An Outline Of Acts 19:21-41

Introduction: These last verses of Acts 19 show some of the opposition Paul faced as he taught the Truth of God and God’s Word to the people in Ephesus. Paul had seen the Lord work in a number of ways; now, he was going to experience some of the hatred the devil had for him and for all those who chose Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Text, Acts 19:21-22, KJV: 21 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. 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

Thoughts:

--“These things” most likely refer to the events listed earlier in this chapter:

-verses 1-7, the encounter with the group of 12 disciples of John;

-verses 8-12 the ministry of teaching and sending of handkerchiefs or facecloths and aprons to heal the sick and cast out demons;

-verses 13-20, the episode where a demon-possessed man cast out a group of exorcists! This led to a complete break of the people and the dabbling in black magic and perhaps other things.

--The bonfire destroyed literature worth 50,000 “pieces of silver”, a day’s wage at the time. No matter how much these items may have cost them, the people knew they had to get rid of the evil stuff they had kept, and did so quickly.

--Paul “purposed in the spirit” to go to Jerusalem but it’s not clear if this means the Holy Spirit caused this struggle in Paul’s mind, or if this was his own spirit. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia (northern Greece at the time) but he stayed in Ephesus “for a season”.

--And while Paul stayed, an event took place that could have been very dangerous for him.

Text, Acts 19:23-27, KJV: 23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 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: 27 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 worshippeth.

Thoughts:

--“No small stir” actually means a disturbance or commotion! We may never know how many people had brought their publications and burned them, but there had to be some who were upset and certainly the devil was furious. Now the devil was about to use one of his human servants to attempt to cause problems for Paul—and, perhaps, the other genuine believers.

--Demetrius seemed to be a well-known silversmith, with the ability to craft words and opinions even as he did the metal. “No small gain” probably means “a great deal of profit”. Dr. A. T. Robertson states Demetrius may have been the organizer of the guild of “craftsmen” who made these images of Diana (https://godrules.net/library/robert/robertact19.htm).

--Demetrius didn’t stop there, either. He called them and the “workmen”—probably those who were lesser skilled (maybe compared to journeymen and apprentices in guilds?)—and promptly tried to fire them up, emotionally. First, he appealed to their wallets and wealth: “we have our wealth by this craft”. No mention of the cost of souls in Hell because they worshipped Diana.

--The second charge or accusation was against Paul personally. Demetrius blamed Paul for “turning people away” from the “gods . . . made with hands”. Paul had never done this, only teaching things concerning the kingdom of God (verse 8).

--The final two charges aimed at their pride. Demetrius warned that their craft would “be set at naught”. There are several opinions in various commentators but the common thread is that these craftsmen and other workmen would be out of work; worse, that the temple of Diana/Artemis would be despised and her magnificence destroyed.

--Demetrius had fired them up, so to speak. Luke records the results of his speech, rant, or diatribe in the next several verses.

Text, Acts 19:28-34, KJV: 28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 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. 30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31 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. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. 33 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. 34 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.