There is a difference between the receiving of the Spirit for
Salvation (as in John 20:22), and receiving Him in power to do the
things of God (Acts 2:4). The one enables us to be made right with God
through Christ, and the other equips us for a ministry of His choosing.
It may be that verse five represents the point where they believed (they
were saved), but for sure in this verse they were equipped for service.
Some of them spoke in tongues and others prophesied. No doubt, other
gifts were also present but these are the ones mentioned. For a thorough
description of these gifts in action, see the Friday Study commentary on
1st Corinthians Chapter 12.
Verse 7. "There were in all about twelve men."
I like these twelve men. They had an experience unique to themselves,
though I am sure they model the response of many throughout history.
They are reminiscent of the Bereans, in Acts 17:10-13. Those men
happened to be Jews, and unlike the response of many of their
contemporaries of the time, they LISTENED to Paul, and "searched the
Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." This is so
important. If you love God, you will want to learn about Him. An aspect
of love is listening.
A favorite ministry of mine is the Kairos Prison Ministry. The
workers in that group enter into prisons and bring our Lord to the
prisoners. The Kairos motto is "Listen, listen, love, love." It’s a good
motto for all of us, for we all manage to get into prison in one way or
another. Marriage can become a prison where the two talk but no longer
hear each another. When Paul spoke, these 12-men LISTENED, and so should
we listen to one another.
Verse 8. "And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out
boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom
of God."
As stated previously, we have an affirmative duty to LISTEN to those
that God sends into our lives. These Jews of the synagogue allowed Paul
to speak for three months, suggesting strongly that some of them were
being drawn to our Lord. A main function in life is that we be OPEN to
the things of God and to that which our Lord has done for us.
Wouldn't you like to have three months with the apostle Paul, to
LISTEN to him as he expounded on the word of God? Paul was like a
sighted man in a world of the blind and it is reasonable for the
helpless to receive a helping hand. When I was a child, I was in a
wheelchair for years, and I needed help! Often! These Jewish men of
Ephesus were receiving the greatest help possible. They were receiving
the word of God through the exposition of Paul the Apostle.
Verse 9. "But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient,
speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and
took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus."
If you plant a seed in your garden, it may well grow into something
new and wonderful. But toss the same seed into the street and nothing of
the kind is likely to happen. The wind may blow it from curb to curb but
it will still be just a seed. So it is with many who have heard the word
of God. They are hardened like that street and though the seed of God is
there, it does not grow within them. To have unbelief is to be hard and
disobedient toward God
Paul had seen all this before and it was time to leave. So he left,
for he knew in his spirit that nothing more could be done, and he went
to the school of a famous Greek teacher called Tyrannus (the tyrant).
Note that Paul’s "disciples" (students) were with him. Some of them had
been with him on this missionary journey and others would have come from
the synagogue in Ephesus.
Verse 10. "This took place for two years, so that all who lived in
Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks."
Throughout all generations, the same pattern unfolds: God selects a
person or persons, prepares them, and sends them to a certain place.
Paul was in the school of Tyrannus, preaching and teaching for two
wonderful years, and because of this, the "whole" of Asia" (now the
country of Turkey) heard the word of the Lord Jesus. Everybody, both
Jews and non-Jews alike.
I've been fascinated for years that news traveled so fast in those
"olden" times. It's also interesting how extensively the people
traveled. The one is tied to the other, for travelers told the "locals"
and all were informed. God used this process to bring the Lord Jesus to
a whole group of people. Today's Muslim Turks had Christians as
ancestors.
Verse 11. "God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of
Paul,"
Interesting, isn't it, that sometimes God will pour physical miracles
upon human beings and other times the miracle is simply the changed
hearts and lives of people. God knows our needs and will do what it
takes to move us out of our seats as spectators and bring us down the
aisle into the kingdom of God. The extraordinary was becoming the norm
for this man of God. There was a slogan, years ago, which went: "Expect
a Miracle" (and we should).
I don't think Paul went after these miracles – they were God’s gift.
He was a man who sought God with all his heart and found Him, and the
gifts are just the Lord’s bonus. An attorney or doctor is really Given
the skills they have, in order that they might serve others. So it is
with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are designed to enable us to
serve God and to serve one another.
Verse 12. "so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his
body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went
out."
How difficult to understand that even the handkerchiefs and aprons
from Paul’s body could bring healing from sickness and release from evil
spirits. There seems to be a point where the person is so wonderfully
infected by the Spirit of God, that we infect and effect everything and
everyone around. That’s what is being portrayed here. We also see God’s
concern for the people of this world evidenced by what He was doing for
them.
There just wasn’t enough of Paul to go around, and there were so many
to be healed. Were the handkerchiefs, to some of them, like focal
points, where they could simply touch and be healed? This is reminiscent
of Matthew 9:21, where the woman thought, "if I only touch His (Jesus’)
cloak, I will be healed." It is hard to understand so much could be
transmitted through an apron, but we can see that we require more of
God, to the end that even our words or touch might bring God’s mercy to
someone in need.
Verse 13. "But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place
to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name
of the Lord Jesus, saying, ‘I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.’"
It can be dangerous to attempt the works of God, unless we are His.
We have a wonderful example of our utter need of Christ in these next
verses. Here were Jewish "exorcists", who lacked good intentions in
imitating Paul by trying to cast demons (evil spirits) out of the people
of that place. They were probably trying to win a name for themselves by
what they did. "Good intentions" would actually mean they were sent by
God. But they were not – instead they were imitating the actions of Paul
the apostle.
We can go too far in imitating other people. It is commendable to
imitate the faith of another person, because faith in Christ will bring
us to Him. But if I imitate your ACTIONS and do not have the faith, I
place myself into real danger. To act the part of the religious person
without trusting in Christ is to play the hypocrite, which will win the
displeasure of God and the contempt of the enemy.
Verse 14. "Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing
this."
A "chief priest" of the Jews named Sceva, had seven sons who were
imitating Paul the apostle by going around and attempting to cast demons
out of people. Recent examples of such characters in the American
culture, would include Jeanne Dixon and Edgar Cayce. These are people
who have used the name of Jesus Christ as though they knew Him. But they
did not know Him. The evidence is seen in their teachings.
Jeanne Dixon was an adherent of astrology, expressly forbidden in
Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:19). Cayce consorted with so-called "departed
spirits" and committed the sin of Saul (1 Samuel Chapter 28). The simple
truth of Scripture is that we come to Jesus in faith and give Him our
hearts and lives. The "seven sons" were people who used His Name without
giving Him themselves. Dangerous to them and useless to other people.
Verse 15. "And the evil spirit answered and said to them, ‘I
recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’"
The "seven sons of one Sceva" (verse 14) were imitating Paul the
apostle by attempting to cast evil spirits out of people. These young
brothers did not know Christ and they were attempting to enter the very
real (and very dangerous) spiritual realm without the protection of the
Holy Spirit of God. One should not speak on behalf of the U.S.
President, except they be authorized to speak as his ambassador. One
should not speak for Christ, except they are sent by Him.
In their travels, they encountered a person who actually WAS
possessed by a demon (an evil spirit). The demon spoke through the
person possessed and told the seven brothers that it did recognize the
authority of Jesus and it knew about the authority of Paul. Jesus, the
Son of God, has all authority, even in relation to creatures such as the
one in this verse. Paul belonged (belongs) to Christ, acting in HIS
authority and he was sent by Him. These Jewish brothers had no authority
at all and were now in big trouble.
Verse 16. "And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them
and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of
that house naked and wounded."
Even the evil spirits understand (see verse 15) that all authority is
in Jesus Christ. An evil spirit answered Jesus, "What do you want with
us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who You are –
the Holy One of God" (Luke 4:34). Then Jesus, who has all authority,
cast out the demon (Luke 4:35). It is outrageous to attempt to operate
in the spiritual realm without first being filled with the Holy Spirit
of God, through Jesus Christ the Son of God.
It is very much like writing checks on another man’s bank account.
Without permission, the first man is in great trouble and will likely go
to jail. When I was the manager of a company in Tucson, Arizona, I often
wrote checks on the account of my employer. I even bought objects of my
choosing to beautify the office. That was OK – I had been given
authority to act in that manner. The men in this verse did not have that
authority, and even the enemy despised them for what they had done.
Verse 17. "This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived
in Ephesus; and
fear fell upon them all and
the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified."
This verse records a wonderful incident. Just about everybody in the
area of the city of Ephesus heard about the events in the preceding
verses. And this is the lesson for them, for you, and for me: We are not
to be presumptuous with God. He saves us and gives us life. He calls us
"friends", and yet He is God, and presumption is not called for in our
use of His Name.
It is essential that in what we DO in His Name, we must first be
CALLED by His Spirit. These men (verse 13 and forward) saw Paul and
other men doing good works. They copied the works, with no power or
leading from God, and it placed them into jeopardy. When we act in His
Name, let us first have the leading and power of His Holy Spirit, who
freely gives to those who believe in the Son of God.
Verse 18. "Many also of those who had believed kept coming,
confessing and disclosing their practices."
It’s amazing how God brings good out of everything – even out of
misdirected efforts, as we see in acts of the seven brothers of the
preceding verses. They were nearly killed because of their presumption
and everybody in the area heard about what happened to them. But what
occurred also brought a holy fear into the hearts of those who heard.
We all have practices and attitudes which do not advance the kingdom
of God or give Him glory. It often takes some notable event to wake us
up to the awfulness of sin. Christians sometimes read astrological
forecasts, knock on wood, throw salt over a shoulder, or whatever. It is
good for us all to come to the Lord, confess what we are doing, and
disclose those practices to other Christians, so we do not slip back
into them.
Verse 19. "And many of those who practiced magic brought their books
together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they
counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of
silver."
Some have compared this igniting of books to the burning of books by
the Nazis in Germany. Yet there are many differences. The Nazis were
godless people. They had the mask of religion but no heart for the Lord.
They burned good books, not bad, and they did it out of selfishness and
a desire to suppress knowledge that simply was counter to what they
wanted people to believe. They sought power and did not care about other
people. Books were destroyed for an evil purpose.
The books in burned in Ephesus (these verses) would have ultimately
destroyed the people who used them. The books were about magic,
containing "spells" that would direct demonic activity into the lives of
other people. Those who used them had sought power over others and
resorted to witchcraft to achieve that end. Such "magic" is harmful. The
people of Ephesus understood that, and reasonably acted. Bad books were
destroyed for a good purpose.
Verse 20. "So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and
prevailing."
This is the goal of the Lord God in our lives, that the word of the
Lord will grow mightily in us and prevail. This has been true of me. I
went astray for many years and it was His Word that led me home. It is
His Word that has protected me in trouble and comforted me when I have
been afraid. The written Word of God is simply about people – people
just like us.
They encountered trouble in life and the Lord reached out to them,
just as He does with you and me. In their experiences, we find guidance
and hope. If His Word is strong in you, He will grow mightily in you,
His Holy Spirit will enter every aspect of your life, and He will
prevail in you. As it was for David, Ruth, Paul and the Ephesians, it
will be for you.
Verse 21. "Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the
spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and
Achaia, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’"
This ultimately must be the goal of our lives: that we will do all
things as purposed in the Holy Spirit of God. It’s normal for Christians
to do a lot of praying to God, but it usually works like this: they
decide to do this or that, and pray the Lord will bless what they have
decided to do. God, I believe, would have it be the other way around. We
should go places and do things because we KNOW that is what Spirit would
have us to do.
We tend to think others are like we are, and it’s normal to look at a
verse like this from the human perspective. You can hear the excitement
of Paul in this verse, and he was every inch just as human as we are. He
WANTED to go to Jerusalem, Macedonia, Achaia, and Rome. He would love to
speak to the people in those places. But to really LOOK at this verse is
to understand that Paul wanted to go there because that is how the
Spirit led him.
Verse 22. "And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered
to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while."
Notice that he did not immediately leave Ephesus, where he had been
for two years and three months (from the beginning of this Chapter). He
knew, because the Holy Spirit had revealed it to him, that it was nearly
time to go into Macedonia – but not quite yet. There was a small bit of
business that needed first to happen, which begins to unfold in the next
verse.
Even though Paul was not quite ready to leave, he sent two trusted
disciples ahead of him: Timothy and Erastus. Timothy we know, for he was
the younger man of mixed parentage, first seen in Acts 16:1, 3. He shows
up often in relation to Paul, and is the person addressed in the
Epistles (letters) to Timothy. Less is known of Erastus, who may have
been the person in Romans 16:23, who was "treasurer of the city" at that
time. Certainly Paul knew him well enough to send him ahead on the
journey through Macedonia.
Verse 23. "About that time there occurred no small disturbance
concerning the Way."
At that time, the system of worship we call Christianity was called
"The Way". Jesus provided the way for us to be made acceptable to God,
which is where the name "Way" came from. Because Jesus died in our
place, we can be forgiven, if only we place our faith in Him. As He
said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the
Father except through Me" (John 14:6). He is the way and there is no
other.
Until Jesus returns to this earth, there will always be troubles in
life, and some of them will be in relation to our decision to follow
Jesus. There is an enemy who wants to distract us, like bees that buzz
around us in our garden. People also can be a distraction, and
theological libraries are full of books that perplex readers instead of
increasing our faith. There is a clear and simple Way and His Name is
Jesus Christ.
Verse 24. "For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver
shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen;"
Years ago, when I was Administrator of a large law firm, I was
impressed that everything done was profit motivated. During conferences
about what to do with a civil case; the merits of the case, issues of
justice, and profit to the client were typically not central to the
discussion. Most of the conversation (whether to settle the case or not)
was about profit to the law firm. If we settle, how much do we make?
This Demetrius the silversmith was a man like that. The next verses
reveal him as a person who outwardly was loyal to the "goddess" Artemis
(Diana), and he was a maker of little statues that were replicas of the
shrine in the Ephesian temple of Diana. The little shrines were cleverly
made, and they contained an image of Diana. Demetrius and the other
craftsmen made a lot of money through this work – But his true "goddess"
was money.
Verse 25. "these he gathered together with the workmen of similar
trades, and said, ‘Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this
business.’"
"Misery loves company" and Demetrius, who was one miserable excuse
for a human being, had called a meeting. His behavior probably seemed
commendable to his contemporaries at the meeting, but that was because
he was saying things they wanted to hear. As subsequent events would
show; for the sake of profit, these men would initiate a course of
behavior that would lead to physical danger and possible harm to other
people.
Money is just not as important as people, and your prosperity is not
as necessary as you may think. I was astonished, during a number of
years when our money just seemed to vanish like smoke, that God brought
us through. Even though I did not financially do the job, He sustained
us. It’s sad that lost income, or the threat of it, will cause some to
treat others badly. A lot of divorce, for example, can directly be
traced to lessened finances. The divorcing couple will suddenly spend
thousands for attorney fees, when previously they were arguing about
dollars spent for food.
Verse 26. "You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost
all of Asia, this Paul
has persuaded and
turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with
hands are no gods at all."
Demetrius continued speaking to the tradesmen of Ephesus.
Note that the little silver shrines of a "goddess" (that was not a
goddess), were made for profit. In just a few verses these people would
start shouting, "Great is Artemis (Diana) of the Ephesians," in order to
incite the crowd, but they couldn’t care less about "her". Money makes
people feel secure, and the threat of its loss will provoke "nice"
people to become thieves and murderers. Actually, they don’t "become"
anything, because the circumstance of lost money will expose who they
really are.
Paul, on the other hand, offered something quite real to the people
of Ephesus. Lives were being changed in Jesus Christ. And the evidence
that the Spirit in Paul was of God was all around them, for
"handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick,
and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out" (verse 12).
Here was a group of craftsmen, leading citizens, who would attack a good
man who helped others, simply for the sake of lost profit.
Verse 27. "Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into
disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be
regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world
worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."
Demetrius the silversmith, was continuing his discourse to the other
silversmiths of Ephesus, and he was revealing himself to be both
eloquent and persuasive. In order for these precise events to be known,
by the way, one or more of the silversmiths present must have later come
to the Lord, and subsequently have told Dr. Luke, the author of Acts,
about this meeting.
He continued to speak, touching every "chord" possible in the hearts
and minds of these worried men. He appealed to their pocket books, and
to whatever religious fervor in relation to Artemis (Diana) they might
have had. He raised the suggestion in their minds that the "favor" of
this "goddess" might be withdrawn from them. Not that "she" had "favor"
and not that she was a "goddess". Demetrius just did not care – he was a
businessman in this for a profit.
Verse 28. "When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began
crying out, saying, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’"
The discourse of Demetrius (preceding verses) worked very well. At
this point, the other silversmiths were no longer listening to him at
all, for they were just caught up in the emotions of the moment. Behind
Demetrius was the enemy, Satan. All his work is like this – he wants us
to be afraid, hitting us in our religioun, our cultural concerns,
appeals to any racism we might have, and he likes it when we worry about
things like money. God, on the other hand, is pleased when we trust in
Him and understand that, no matter what the circumstances, He will bring
us through.
These were probably not religious men, by the way. They were just
craftsmen; small business owners who became afraid that they would lose
their livelihood. Fear can easily turn into mindless anger and bring
harm to other people. They shouted "Great is Artemis," but the real cry
within them was, "Great is money and we are afraid of losing it."
Verse 29. "The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed
with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus,
Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia."
There are four instances of a "Gaius" in the New Testament. In
addition to the one here, the name appears again in Acts 20, 1
Corinthians 1, and 3 John. It is unlikely they are references to the
same person. Aristarchus, on the other hand, was a Macedonian from
Thessalonica, who was mentioned several times as a companion of Paul
(including Acts 20:4, 27:2, Col. 4:10, and Philemon 24) and all
references are probably about the same man. Right now, these two were in
grave trouble, for the maddened silversmiths had dragged them into the
theater, with every intention of doing them great harm.
The enemy loves confusion, and when things get wild, like the
circumstances of this verse, it definitely is time to calm down (if you
can) and pray. When others fall into violence, it’s certainly time to
seek the Lord.
Verse 30. "And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the
disciples would not let
him."
Notice the courage of Paul. He would have gone right into the midst
and fury of the mob, but his disciples (students) physically restrained
him and would not let him. The real reason for Paul’s bravery was the
presence of the Lord in his life. He trusted in God and knew that He
would see him through. It also seemed to be shaping up as a time where
he could tell others about Jesus, and he wouldn’t want to miss an
opportunity to speak about the Lord. But the others would not let him.
Verse 31. "Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his, sent to
him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater."
Paul was recognizing that it was God’s preventative hand, expressed
through his friends, that was urging him to say away from the theater in
Ephesus (verse 29). It was at that point he decided to not go. He was
not in any way a physical coward and would have gone anywhere, if he
thought the Lord would have him go. But he listened to his friends, and
suddenly he knew they spoke the words of GOD to him.
These "Asiarchs" were "Chiefs in Asia", who were civil and priestly
officials of that Roman province. They were chosen each year to preside
over the national games and theatrical displays. The latter were
patriotic pageants sponsored by the Asiarchs themselves, which meant
that only rich men could afford this honor. Such people risked a
considerable social standing by their faith in Christ. They also risked
their lives in that time and place.
Verse 32. "So then, some were shouting one thing and some another,
for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what
reason they had come together."
This is an interesting verse, for it throws light on a lot of human
activities. There is a lot of passion within the people of this world;
much of it is hidden, and most of it is misdirected. Those in marriage,
business, politics, government, or whatever, often get very emotional
and upset about things which they don't really understand. People want
their own way.
Notice the confusion among these people (and also note they were the
leading citizens of the community). They had assembled together but most
of them did not know why. Just about everybody had something to say and
they were at cross-purposes with one another. It sounds like a typical
meeting at the corporate or national government level in our "modern"
world.
Verse 33. "Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the
Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander
was intending to make a defense to the assembly."
Alexander, along with Gaius, came from Macedonia, on the mainland of
Europe, and they were traveling companions of Paul the Apostle (verse
29). Both of them were essentially prisoners of the mob which filled the
theater at that moment. Alexander especially had a problem right now,
for he was being pushed forward into the center of the place. This was
dangerous for him, because emotions were high and he could have been
killed at any moment. Alexander, to his credit, opened his mouth to
offer a defense to the mob in front of him.
Verse 34. "But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single
outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, ‘Great
is Artemis of the Ephesians!’"
Most business, corporate, political and governmental decisions are
based on emotion. For all the training such people typically have,
decisions are made on the basis of "I feel we should do… (whatever)".
Attendees at meetings often seem passionless but underneath, that is not
the case. The people in attendance have a bias going in and most already
have made up their minds in advance. People talk about an "open mind"
but that is a rare commodity.
Notice that as soon as they found out Alexander was Jewish, they
began to shout and kept it up for literally two hours. The instigators
of this meeting did not care that much about the "goddess" Diana, except
that the little statues of her made them a profit. We all too often make
up our minds about people too quickly, and then stop listening if we
don't like what they represent. We need to LISTEN to God and LISTEN to
one another.
Verse 35. "After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, ‘Men of
Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of
the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the
image which fell down from heaven?’"
God intervened at this time, though not in the way we would expect.
He used the person who was the City Clerk of Ephesus. It was unlikely he
was a Christian at that point, but he was an agent of the Most High,
with no comprehension by him or anybody else that anything unusual was
occurring. He was very respectful of the "goddess" Diana (Artemis) and
the legends surrounding her, which contributed to the quieting of the
crowd.
"The image which fell down from Zeus" (NKJV) had likely been a
meteorite. A temple was built around it, in approximately 800 BC.
Actually five temples were built, each one on the ruins of the previous
one. The temple in existence at the time of Paul was considered one of
the seven wonders of the world. Artemis (Diana) was thought to be the
"goddess" of fertility, and was depicted as draped with eggs and with
multiple breasts. There was a "goddess" in Greece by the name Diana,
which possibly came from the same origin but that one was simply viewed
as the "goddess" of the hunt.
Verse 36. "So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep
calm and to do nothing rash."
The City Clerk of Ephesus had done well, and the crowd continued to
be quiet as they listened to his words. It was a good thing, because
Alexander and Gaius, who were essentially captives of the mob, might
have been killed by them. Again, it's clear that the City Clerk did not
know the Lord because he appeared to believe the legends surrounding
Diana, such as the one about the meteorite which fell from the sky. He
was not correct in his beliefs, but God was using him to quiet a people
that shortly before had been out of control. The Lord uses EVERYONE
around you, to bring His victory (and peace) into your life and mine.
Verse 37. "For you have brought these men here who are neither
robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess."
The City Clerk of Ephesus continued to speak. Paul and the others had
not spoken directly against Diana (Artemis) and I think it is important
for us to see that, unless God leads us otherwise in specific
situations, we are not against religions - instead we are FOR Jesus
Christ. He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), and He is
both what we need and what the world needs as well.
The mob that had dragged two Jewish Christian men into an
amphitheater with the intention of doing harm to them, was quieted
because the words of the City Clerk were calm and they presented Paul
fairly. The Apostle and the others had simply presented the truth of
Jesus Christ, wherever they went. They were not "robbers of temples",
and of course, it is not blasphemy to deny a "goddess" who is not a
"goddess" at all.
Verse 38. "So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him
have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and
proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another."
Demetrius was the one who originally incited this group of citizens
into becoming an angry mob (verse 24 & forward). Just about everybody
present knew he had started all this, and the City Clerk was now
addressing Demetrius and the others directly. If he (and the other
makers of the little silver statues of Diana/Artemis) felt they had a
complaint, then let them take the matter to court! There were plenty of
courts and judges then, just like now, and if they had a case, the City
Clerk was saying, "Sue them!" ("But don't just stand there and yell!").
That would be the proper way in society. Demetrius was worried about
lost income, and the City Clerk was telling him to go to court and ask
the judges for damages. If he had a foundation for his claim, Paul and
the disciples would be ordered to pay him. For those who know the Lord,
by the way, there is a wonderful discussion in 1 Corinthians Chapter 6
about judging in the church. It’s good reading.
Verse 39. "But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled
in the lawful assembly."
Human law can be wonderful. For instance, nobody likes the laws
requiring us to pay taxes - but we are commanded to pay taxes in Romans
13:6-7, because the money is to be used to pay the salaries of
policemen, firemen, the courts, and all who are ordained to protect
society. Taxes and government can be oppressive, but we are ordered to
not only pay for our government officials but also pray for them (1
Timothy 2:1-2) in good times and in bad. Our prayers can change them for
the better. All this is for your sake, for God wants to protect you from
harm.
Here was a legally constituted City Clerk, calming the mob and
pointing them toward an orderly existence. When the Holy Spirit, through
Paul, teaches us to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3), He is
speaking directly to you and me. Notice it says in the Timothy verses
that we are to give thanks for all men, and especially for those who are
in some kind of authority. Even if we don't like them.
Verse 40. "For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in
connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and
in this connection we will be unable
to
account for this disorderly gathering."
Word gets around. What you do, even when you think others don't
notice - they DO notice. It's truly a small world and you are not alone
when you're off in a distant place. Even if people don't see what you've
done, it changes who you are, and others will notice if you are subtly
coarsened in manner and behavior.
Asia was a province of the Roman Empire. The City Clerk was warning
them that word of their actions might well get back to Rome that they
had become a disorderly people. They would not be pleased if a couple of
Roman Legions came to town, and that was indeed what could have happened
to them. "Pax Romana" (Roman Peace) was enforced by the armies of Rome.
Verse 41. "After saying this he dismissed the assembly."
The crowd was quiet. They had yelled until they could yell no more
and the City Clerk had finally caught their attention and calmed them
down. Or rather, God (through a man that did not know Him) had quieted
the mob, for the sake of the Christians who were in danger at that
moment. And now God, through the City Clerk, dismissed them back to
their homes. People make many decisions but it really is God who is
shaping the course of your life and mine.
