A riot breaks out in Ephesus Acts 19:21-20:1

Introduction

Change is inevitable in our lives, and I think the fear of change holds us back from doing lots of things. You say I don’t mind change, but how many of us park in the same spot, or sit in the same pew. We go to the same barber or salon, we eat the same food. We try hard to avoid changing things in our life and most of the time we don’t even realize it.

As we have seen throughout the book of Acts the gospel brings about radical changes in our lives. It not only has the power to change our lives individually, but it has the power to change cities, counties, states, countries and the world.

This morning we are going to see that the Gospel had changed the continent of Asia and it was disrupting some peoples lives and they were going to cause riots and really cause Paul to leave Ephesus.

Lets look how the power of the Gospel overcomes the Pagan worship of Ephesus and the world.

Paul’s planning for the spread of the Gospel vs. 21-22

Paul has spent about 2.5 years in Ephesus and the Spirit is starting to stir him to continue on his journey.

Paul begins to plan to head back to Jerusalem through Macedonia and Achaia, and to eventually make it to Rome.

Paul wrote about his desire to go to Rome in his letter to the church in Rome

Romans 1:9–15 “9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”

Rome was always on Paul’s radar but the Holy Spirit had never allowed him to go to Rome.

Our wants are not always God’s plan for our lives. When we allow God to direct our steps, he will accomplish his will in our lives.

Paul could have done his own thing and allowed his wants to distract him from God’s will, but he lived a life yielded to the Spirit

As Paul begins his planning to return to Jerusalem he sends Timothy, his son in the faith and a man by the name of Erastus ahead to Macedonia.

Paul stayed in Asia for a Season.

The stir caused by the Gospel vs. 23-34

At the same time that Paul is planning his return to Jerusalem their is a stir about the way

the word stir here means Agitation of thoughts; conflicting passions.

The way again refers to the early Christians that trusted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We find a group of silversmiths being agitated by the message of the Gospel.

The group of Silversmiths was led by a man named Demetrius.

This group made their money off selling silver shrines for Diana who was also known as the goddess Artemis.

Her temple in Ephesus was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world

The impact of Christianity was so great at Ephesus that the sales of these shrines had tanked and caused panic and anger among the silversmiths.

Notice they weren’t upset that people weren’t worshiping Diana, but they were losing money because of the spread of the Gospel in Asia

This is the first time the gentiles got upset because the gospel took away there way to make money

Acts 16:16–24 KJV 1900

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Phillips said this “No greater comment can be made on the wholesome nature of Christianity than the way it cleaned up this moral and religious sewer of the Ancient world. No greater comment could be made on human greed and wickedness than that it was the very thing that infuriated the silversmiths and through them, the populace of the city”

The gospel is the only thing that can clean up the filth of the world we live in, The white house doesn’t have the power to clean up the world we live in, politicians don’t have the power to clean up the world, policies don’t have the power to clean up our world, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change the world we live in.

The silversmiths acknowledge that its not just Ephesus thats been affected by the Gospel but rather all of Asia.

Paul preached that there are no gods made with hands in Athens and obviously preached the same message here in Ephesus, and its the message that had spread across Asia.

Acts 17:24 “24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;”

Acts 17:29 “29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”

Look at the silversmiths plea to the people

Our craft is in danger. The first plea was that if something wasn’t done the shrines they made were in danger because people are worshipping God instead of the gods they were making.

The temple of Diana will be despised. Again this temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and it was in danger of being shut down if something wasn’t done.

Dianas magnificence or greatness will be destroyed. She was the goddess of Ephesus and if they didn’t shut down the gospel her greatness will be destroyed.

When the silversmiths heard Demetrius’ message they were full of wrath and began chanting Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

The whole city was in confusion about what was going on, but they caught Gaius and Aristarchus who were from Thessalonica were taken into a theater with the mob

The devil wants to confuse the world and keep them distracted from the Gospel.

The Bible tells us that God in not the author of confusion

1 Corinthians 14:33 “33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

There eventually was so much chanting that no one knew exactly what was going on, the whole assembly was confused.

They drew Alexander out of the crowd, and he was getting ready to speak they started chanting again because they didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

The closing of the riot vs. 35-41

The townclerk finally takes control of the riot and shuts it down

He appeals to the people by reminding them that everyone knows that Ephesus worships Diana.

He tells them because of this they should be quiet and not do anything rashly.

He tells them the men that they have gathered haven’t robbed churches or even blasphemed the goddess they were just recognized as Christians.

He tells Demetrius and those with him that if they have a problem to tell the deputies and they will handle it, and if they wanted to do anything it need to be done in a lawful assembly, not in some mob driven riot.

If they didn’t disassemble they would be questioned for the days uproar.

After he had told them this he dismissed the assembly.

It’s amazing how God used this man to protect the Christians here in Ephesus.

Paul departs for Macedonia 20:1

When the riot was over, Paul brought the disciples together, embraced them and went on his way to Macedonia, his time in Ephesus was complete

Conclusion

Are you allowing fear of change to keep you from selling out to Jesus? Your life will change when you say yes to Jesus, but it will change for the best.

Have you ever trusted Christ as your saviour? If not come this morning and we can show you from God’s word how you can be saved.