21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
After the events of the previous passage, Paul decided to go through Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem and then set off for Rome. The phrase “resolved in the spirit” likely means he made up his mind but may describe a decision made in harmony with the Holy Spirit. Paul’s decision to go to Rome becomes the focus of the remainder of Acts and reflects the final stage of the mission to witness to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8) as Rome was the center of the Roman world from where one could reach any part of the known world. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia to prepare things ahead of him but he stayed on in Asia for a while.
Around that time a disturbance arose about the Way (Christianity). A man named Demetrius, who was a silversmith who made silver shrines to the goddess Artemis, gathered together other craftsmen involved in similar businesses. He raised a concern that Paul’s teaching that “gods made with hands are not gods” had gained influence and was hampering their business. The growth of Christian influence was moving people away from idol worship and would ultimately lead to the discredit of their business. He conflated his argument by saying that ultimately the temple of Artemis could become worthless. His argument was shrouded in religious zeal but it was all about money.
They responded by crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” and brought the city into confusion. The crowd rushed to the theater, the largest place for gatherings in the city which seated 25,000 people, dragging with them two of Paul’s companions from Macedonia, Gaius, and Aristarchus. Paul was not caught up in the mob but he wanted to go to the crowd likely to defend the gospel but also to defend his companions. Wisely, the believers with him wouldn’t let him go. Even some of the officials (Asiarchs) who were his friends urged him not to go to the theatre. In the theatre, there was total confusion and most of them didn’t even know why they had gathered. The Jews put forward Alexander to issue a disclaimer that the Jews, monotheists who were against idol worship, were not the cause of the decline in the idol business. But the crowd refused to listen to a Jew and they chanted for two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
The town official arrived and the crowd quieted to listen to him. He reminded them that Ephesus was the guardian of Artemis’ temple and her heaven-sent image and that they should do nothing rash. He pointed out that Gaius and Aristarchus had done nothing against their religion. If Demetrius and the craftsman had a legitimate complaint, they were to follow the correct legal channels and present their case in the courts. Then he warned the people of the political fallout of the commotion. They could be charged with rioting and they would have no valid explanation to give to Rome. The consequence would have been some loss of freedom. Then he dismissed the assembly.
Paul was determined to stand up for the gospel and his friends, but he was not headstrong. He was willing to listen to the wise counsel of those around him. Are you open to being guided by the advice of those around you? Or are you the kind of person who pushes forward regardless of what those around you say? Consider Proverbs 15:22 and 11:14
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Qualifications for Church Leaders: 1 Timothy 3-4