The Way - Day 062 (Acts 19)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Acts 19
After this time, Paul began to desire to travel to the churches at Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem, but he also desired to visit Rome in the future (19:21). To prepare for his arrival in Macedonia, Paul sent Timothy and Erastus who collected an offering for the church at Jerusalem (19:22). But "about this time there arose a great commotion about the Way [Christianity]. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen" (19:23-24). Diana, also known as Artemis, was a goddess whose center of worship was located in Ephesus. Paul's message to worship God alone caused many to turn their backs on the worship of false gods such as Diana. This began affecting the purchase of silver shrines being crafted by Demetrius and obviously cut into his profit. So Demetrius gathered the other silversmiths in Ephesus and accused Paul of three things: telling people that idols are not gods (19:26), diminishing the reputation of all silversmiths (19:27a), and causing people to turn away from worshiping Diana (19:27b).
Upon hearing this, the silversmiths were angered and said, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" This outcry caused so much confusion throughout the city of Ephesus that Paul's traveling companions (Gaius and Aristarchus) were taken captive (19:28-29). Paul wanted to rush to their defense, but the other disciples would not allow him (19:30-32). This crowd became out of control and the Jews wanted to make sure that they were not caught in the middle so they made Alexander their spokesman (19:33); however, the riotous crowd did not want to hear a Jew so they began crying out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians" for two hours (19:34). Finally, the city clerk quieted the crowd and explained that they had improperly brought Paul's companions before the assembly so he dismissed everyone (19:35-41).