Acts 19:21–41 | The Gospel Encounters Opposition in Ephesus

There’s a quote that says, "If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." (Frank A. Clark) The same is true with the gospel. If we follow Jesus, sooner or later we will encounter resistance and opposition, because the message of the gospel will always confront sin and idols in people’s lives. This is what we see in our passage today.

How did we get here?

A couple of Sundays we looked at how the Gospel arrived and took root in Ephesus:

The Apostle Paul meets a group of 12 disciples that need further explanation about the person of Jesus and the person of the Holy Spirit.

We see a Word & Spirit church being born. A church that is solid in God’s Word and a church that displays the power of the Holy Spirit through signs and wonders and transformed lives.

Paul teaches God’s word for two years so that “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” (Acts 19:10)

Last week we saw the gospel advancing at Ephesus.

People are being set free from the power of sin and darkness.

People are being healed. Others are being set free from demons. We see a revival as people come forth confessing and renouncing their sin and surrendering their life to the Lordship of Jesus.

“So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” (Acts 19:20)

In today’s passage, the gospel encounters opposition in Ephesus due to the fact that the gospel will always confront the sins and idols in people’s lives. Not everyone welcomes that.

Here’s today’s main idea:

The enemy opposes the gospel, but we stand firm and secure because Christ has already won.

From this passage we discover three powerful lessons

(1)Expect the gospel to expose and confront idols.

The gospel exposed and confronted the deepest source of idolatry in the city of Ephesus: the worship of Artemis.

Why is this so significant?

The worship of Artemis was deeply embedded in the social, the religious, and the economic fabric of the city.

Clinton Arnold helps us understand more:

[Graphic] Artemis & Temple ruins

Out of many gods, Artemis was worshipped as the great “mother goddess” in Ephesus.

Her image was carved from a meteorite that fell from the sky: “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?” (Acts 19:35)

The “bulbs” on her chest (whatever they are), represent her role as the goddess of fertility and the giver of life.

The lions on her arms depict her mighty power.

The skirt of Artemis is adorned with a series of frightful-looking creatures that appear to be in a posture of surrender to the goddess. These animals may be understood as representing the harmful spirits of nature over which Artemis wielded authority.

Archeologists have discovered ancient scrolls (papyri) where Artemis is attributed with power over the evil spirits of the underworld.

Artemis was attributed with power over a person’s fate, which is why her necklace depicted the symbols of the Zodiac.

The temple in Ephesus was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

[Graphic] Temple of Artemis

The temple functioned as the banking and financial center for the region.

Large amounts of money were deposited and borrowed from the temple.

One of the twelve calendar months was named after Artemis which would be observed by a month-long festival.

The worshippers of Artemis honored her as “first among thrones,” “savior,” “Lord,” “Queen of the World,” and “the heavenly goddess.”

Those who worshipped Artemis believed they were devoted to an awesome, unrivaled deity, who could not only help them in the daily affairs of life but also provide them with a protection from evil powers and the break the bonds of fate.

Then Paul comes to Ephesus exposing and confronting the idols with the message of the gospel.

According to Demetrius, the silversmith:

“Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 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. 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.” (Acts 19:25-27)

Paul exposes and confronts the idols in other cities:

In Lystra, man is healed in Jesus’ name, but the locals think that Paul and his companion are gods that came down from heaven in human form, “Let’s offer a sacrifice to them!”

“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 [idols] to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.” (Acts 14:15)

He gives a similar message in Athens, a city full of idols.

“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. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 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.” (Acts 17:29-31)

Paul had a simple message: those gods you worship are not real gods. They cannot deliver you from the power of sin and Satan. Jesus, the one true God, came from heaven, died for your sins, rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven where he now reigns and one day he will come back.

Paul would simply ask for the following response to the message of the gospel: believe and repent! True gospel transformation will disrupt the values and priorities of the world.

Those who would believe and repent would then be baptized.

The would declare: Jesus, not Artemis, is Lord.

(2)Expect opposition to the Lordship of Jesus.

Some people are not happy with how Jesus is transforming the city: Revenues are down: people are not purchasing Artemis merchandise.

Demetrius and his fellow businessmen are so angry that a riot breaks out. People are angry not only because of their financial loss but because the message of Jesus confronts the worship of Artemis, one of their most revered gods. The crowd becomes irrational in their opposition, chanting and causing confusion.

Acts 19:28 “When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

When the gospel declares “Jesus is Lord,” it confronts every rival idol in that culture.

Why are we talking about idols? We don’t even have any idols in America, or do we?

I came across an old sermon (1600s) by David Clarkson, Soul Idolatry Excludes Men out of Heaven.

Here’s what idolatry looks like: 13 acts of soul worship

1. ESTEEM. That which we most highly value, we make our God.

2. MINDFULNESS. That which we are most mindful of—we make our God.

3. INTENTION. That which we most aim at, we make our God.

4. RESOLUTION. What we are most resolved for, we worship as God

5. LOVE. That which we most love—we worship as our God.

6. TRUST. That which we most trust we make our God.

7. FEAR. That which we most fear, we worship as our God

8. HOPE. That which we make our hope we worship as God.

9. DESIRE. That which we most desire—we worship as our God.

10. DELIGHT. That which we most delight and rejoice in—that we worship as God.

11. ZEAL. That for which we are most zealous, we worship as God.

12. GRATITUDE. That to which we are most grateful, that we worship as God.

13. When our care and [effort] is more for other things, than for God—this is idolatrous.

As you can see, you can make anything and anyone into an idol.

An idol is anything that seeks to replace what only God can be.

One of the biggest idol in America is individualism:

In Habits of the Heart, Robert Bellah and his co-authors explore how individualism is at the heart of America culture and how it has shaped American life. The book addresses something called “expressive individualism” - each person develops his own “growth,” “value system,” or “life-style.”

When you applied this to religion, Americans want the freedom to create their own religion with its own sets of beliefs and values. As a result, nobody has the right to tell them what to believe and nobody has the right to hold me accountable:

Follow your heart

Be true to yourself

You do you

Live your truth

YOLO (You only live once)

We create gods into our image to give us ultimate hope and satisfaction:

Wealth & prosperity (greed)

Physical beauty

Pleasure

Human reasoning

“Whatever that is, if it’s more important than God to you, if you love it more than God, if it’s a greater source of happiness, identity, hope, and meaning, then it’s actually a god.” “Tim Keller, The Gospel and Idols

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy things in life. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t love the people around us.

This means that we shouldn’t expect them to be what only Jesus, our Lord, can be.

Story of the girl who wanted to finish her degree.

(3)Expect God’s plans and purposes to prevail.

Paul’s life is at risk because he exposed and confronted the idols of Ephesus. He wanted to face the mob but his disciples would not let him. Even some officials from the region sent him a message tell him not to go into the theater.

Who is behind the mob that wants to kill Paul?

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Scripture clearly tells us that idols are nothing. At the same time there is a spiritual reality behind them. It’s demonic.

1 Corinthians 10:19–20 “19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.”

The gospel was met with resistance and opposition in Ephesus. But resistance and opposition is not the end of the story, for Jesus promised, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

God’s plan and purposes prevailed in Ephesus. The town clerk steps in and calms the crowd, preventing Paul and his companions from facing harm. Although the opposition was intense, we see the sovereignty of God working even through unexpected people.

I believe God used prayer to deliver Paul.

Ephesians 6:18 “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”

When the gospel transforms lives, it will disrupt systems of sin and idolatry. Expect opposition, but trust that in the reality that Christ is building his church and the all the powers of hell will not prevail.

Conclusion:

As we’ve seen today, the gospel confronts the idols of our hearts and culture. When people’s idols are exposed, opposition is inevitable. But here’s the good news: though the enemy fights hard to resist the truth of Christ, he is already defeated. Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantee that no power of darkness can ultimately prevail against the advancing of the message of the gospel.

We stand firm in the face of opposition, not by our own strength, but because Christ has already won the victory. As Paul’s experience in Ephesus shows us, when idols are confronted, chaos may come. But God is always in control, working even through the opposition to accomplish His purposes.

So, church, be encouraged. As we proclaim the truth of the gospel in our lives and communities:

- Expect idols to be exposed.

- Expect resistance.

- And expect God’s purposes to prevail.

Now, as we sing “The Great I Am,” let this be a declaration of the ultimate truth: Jesus is Lord. There is no rival, no power in heaven or earth, greater than our God. Let’s lift our voices, remembering that Christ reigns now and forever, and in Him, we are more than conquerors.