The Christian Challenge to Values

MEMORY SELECTION: “For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.” —Psalm 135:5

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Acts 19:23-28, 35-39

THE diversified experiences of the Apostle Paul indicate the degree of faith that he must have exercised in the overruling providences and care of God. During the early years of his ministry he had met with persecution and trial nearly everywhere he went. In later years, however, he was comparatively free from opposition and was allowed to preach the good news of the king relatively unmolested.

In our present lesson Paul is engaged in his third missionary journey. For over two years he had been diligently serving the brethren at Ephesus. This city was the seat of the Roman province of Asia, and its political attitudes were based on the “free city” atmosphere, in that its democratic Greek constitution had been kept alive. Ephesus had also been the seat of the great temple to the Ephesian Artemis (known as Diana to the Romans) since the sixth century B.C. At the entrance to the harbor of Ephesus stood a tremendous statue of Diana, who served as the deity not only of the Ephesians but also of the whole of Asia Minor. This great idol was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and attracted the attention of people throughout the entire area who regularly came to worship.

As a result of the extensive trade that was drawn to Ephesus because of the statue of Diana, certain compatible industries also flourished. One of these consisted in the reproduction of the statue in the form of miniature silver shrines, which the people eagerly bought. The silversmiths prospered greatly from this.

However, the Apostle Paul’s ministry was seen as a threat by those who were engaged in making these shrines. The representative of the silversmiths was Demetrius, who was aroused by Paul’s preaching and was successful in convincing his fellow workers of the apparent danger of the Gospel news. Through a cunning speech he stirred up the hearts of the silver workers against the apostle.

Paul, having been in Ephesus for over two years, was making his plans to leave the city and had already sent word along to the various churches which he had established on previous visits. He had hoped to see the brethren in these ecclesia’s again and encourage them in the ways of the truth. Yet persecution was again permitted to arise against him and his preaching activity. Demetrius fomented a riot among the people against the apostle.

The mob sought Paul at his home but, finding him absent, arrested two of his companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, and sped them away to a theatre which was a place of public entertainment. Although Paul would gladly have entered the theatre in defense of his two companions, the elders at Ephesus advised him from taking any action against the mob, believing that his presence would accomplish nothing in such a chaotic state of affairs.

God’s overruling providence was manifested on behalf of Gaius and Aristarchus, however, as the town clerk readily came to their assistance and dispersed the crowd. The town clerk was not afraid of Paul’s preaching and had no particular interest in his two companions. He wanted only to do his duty by convincing those who were gathered at the theatre that if Demetrius had a matter against the apostle he should take it before the courts of law. He pointed out that the action of such an unruly group was a disgrace to the law.

The sudden outburst of hatred against the apostle had been generated by selfishness. Those who were directly responsible, Demetrius and the silversmiths, were fearful they might lose some of their business in the fashioning of miniature silver shrines of the goddess Diana. Their love of money and the desire to perpetuate the false religion of the Ephesians were in contrast to the self-sacrificing disposition of Paul, who was merely attempting to proclaim the message of the glorious kingdom of truth and righteousness to be established by Christ in due time. During the present age only those who have the proper heart attitude respond to the invitation to follow the Lord Jesus in sacrifice.

| Home Page | Table of Contents |