p. 12 | Opposition at Ephesus

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 17, 1898

Opposition at Ephesus

Lesson X.—Sabbath, March 5, 1898.

Opposition at Ephesus.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 19:21-41, R. V.

21 “Now 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. And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. 23 “And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen; whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth. And 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; and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence, whom all Asia and the world worshipeth. 28 And when they heard this, they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the city was filled with confusion; and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel. 30 And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief officers of Asia, being his friends, sent unto him, and besought him not to adventure himself into the theater. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defense unto the people. But when they perceived 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 town clerk had quieted the multitude, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a temple keeper of the great Diana and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another. 39 But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day’s riot, there being no cause for it; and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse. 41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

QUESTIONS.

1. How long did Paul labor at Ephesus?

2. Tell the striking results of his ministry there.

3. After these things, what did he purpose to do? Where did he intend to go before visiting Jerusalem? What place did he then purpose to visit? Verse 21.

4. Whom did he send on before he started? Where did he himself remain? Verse 22.

5. What took place at that time? Verse 23.

6. Who was the instigator of the trouble? What was the source of the silverworkers’ profit? Verse 24.

7. Whom did this man assemble? How did he address them? Verse 25.

8. What did he say as to the influence of Paul’s preaching? Verse 26.

9. What did he say was in danger? What as to the temple and worship of Diana? Verse 27.

10. What effect had these words upon the craftsmen? How did they show their religious zeal? Verse 28.

11. How extensively did the agitation spread? Whom did the people seize? And what did they do? Verse 29.

12. What did Paul seek to do? Verse 30.

13. What shows the esteem in which Paul was held by the better people? Verse 31.

14. What was the condition of the assembled mob? Verse 32.

15. Whom did the Jews put forward as their spokesman? Verse 33.

16. How was he received? What sort of an uproar ensued? Verse 34.

17. Who quieted the crowd? To what did he refer as an established fact? Verse 35.

18. If, as they believed, the worship of Diana was from heaven, what ought they to do? Verse 36.

19. What testimony did he give concerning the peaceable character of Paul and his companions? Verse 37.

20. What did he say was the proper means of settling any real grievance? Verses 38, 39.

21. In what danger did they stand? Verse 40.

22. What did the town clerk then do? Verse 41.

NOTES AND QUESTIONS.

1. The town clerk was undoubtedly a heathen; yet see how he had grasped the principle that truth can defend itself. Compare the words of Joash, the father of Gideon. Judges 6:28-31.

2. Note that this great tumult, which, but for the prudent management of the town clerk, might have resulted in a wholesale persecution and massacre of the Christians, was wholly a business matter. The silversmiths’ devotion to the goddess Diana was wholly a question of profit: from the worship of Diana they got their living. Their opposition to Paul was solely on account of the fact that the spread of Christianity interfered with their business. Even so in the days of Trajan, the persecution that was raised against the Christians, concerning which Pliny wrote to the emperor, was due to the fact that those who sold cattle for the heathen sacrifices, found their business diminishing.