Free Bible Commentary
“Acts 19:21-41”
Categories: Acts“Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’ And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, ‘Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.’ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, ‘Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.’ After saying this he dismissed the assembly.”
---End of Scripture verses---
Verses 21-22 – Paul planned to revisit the congregations in Macedonia and Achaia to collect contributions for the needy Christians who lived in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians chapters 8-9; Rom 15:25). He intended to return to Jerusalem with this collection and then visit Rome. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus ahead of him into Macedonia in preparation for his arrival. These were two excellent choices because Timothy had been there with Paul the first time he visited the area, and Erastus was the Corinthian city treasurer (Romans 16:23), the perfect person to help with the sizable collection that would be made for the saints. Paul stayed in Ephesus for a while longer, and obviously, there was never a dull moment for him in that city.
Next we are introduced to a man named Demetrius (verse 24). He was a silversmith who made silver “shrines,” which were likely small replicas of Diana or her temple, that were items of worship all around the region. The temple of Diana at Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of ancient world. It took over 120 years to build, and it was 425 feet long, 220 feet deep, and had 127 columns. Demetrius was the guild leader of the craftsmen who made these trinkets and he brought a lot of business to the men of his trade. Just like with the “magic” industry (verse 19), the shrine making business stood to take a serious financial hit with Paul’s life-altering teaching about Jesus.
Demetrius convinced his fellow craftsmen that they stood to suffer financial loss (verse 25), and that Diana and her temple would lose their reputation and influence, because Paul had been successfully teaching that “gods made with hands are no gods at all” (verse 26). Demetrius worked them up into an emotional frenzy (verse 28), and they eventually filled the whole city with confusion (verse 29). They dragged some of Paul’s travelling companions into the city theater which became a scene of utter chaos. Most of the people didn’t even know why they had come there (verse 32), and yet they all yelled “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” in unison for two hours straight (verse 34).
I am reminded of the second Psalm when I read of the heathen hysteria that took place in the city of Ephesus on that day. “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!’ He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them” (Psalm 2:1-4).
The lesson for us today is this: Nothing can stop the plans of God. Not a frenzied mob of angry heathens. Not all the synagogues in the world filled with angry, hard-hearted blasphemers (verse 9). No state mandated idolatry or government endorsed atheism. None of Satan’s attempts to derail God’s plan of salvation for mankind can upset the progress of the power of the Gospel or the expansion and prosperity of the Kingdom. The Gospel marches on. The truth shakes up the world. God’s word turns people’s worlds upside down. And more importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ saves people’s souls. The word of the Lord will not return to Him empty. It will accomplish that which He sent it to achieve (Isaiah 55:11).
Please read Acts 20:1-16 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
