The Gospel Starts a Riot

Open in your Bibles to Acts 19:21-41. What would happen if the westside of Columbus were radically changed by the Gospel? What would be different about our city? Would Hollywood Casino go out of business? The adult store billboards be taken off of West Broad? Kids sports leagues forced to leave Sundays alone? Church parking lots full not only on Sundays but for mid-week gatherings as well? Could the Gospel impact our economy and culture. Well this is what happened in Ephesus. The Gospel took root in the lives of so many people that the outside world could no longer ignore it. The power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was so prevailing that is caused a riot. Why would the Gospel cause a riot? Let’s read our text find out?

The Gospel Impacts Real Life v. 23-27

Acts 19:23–27 “About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.””

EX: A disturbance arises because a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, stirs up the other tradesmen because as people being to follow Jesus they are no longer buying the shrines he creates.

His profits - v.25 “from this business we have our wealth”

denial of the gods Paul is saying v. 26 “that gods made without hands are not gods.”

Acts 14:15 ““Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”

Acts 17:29–31 “Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.””

the temple and Artemis denounced Acts 19:27 “And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.””

Temple was the largest structure in Greece much large than a football field. Brought people from all over the world. Created a tourists culture. (Vegas with no casinos)

FCF: The Gospel impacts economy, religion, and culture. Our world wants us to keep to ourselves. Benign- not harmful or dangerous, gentle and kindly.

ILL: Watching sitcom and character explained their faith was personal to them. Shouldn’t impact who they date. The mother was concerned because her son was dating an atheist. Faith impacts real life, and who date isn’t just fun.

APP: True faith must express itself in tangible ways. As individuals are converted and believe in Christ it manifests in changed lives. Changes the Ephesian economy, religion, and culture.

The Ephesians respond in a riot because the Gospel impacts real life, and they loved their way of life because they loved their sin.

We Love Our Sin v. 28-34

Acts 19:28–34 “When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!””

EX: The craftsmen respond to Demetrius by becoming enraged and begin crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Creates confusion so they drag Gaius and Aristarchus, Pauls friends to the theater.

The theater could sit approximately 24,000 people

EX: Paul is kept from going inside by the Christians in Ephesus and the Asiarchs, the upper class, the elites. Perhaps he would have only made things worse. Things are so intense that Alexander, a Jew was put forward to try to make a defense. Maybe fearing the Jews would also incur the same wrath as the Christians. Just scream all the more! Because they wanted to keep Artemis and their jobs.

FCF: Used to think people just didn’t understand. That ignorances was the only reason they did not follow Jesus. If I could just explain it. I heard a sermon called Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead. Reidhead was a missionary in Africa. And he explains why he went, and what he learned.

I went out there motivated by humanism. I'd seen pictures of lepers, I'd seen pictures of ulcers, I'd seen pictures of native funerals, and I didn't want my fellow human beings to suffer in Hell eternally after such a miserable existence on earth. But it was there in Africa that God began to tear THROUGH THE OVERLAY OF THIS HUMANISM! And it was that day in my bedroom with the door locked that I wrestled with God. For here I was, coming to grips with the fact that the people I thought were ignorant and wanted to know how to go to heaven and were saying, "Someone come teach us", actually didn't want to take time to talk with me or anybody else. They had no interest in the Bible and no interest in Christ, and they loved their sin and wanted to continue in it. And I was to that place at that time where I felt the whole thing was a sham and a mockery, and I had been sold a bill of goods! I wanted to come home. There alone in my bedroom as I faced God honestly with what my heart felt, it seemed to me I heard Him say, "Yes, but will not the Judge of all the earth do right? The Heathen are lost. And they're going to go to Hell, but not because they haven't heard the gospel. They're going to go to Hell because they are sinners WHO LOVE THEIR SIN, and because they deserve Hell. BUT, I didn't send you out there for them. I didn't send you out there for their sakes." And I heard as clearly as I've ever heard, though it wasn't with physical voice but it was the echo of truth of the ages finding its way into an open heart. I heard God say to my heart that day something like this: "I didn't send you to Africa for the sake of the heathen, I sent you to Africa for My sake. They deserved Hell! But I LOVE THEM! AND I ENDURED THE AGONIES OF HELL FOR THEM! I DIDN'T SEND YOU OUT THERE FOR THEM! I SENT YOU OUT THERE FOR ME! DO I NOT DESERVE THE REWARD OF MY SUFFERING? DON'T I DESERVE THOSE FOR WHOM I DIED?

APP: The Ephesians loved their sin and way of life. They didn’t want Jesus, they wanted Artemis. However, the response is not to just leave them alone. Instead, we must see that God deserves those for whom he has died. As the world seems less and less interested, I want to encourage you to not lose heart. We are called to share the Gospel even if the world rejects us and acts violently toward us.

So, how do we keep going when it seems like the world is against us? We must possess an unwavering faith in the fact that God is still in control.

God Is Still In Control v. 35-41

Acts 19:35–41 “And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.”

EX: A town clerk, a pagan government official, is able to settle the crowd. Paul, the evangelists and faithful servant of the Lord is restricted from entering the theatre. And Paul’s friends are dragged into the theatre in the midst of a hostile and seemingly uncontrollable crowd. Alexander can’t help… it seems that they are doomed.

FCF: Imagine if you were Gaius and Aristarchus. How would you feel? 24,000 people chanting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” for two hours. All hope seems lost. And here comes the town clerk…

EX: He appeals to their sense of self-preservation. Knowing they don’t want the Roman authorities to come. He even appeals to their belief in Artemis’ greatness. And explains that the Christians have done nothing sacrilegious nor are they blasphemers. That is to say they have done nothing physical to the temple, Artemis, or to the worshippers of Artemis. Preached the Gospel, but did not keep them from worshiping Artemis. God used this man’s rhetoric, his logic, to save Gaius and Aristarchus. This is what Paul meant when he wrote:

ILL: Romans 13:1–5 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.”

APP: God is in control of government officials. Even evil unbelieving officials. The Roman government would later behead Paul. Yet, Paul knows everything they do, is for God’s glory and his good. After Tuesdays results I needed to be reminded. He is still in control.

Proverbs 16:4 “The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.”

He uses it all for His glory and our good.

Conclusion

I went to a half day pastor’s conference on Monday in Lewis Center. The preacher there asked us, “Are you preparing your people to suffer for Christ?” I hope I am. I hope as we walk through the book of Acts you have realistic expectations of the Christian life. I had another conversation with a fellow pastor who expressed his frustration with people always being too busy for the work of the church. I told him, it often seems that discomfort is associated with unfaithfulness. That our churches have bought into a emotional prosperity gospel. If I’m not always happy, well rested, and comfortable then I must be doing something wrong. I bring this up because I don’t think you’ll get dragged into a theatre this week by a mob. But church if you live faithfully, there will be days where you are tired, days when you are overwhelmed, and times in life when you are afraid. God does not call us to ease. He calls us to faithfulness, and there will be times our faithfulness insights the crowds and other times when it wears us down. And when life’s difficulties arise I pray that we would may the zeal of the Ephesians pagans. But rather we would cry out! “Great is Jesus, the Lord of my life!” “Worthy is Jesus!” Cry out! God you are good all of the time!