Bible Study on Acts 19, verses 21 to 41, trouble in Ephesus

 

Acts 19:21 ¶  After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22  So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. 23  And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24  For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25  Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: 27  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28  And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29  And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. 30  And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31  And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. 32  Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. 33  And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. 34  But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 35  And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36  Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37  For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. 38  Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. 39  But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40  For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. 41  And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

 

Paul now takes it upon himself to go to Rome via Jerusalem. There is some question as to whether or not it is in God’s perfect will for Paul to go to Jerusalem with the purpose he will state in a short while in the text. It is certainly within God’s permissive will as it does indeed happen. We will see what the Holy Spirit said about this later.

 

But, first he must deal with something in Ephesus. Declaring that Christ is the only way to heaven and that no other gods should be worshipped was a great threat to the commerce of Ephesus. Verse 27 says So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

 

Diana was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Artemis whom I believe is just one of the manifestations of Ishtar around the world such as Amaterasu in Japan. Jupiter is the Roman name for the Greek Zeus, the head of the Greek pantheon of gods. Making gods of stone and wood was a great industry in the Roman empire of the first century, if not the most prosperous industry. Many gods were allowed as long as Rome’s patron gods and goddesses were appeased like Roma for the city of Rome. The Christians had not desecrated any temples or insulted any gods or goddesses but preaching that Jesus Christ was the Only Begotten Son of God put them on a confrontation course with the culture. Still, Alexander insisted that if charges were to be brought they should be done in an orderly fashion lest the Roman authorities come down on their heads.