Scripture: Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who 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 denied, 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 anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Acts 19:21- 41 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Luke highlights how some Ephesians found healing when others brought Paul’s clothing articles to them. The excitement surrounding these “extraordinary miracles” inspired itinerate Jewish exorcists to try to cast out demons in the name of Jesus. In particular, seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva tried their hand at it. To their horror, an evil spirit spoke through the demon-possessed man and declared, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (v.5), then accosted them (ripping off their clothes) and sending them fleeing for life. The news spread quickly, gripping Jews and Gentiles alike with a healthy fear of God and respect for Jesus and his Gospel. In response, converts confessed their cultic practices, and those indulging in the magic arts brought their books before fellow citizens and burned them. Luke closes this segment with two highlights: the value of the books totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver, and the Lord’s word continued to gain traction, prevailing over Ephesus’ mythological religion.
Today’s reading continues the storyline of the Gospel’s advance in Ephesus amid growing controversy. Luke first inserts a parenthetical notation that Paul discerned through the Spirit that he should next go to Jerusalem and Rome (which he would eventually do, as Chapters 21-28 cover). But first, Paul sends Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia (located in northwestern Greece, bordering Albania, Kosovo, and Bulgaria today).
The rest of the chapter covers a riot in Ephesus instigated by a silversmith named Demetrius, who made a profitable sum sculpting shrines of Ephesus’ acclaimed goddess Artemis for her devoted worshippers. Forming a union with the other silversmiths, Artemis persuades his fellow artisans that it will be bad for business if the Way continues to make converts. Additionally, he appeals to the integrity of their cultic worship of Artemis, cautioning that their city’s cherished goddess would come under disrepute and become irrelevant to all who worship her throughout Asia. Demtrius’ stirring speech enrages his audience, resulting in a chaotic and boisterous riot of men who drag two of Paul’s traveling companions (Gaius and Aristarchus) to the theater. Meanwhile, Paul’s friends, including high-ranking officers (Asiarchs), convince him not to enter the fray of conflict.
Meanwhile, as the agitated crowd shouts their accusations (most of whom remained unaware of the issue), the Jews put forward Alexander to reason with and calm the crowd. But when they discover Alexander’s ethnicity, the crowd persists with hysterical cries of loyalty to Artemis for another two hours. Thus, the town clerk intervenes with diplomacy and a voice of reason, first recounting the well-known history of Artemis establishing her temple worship in Ephesus, then cautioning the crowd to settle down, reassuring them that Gaius, Aristarchus, and Alexander pose no threat to their worship of Artemis. The clerk then addresses Demetrius and his fellow artisans, directing them to follow Roman law and bring their accusations to the court of the proconsuls. Finally, before dismissing the crowd, the clerk cautions them that if they continue their unwarranted protest, they will face the charge of rioting before the higher authority of the regular assembly.
Takeaway: The origin of the Ephesian goddess Artemis likely formulated from the discovery of a meteorite that possessed multiple nodules resembling breasts. It would explain the clerk’s reference to a “sacred stone that fell from the sky” (v.35) and the idol’s shape as a grotesque female with multi-breasts, symbolizing fertility. Theologian Richard Longenecker further notes that Ephesus’ worship of a meteorite as a sacred object aligns with archeological findings in the ancient ruins of Troy, Pessinus, Enna, and Emesa (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Acts, p.502). Moreover, Artemis’ cultic worship generated the primary wealth production in this once-gateway port to Asia. Indeed, the temple’s massive size (measuring about four hundred by two hundred feet) earned it the status of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Regarding the silversmiths shouting out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (v.28), this would represent a ceremonial chant similar but inferior to ancient Israel and our modern church singing praises to God. But the hysteria and violence accompanying their praises were rooted in fear and anger over the perceived loss of prosperity. Ironically, if they had continued to aggressively cry out their protest under the pretense of defending their sacred religion, they would have caused the outcome they feared, for Rome had zero tolerance toward rioting.
Our takeaway? There are three. From the context of a cautionary tale, while the church is to press into the fray of spiritual battles, it is not our place to wage war against a godless culture. The Crusades are proof enough of the disastrous outcome when we do. Hence, there is no place for initiating violence, for Jesus admonished Peter for swinging his sword in defense of his Master’s arrest (Matthew 26:52). And, in general, Jesus challenged his disciples to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:38-39). To do otherwise, as liberation theology promotes, will prove counterproductive in the end, for it displaces our trust in and reliance on God.
Secondly, and in response to the above point, godly diplomacy and Spirit-led reasoning will prove far more effective than violence. Still, to do so under the heat of conflict requires steadfast wisdom and humility drawn from a vital connection to our Triune God through Scripture, prayer, and the counsel of a godly community. Through this supernatural line of communication, the Holy Spirit gives us the right words to say in these tense moments (Luke 12:12).
Lastly, we find a word of encouragement in this passage: those who hurl insults against us and our Christian faith will only shout themselves hoarse to no lasting effect. Meanwhile, the Gospel we proclaim echoes across the globe, transforming lives from generation to generation—proving to be our ultimate Wonder of the World.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, our ultimate Wonder of the World, who resisted violence but bore the violence of angry men to liberate us from the tyranny of sin. And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who guides, encourages, and strengthens us to stand firm against our true enemy, the evil one. Still, we confess that we are prone to take matters into our own hands when gripped with fear or anger. So would you please help us to maintain a vital connection to you, our Triune God, through Scripture, prayer, and the counsel of a godly community so that we might rest in your Son’s supernatural peace and joy amid the turmoil? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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