The Riot in Ephesus

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 11th day of January— MONDAY— Happy birthday CJ Ongcuangco

Last Thursday right here at “The Message” we heard how God did extraordinary miracles through Paul— And when some Jews who were not actually followers or believers of Jesus invoke His name to drive out evil spirits, they reaped its sad consequences— among those Jews who did this was the seven son of Sceva [chief priest]— and from that we learned:

DO NOT INVOKE THE POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN HIM

I MUST HOLD THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS IN HIGH HONOR

As we continue with our verse by verse study of the book of Acts, today we will complete chapter 19— Open your Bible to ACTS 19:23-41— it’s quite long so we have to get right to it

When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going

READ ACTS 19:23-41

BOOK

Acts 19:23–41 NIV

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” 28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater. 32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

WHAT: The Riot in Ephesus

WHERE: Ephesus

WHEN: Third missionary journey of Paul

WHO: Paul, Gaius and Aristarchus [travelling companion of Paul from Macedonia], Demetrius [silversmith] and other craftsmen

WHY: Because of their fear of loosing their business making idols— they rioted against Paul

LOOK

YOU KNOW MY FRIENDS THAT WE RECEIVE A GOOD INCOME FROM THIS BUSINESS

Demetrius rallied his fellow craftsmen to rise up against Paul because of they’re loosing their income because of Paul’s preaching— Paul said..

GODS MADE BY HUMAN HANDS ARE NO GODS AT ALL

Paul has established that is folly to to worship created objects— since the only true God is the Creator— 1 Corinthians 8:4-6

Aside from their fear of loosing their business— they are also afraid their goddess Artemis will be discredited— and so when they heard what Demetrius said, they were furious and began shouting

THE WHOLE CITY WAS IN UPROAR

The mob arrested Gaius and Aristarchus [Paul’s travelling companion from Macedonia]— Paul wanted to appear before the crowd— but the disciples would not let him— even the provincial officials appealed to him not to go to the crowd that rioted against him

The assembly was in confusion— they were shouting different things— but most of them did not even know why there were there— until the city clerk [the chief executive of the city] addressed the crowd and said..

THEY HAVE NEITHER ROBBED TEMPLES NOR BLASPHEMED OUR GODDESS

The chief executive of the city said that instead of rioting, they can press charges— he emphasized that..

IT MUST BE SETTLED IN A LEGAL ASSEMBLY

Now, let me put these in a couple of sentences that we can easily remember and live by

TOOK

GODS MADE BY HUMAN HANDS ARE NO GODS AT ALL

I WILL NOT BUY ANY OF THOSE IMAGES AND STATUES

SING

Agape Worship — Great Things