242. RIOT AT EPHESUS

"So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed"

Having courageously presented the Truth at Athens with a somewhat depressing result, Paul travelled on to Corinth, where he lodged and laboured for 18 months in the company of Aquila and Priscilla, who had recently arrived in the city from Rome (Acts 18). On his return to Jerusalem Paul passed through Ephesus, stopping there to enter into a synagogue where he reasoned with the Jews, as was his custom (Acts 18:19). The response was quite favorable. They wanted Paul to stay with them but he had determined to press on to Jerusalem. So leaving them with a promise to return, he sailed from Ephesus, having left Aquila and Priscilla there to carry on the work. He returned to Antioch from whence he had set out on his second missionary journey some three years before (Acts 15:40).

Acts 19

EPHESUS.

Ephesus lay on the shores of the Aegean Sea. It had a good harbour and was a thriving, cosmopolitan, seaport town. The climate was mild, the air pure and sweet, and the region was noted for everything that made for softness and effeminacy in life. The people were friendly, refined, but loved luxury, music, dancing, elegant clothing, festivals and whatever else was pleasant to the flesh.

When the truth came to Ephesus, it was the commercial centre of Roman Proconsular Asia. It was the principal harbour for shipping from Italy and Greece. It lay at the end of the caravan route with the East, and well-made roads connected it with the interior. The city was wealthy and prosperous, and a population from many nations flocked there to share its opportunities, among them a Jewish group large enough to have their own synagogue (Acts 18:19, 26; 19:8).

Ephesus was a university city. Its people included many of the wise of this world; but its glory was the magnificent temple of Diana, once described as the First Wonder of the Ancient World, and a very impressive stadium which could hold about 57,600 spectators. The image of the goddess Diana was supposed to have fallen down from heaven, and mysterious symbols inscribed on the idol were used as a charm to heal. The study of these symbols was an elaborate science and many books were compiled about it. In this city given over to sin and idolatry, it seemed unlikely the truth would get very far. Yet, under God, some of the best workers in the first century ecclesia helped to that end — Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos. The details are found in Acts 18 to 20.

Not long after Paul's departure for Jerusalem the eloquent Apollos arrived, knowing only the baptism of John the Baptist, and Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and instructed him more perfectly. In this way, he became a very effective teacher of God's word (cp. Acts 18:24; 1 Cor. 3:4-6).

THE REBAPTISM OF JOHN'S DISCIPLES (verses 1-7).

Paul, having set out about AD. 55 on his third preaching campaign, eventually arrived back at Ephesus where his first encounter was with twelve new disciples. Paul may have detected something amiss in their conversation for he asked them pointedly, "did you receive the Holy Spirit since you became believers?" (v.2). They answered "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit". Paul's doubts were confirmed. Paul then asked, "into what then were ye baptised?" "Into John's baptism", they replied.

Since their hearts and minds were ready to accept the full truth, Paul needed only to explain that the message of the Messiah to come—which had been John's teaching—was fulfilled in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ. With their understanding that "there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we might be saved" (Acts 4:12) Paul re-baptised them "into the name of the Lord Jesus."

After their baptism, Paul laid his hands on the twelve Ephesians and the Holy Spirit immediately came upon them. They began to speak in foreign languages and prophesied (v.6). With Paul, they formed a strong foundation on which the new ecclesia in Ephesus could grow.

TEACHING THE TRUTH (verses 8-20).

After speaking for three months in the synagogue with boldness concerning the Kingdom of God, Paul was forced to leave because of the anger of the Jews who resented such a different teaching of the Messiah. They were expecting a conquering warrior, not a messenger of peace.

Taking his disciples with him, Paul moved his daily discussions to the school of Tyrannus. He was so effective that after two years of teaching and special miracles, the whole population of the Province of Asia—Jew and Greek — had heard of the Gospel of God (v.10). Since Ephesus was the commercial capital of the Roman province of Asia, and either for trade, education, or for religious purposes, was visited by many from other centres of Asia, every city throughout the area was affected to some extent by what Paul did. Although Paul had never visited them, ecclesias grew up in places like Colosse, Hierapolis, Laodicea (Col. 1:6; 7; 2:1; 4:12, 13.

As well as preaching the gospel, Paul had the power of the Holy Spirit, and he did wonderful miracles to prove that what he said was the truth of God's Word. God in this way did "special miracles" by Paul. Even "handkerchiefs and aprons" from Paul's body removed people's illnesses and seven false Jews who thought they could cure people simply by using the name of Jesus Christ were shown to be wrong, and shamed for their deception. At last some of the people could see the worship of idols was very wrong. They began to understand that the pagan worship of the temple of Diana was immoral, and the conduct of the temple priests and priestesses was evil. Many false teachers and magicians (priests of the old Persian religions), changed their ways and followed the Truth. They were so convinced that they burned their books on magic — books valued at 50,000 pieces of silver (over $50,000 today).

Ephesus: Reconstruction of Temple of Diana

THE OPPOSITION OF DEMETRIUS (verses 21-27).

The Ephesians were convinced that Diana was kept appeased by the presentation of small idols kept in the temple or in the homes of the devotees. They were believed to bring good luck and so were carried about by the people for extra protection. Since most of these small idols were of precious metals, a large industry was required to provide a continuous supply of the metals themselves and the craftsmen to actually fashion them. One of the most influential men in the business of manufacturing idols was a man by the name of Demetrius, who had a great number of people working for him. His basic greed was shown by his use of money arguments in what was really a religious debate. Claiming to be concerned with the worship of Diana, he actually revealed a primary concern for his purse.

Paul's message that there existed only one true God who had power over all men and certainly over all inanimate objects, no matter how spectacular (especially the magnificent temple of Diana of the Ephesians), roused Demetrius to action. He called together his own men and others associated with the production of idols. He spoke of the obvious fact that since Paul had begun preaching there had been a steady decline in the sales of their goods. He, very cunningly claimed — for the benefit of those bystanders who were devotees of Diana — that this meant that the goddess Diana herself was being neglected. Certainly, her temple would not be as splendid if the dedication of the images should cease!

THE RIOT (verses 28-41).

Shortly, both the true devotees and the greedy merchants began to cry, "great is Diana of the Ephesians". The noise and commotion soon spread throughout the city, causing much confusion. Great thronging crowds rushed to the enormous theatre jostling each other to see what was going on: so chaotic was the confusion, that many were caught up in the frenzy, not even knowing why they were there (v.32). Gaius and Aristarchus, being recognised as Paul's companions, were dragged along to the theatre. Learning of their peril, Paul resolved to make his way to the theatre, but was held back by friends and even leaders of the city. They told him that he couldn't hope to calm the crazed mob.

Some Jews at the scene tried to put a speaker forth. They chose a man by the name of Alexander, but the crowd recognised him as a Jew, and not a devotee of Diana, and yelled all the louder. In fact, their frenzy was so great that they shouted "great is Diana of the Ephesians" for two hours. Eventually, the shouting ceased long enough for the town clerk to attempt to address the crowd. He spoke from a genuine conviction of his faith in Diana. He said that all believers and worshippers of their goddess knew her image had been a gift from the god Zeus, and was well-preserved in her temple. He pointed out that Paul's work in Ephesus had never included insulting Diana, or trying to obtain wealth belonging to her temple. Since the Romans prided themselves on a system of court justice and a rule of law, the clerk urged Demetrius to avail himself of the established court procedure if he felt he had a complaint against Paul or his friends. The clerk's final argument was the most convincing. He showed that any further rioting could bring a charge of insurrection against themselves.

After the crowd disbanded, Paul was free to carry out his plans to work his way back to Jerusalem.

LESSONS FOR US:

God gives His faithful followers strength to live and witness to others about His plan of salvation. We have the complete message necessary to carry on the work to which Paul so diligently applied himself. The ability to pass on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, ceased with the deaths of the last of the apostles — who had received it at Pentecost. Nevertheless, we can be sure of the power of God's word, the Bible, as we see signs that prove His promises are sure.

What a difference is shown between the brethren of the Lord Jesus Christ and the worshippers of the pagan goddess Diana. The new brethren were prepared to publicly burn the symbols of idolatry and to turn in quiet reverence to worship the One True God. The idol makers were more interested in their wealth than their goddess, and religion was to them only a means of making money. Like Paul, we should be fearless in standing for Christ, and in putting away from us the things of worldly wisdom.

Paul and his friends were rescued from a dangerous situation by the action of the Ephesian town clerk. We can see that this was the hand of God saving Paul for his, as yet, uncompleted work.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)—Vol. 13, pp. 187-190; Vol. 14, pp. 5-27

"Paul the Apostle" (W. H. Boulton)

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. Why was it necessary for Paul to re-baptise the twelve Ephesian converts?

2. Describe the effect of Paul's preaching from the school room of Tyrannus.

3. How did the Gospel triumph over the superstition in Ephesus?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the ways in which the Truth became established in Ephesus.

2. Describe the riot at Ephesus.