David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 19:21-22 (23-41 below)

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.

Just yesterday I received an email from my colleague, Pastor David Schultz, suggesting that we set aside the months of January and February as “prayer months” for the fifty (50!) countries of the world where persecution of Christians is most severe. Number one on their list is North Korea, followed by 10 other (mostly Islamic) countries they have identified as being places of extreme persecution for Christians. The WorldWatchList website is a source of significant information about persecution of Christians, for their faith – not for political, economic, social, ethnic, or accidental reasons. The case for such care and concern is compelling. 

Several facets interest me regarding this encounter between Paul, followers of Jesus (called here, “the Way”), the people of Asia, and certain characters surrounding the worship of Artemis. It is a story of money, religion, mob mentality, and hot and cool heads. In the end it is a story that reminds me of the incredible – and often overlooked – blessing of living in a place of peace, law, and order.

This encounter is between the followers of Jesus and Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths and others who were benefitting from the sale of silver shrines to the goddess Artemis. It might have turned ugly and violent, but the town clerk intervenes, and calmer heads prevail. His reason for calling for a stand down was not particularly religious: “we are in danger of being charged with rioting…” But the result was that the assembly did not turn riotous and the message of Jesus would continue to be spread.

Today I am reminded of the blessings we have to live in a free country, where we may serve the cause of Christ without fear. I am moved to pray for my brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted for the sake of Christ. May God give them strength and move the hearts of their persecutors to see the error of their ways. May they come to know the living God who forgives sins, hears our prayers, has come to earth in the form of a baby, redeemed us by his death, saved us by his resurrection, and who will come again at the end of time to gather his own into his eternal kingdom. Lord have mercy! Amen.

Acts 19:23-41

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.