November 18

Acts 19: 21-41

21 Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have gone there, I must also see Rome." 22 So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia. 23 About that time no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way. 24 A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans. 25 These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, "Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business. 26 You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 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 will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her." 28 When they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 The city was filled with the confusion; and people rushed together to the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's travel companions. 30 Paul wished to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let him; 31 even some officials of the province of Asia, who were friendly to him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd gave instructions to Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours all of them shouted in unison, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 35 But when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "Citizens of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven? 36 Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 You have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another. 39 If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion." 41 When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

The gospel does affect the way the believers spend their money. As the gospel is heard and believed in Ephesus the believers stop shopping at the temple store of the local deity, Artemis. The silversmiths are impacted and the debate and mob rule is on. The fact is that God does expect us to act in accordance to our faith and that will have economic impacts.

The appeal of the mob to the civil authorities again shows the Roman desire for order protects the believers. In the story of the church and the spread of the gospel we now see two groups lining up against the church. The synagogue continues to be a place of opposition and now those who profit from local shrines and temples are moving in opposition. At this point the state is neutral, but that is temporary.

The reign of God is always at risk of being seen as disloyal to the local community. God’s good gifts to the church will be used in ways that often speak against the current culture. This is one of those moments when the local tourist economy of the Ephesians is at odds with the faith and practice of the believers.

Reflection question

1. How do we respond to those who would use the economic cost of implement our faith against us?
2. How do we reflect the reign of God in our lives?
3. How do you respond to criticisms that the gospel is changing the world as we know it?