About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way…
Acts 19:21-41
Paul had planned a trip from Ephesus to Macedonia through Achaia back to Jerusalem and, then, to Rome. But, Paul dispatched Timothy and Erastus while he remained in Ephesus for a while longer. After Timothy and Erastus left, there arose a huge disturbance started by a wealthy silversmith named Demetrius who riled many people against followers of the Way, the name of Christians before they were first called Christians at Antioch. Demetrius and his cohorts were suffering a huge loss of their business as idol makers because the followers of the Way were advocating not worshipping any idols made by man. Not only did Demetrius lose business but he claimed that the goddess Artemis would soon be a forgotten god in Ephesus if the Way continued to grow. A large crowd of people were causing quite an outcry against the followers of the Way. Paul was not allowed to speak to the mob and when Alexander, a Jew, tried to address the mob, the mob shouted him down. The commotion came to the attention of the city officials and they addressed the mob, telling them that Ephesus is the temple keeper of the great goddess, Artemis. The officials said that followers of the Way had not been sacrilegious nor blasphemers of Artemis so, Demetrius and his “gang” must stop the rioting and bring “charges” to the officials of wrong doing by the followers of the Way if there were any to bring. Then, the officials dismissed the mob and warned them that such rioting will only bring the Roman soldiers to quell such chaos through the shedding of blood. Having given this warning to the crowd, the official dismissed them. Now, we are not told any more of this incident but, we know the church at Ephesus became a well-known church in the Roman Empire. The Apostle John ministered at Ephesus, until his death, and other church leaders of early church history were based in Ephesus. Though Ephesus is a ruin today, it speaks to Christians of the growth of the early church and its impact upon many peoples in Asia of that day, participating in the sending of the gospel message to our ancestors who, in turn, left their legacy of God’s Redemption for us to have that salvation that is offered through Christ Jesus.
Source: S C Ball July 26, 2023
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