to leave Ephesus before this uproar. His subsequent departure for Jerusalem was not because it was too dangerous for him to stay. His decision to leave had been made earlier. Luke also tells us that the disciples and Paul’s friends – some were rulers of nearby Roman provinces (Acts 19:31) – prevented him when he wanted to address the mob.
I wonder. Did the town-clerk speak as he did because he had been taught by Paul that government receives its task from God?
OPEN BOOK – HINTS FROM THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: EPHESUS IN UPROAR
In his series looking at Acts, BRUCE C WEARNE looks at what happened when there was push back against the spread of the Gospel in Ephesus, particularly from those in the silver trade…
With the fulfilment of his work [as evidenced] in these events, Paul formed the spiritual resolution to pass on through Macedonia and Achaia as he proceeded on his way to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia while he stayed around for a while in Asia. That was the time that a considerable [public] panic was generated about The Way [as it was called]. This is how it came about. There was a silversmith by name of Demetrius who was in the business of making silver shrines of Artemis, a major supplier to the craftsmen of that place. He gathered them all together, along with workmen in similar trades, and said, “You fellows know how we derive our income from this business. And you are able to see and hear how this Paul fellow has persuaded and turned away a considerable company of people, telling them that gods made with hands are actually not gods – think about what this means for Ephesus but also reflect upon the impact it will have throughout Asia. Is there not a danger that this trade of ours will fall into disrepute? But more – is the temple of the great goddess Artemis to count for nothing? Will she be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship?”
And with accusations such as these, the anger [of those present] was stirred and the cry arose: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
And so the city was plunged into complete uproar. And so a meeting was convened and they, with one purpose, took over the theatre. They took hold of Paul’s Macedonian travelling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, taking them along with them.
Paul was eager to face the crowd, but the disciples refused to let him do so; some of the regional rulers who were his friends concurred, sending an urgent message, begging him to keep away from the theatre. Now some were crying one thing and some another; the crowd was very confused, with most not knowing the reason for the assembly. Then some in the crowd prevailed upon Alexander to step up [and address them] on behalf of the Jews. Alexander motioned with his hand, indicating he wished to defend himself by appeal to the mob. But recognising him as a Jew, they kept up the chant for two hours,”Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Eventually, the town clerk managed to quieten the crowd, and said,”Men of Ephesus, what man here does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against any one, the courts are open, and there are officers of the court you can go to; let them bring charges against whomever. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the normal legal process. For today we are in danger of being charged with riot, since we can give no cause to justify this commotion.”
So saying, he dismissed the assembly. – Acts 19:21-42/transilteration by Bruce C Wearne
CITY OF ARTEMIS: A model of the now long-gone Temple of Artemis which once stood in Ephesus, near Selçuk, west Turkey. PICTURE: Zee Prime/CC BY-SA 3.0
IN A NUTSHELL
The situation got nasty and dangerous. Paul had to lie low.
There was a reaction, a big reaction. The silversmiths and tradesmen sensed that their livelihood was under threat from Paul’s Gospel. The honour of Artemis, their temple goddess, was challenged.
They were not wrong. The Christians who lived there could hardly avoid the influence of “Great Artemis of the Ephesians”. When the town clerk finally quietened the crowd, he informed them that they had presented no charge and, as far as he was concerned, there was nothing he could do. The mob was dismissed. But the deep suspicion of the silversmiths remained and the Christians had to keep their heads down and hang on by their fingernails.
Luke tells us that Paul had decided to leave Ephesus before this uproar. His subsequent departure for Jerusalem was not because it was too dangerous for him to stay. His decision to leave had been made earlier. Luke also tells us that the disciples and Paul’s friends – some were rulers of nearby Roman provinces (Acts 19:31) – prevented him when he wanted to address the mob.
I wonder. Did the town-clerk speak as he did because he had been taught by Paul that government receives its task from God?
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