Acts 19:23-41
The Riot in Ephesus
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today’s events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
When Paul preached in Ephesus a riot broke out against his teachings of Jesus...They called Paul's teaching the Way...Some of the business people of Ephesus were more interested in their work and business than they were hearing the Truth...The same can be said today...
The men who started the riot were afraid Paul would stop their silversmith business of making temples, idols, and trinkets to sell for their goddess Artemis...Artemis was worshiped throughout Ephesus...The business leaders knew if Paul's message about Jesus caught on they would sell fewer pieces of craft of Artemis and have much less temple work, and overall work...So the businessmen, who made the shrines and merchandise, got the whole city in an uproar...The riot was such that they seized Paul's two traveling companions Gaius and Aristarchus... Paul wanted to continue his preaching about Jesus and His Ways, but the disciples with Paul would not let him...Even some of the officials of Ephesus sent him a message not to venture into the theater area to preach...The Ephesus city clerk help to restore order in the town, and quiet down the riot...
I think two things are learned from the riots in Ephesus...Today, there may still be men like Demetrius and the other workers, who see their job and their work (as well as other things), as more important the the Ways of God and learning about our LORD and His Son...Paul and the teachings about our LORD, even today still be persecuted...Or to use today's word, when some talk about the Ways of the LORD, they might be called a Bible Thumper...Paul was a Bible Thumper...But Paul was blessed by God...A great speaker and great writer, Paul held the Ephesian's interest in Jesus...Paul would not give up in his teachings about Jesus to the Ephesians...Paul and his companions would start a church in Ephesus, and Paul would later write a letter to the Ephesians...He also wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, while in Ephesus 1 Corinthians 16:5-18...He says in that letter there were many who opposed him and his group, but he continued to preach, because effective work opened in Ephesus...
Paul and his companions can thank God that they had escaped the riot of Ephesians...They persevered so well, while there, that the early church of Ephesian was started...Their knowledge of Jesus, the way they personally led their own lives, and with the strength of God they help build and further strengthen the young church of Ephesus, even through these trying times...