The Riot in Ephesus

The Riot in Ephesus
Acts 19:21-41
Paul has been in Ephesus and things have been going well. In fact, there's been a revival going. Then we go to Acts 19:21 and see a riot.
We ask, in how many ways can people be offended by the Gospel?
Everybody finds some reason to be offended by it:
-Sinners are called to repentance
-Righteousness (except Christ's) is not enough
-Meekness of Christ
-Immense power of Christ
Now, we see another reason which is a financial one. This just shows the reality of human heart throughout history.
1. Paul's travel plans (vs. 21-22)
- Luke wants to tell us that Paul has a grand mission on his mind - getting to Rome (centre of the world then)
- that while he intends to go to Rome, he goes the opposite direction (pass through Macedonia and Achaia) in order to collect a financial gift and bring it to the church in Jerusalem.
In the same way, we need to keep other churches in mind e.g. financial care, pray for them and be always prepared to extend assistance.
2. Stirring the crowd (vs. 23-28)
- the Gospel has made impact by transforming the city. It significantly affected the business of the craftsmen making a living by making silver shrines of Artemis (Ephesian goddess of fertility) enough to cause "no little disturbance".
- If we want to change our city, it's not through changing its laws, culture or economy but by changing the hearts of the people and turning them to God.
3. Addressing of the crowd (vs. 29-34)
- the depravity of the human heart and mind is on display here. It's not a small crowd which ran riot but how was Paul fearless?
We do get of a sense of what's behind what Paul's doing in 1 Cor. 15:30-32. He believed that the resurrection is sure and that heaven is real.
4. Calming of the crowd (vs. 35-41)
- the town clerk quieted the crowd. He does his very best to address them by saying to them, "For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess." (Acts 19:37)
Why then did this clerk do this?
- partly the reason may be that he is doing his best to be a good politician by calming down the crowd.
- there is not any point in the account where he said directly that Artemis is a demon.
- in our evangelism, there is a time to be offensive, but there is also a time to be gentle.
Worth remembering:
* The great tragedy of the story -> Demetrius was a hard-hearted craftsman. He preferred his idol (money and business) over the salvation offered by the Gospel.
Church, let's take warning from this. Don't miss out on the eternal life because you are busy focusing on the affairs of the world.