"And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring [him] that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, "Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knows not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse."
And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:30-41)
Prior to this scriptural account, we see a number of events happening.
Then said Paul, "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard [this], they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.
As a consequence, God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Third, we see certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, take upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the Name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, [and] chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"
And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Indeed, many that came believed, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. As well, many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all [men]: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.
Imagine, the believing community burned their curious arts and books and when they counted the price of them, they found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. The result? So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed.
Fourth, we see that after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
And the same time, there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain [man] named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships."
And when they heard [these] sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
It is at this point wherein we see the assembly in confusion. Here is Paul preaching in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Conversely, those who made money from making silver shrines for what they perceived to be the great goddess Dianna were suddenly losing business. In fact, so much so, that they wanted Paul stopped. Nevertheless, as we know, Jesus is both Lord and Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords and He never takes second place for all power and authority are His. (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:8)
Our takeaway? To magnify the Name of the Lord Jesus. To be water baptized by immersion in the precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus. To understand that no other religious god that the world worships can supersede worshipping the Lord our God -- His Name JESUS -- in this current dispensation of grace.
For He is the only God who loved His people enough to shed His precious holy blood on a cross so that we might have everlasting life in Him.
Stand in the offering plate.
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