The Power Of And The Opposition To The Gospel
Acts 19:21-41
Our text records the story of a riot in Ephesus instigated against Paul and the new church there. Although Paul was not at the center of the action, it must have been an unforgettably frightening ordeal.
Most of us have never had to face that kind of severe opposition because of our faith. Hopefully, we never will, but we should not be taken by surprise if it does come. Christians in other countries have suffered terribly for their faith, and America is not exempt. We need to be ready in case it comes.
I. The Rebellion at Ephesus (vs. 21-28)
The gospel had been proclaimed in Ephesus, and its power had transformed lives, and this was threatening the business of idol-makers.
A. The concern of the business community
Up to this point, most of the persecution and opposition the church had faced had been from religious leaders, particularly the Jewish leaders. Now, opposition came from a new source-the makers of idols in Ephesus.
The gospel was effecting their pocketbooks. Paul’s message of the gospel was cutting into their profit margin (19:25). That was the bottom line!
Listen to this letter from a father to his daughter’s ex-fiancé:
“Dear Tony:
I have been unable to sleep since I broke off your engagement to my daughter. Will you forgive and forget? I was much too sensitive about your Mohawk, tattoos, and pierced nose. I now realize that motorcycles aren’t that dangerous, and I really shouldn’t have reacted the way I did to the fact that you have no job. I’m sure that there are many very nice people who also live under a bridge in the park. Sure, she’s only 18, and she could go to Harvard on a full ride scholarship, but she wants to marry you! But you can’t learn everything about life just from books. I sometimes forget how backward I can be. I was wrong, I was a fool…but I have come to my senses, and you can have my full blessing to marry my daughter.
Sincerely,
Your future father-in-law.
P.S.: Congratulations on winning this week’s lottery!”
This world revolves around the almighty dollar. What would you sell your convictions for?
The economy is so important that people today will vote for the worst kind of politicians in elections because these politician promise a better economy.
1. The trade would lose its reputation (v. 25, 27)
It would no longer be needed.
2. The temple would lose its respect (v. 26-27)
If people stopped flocking to the temple, it would disrupt their whole society. The entire economy would be affected.
People who become temples of the Holy Spirit don’t need temples of Diana. There was no demonstration against idolatry, there was just salvation, and the new forced out the old.
B. The cry of the business community
Demetrius found a number of people who were willing to join his protest by appealing to their pocketbook and their piety.
Thirdly he appeals to their patriotism. Verse 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.”
He whipped the craftsmen into an irrational rage. They began to chant, “Great is the Diana of the Ephesians.” He whips everybody into a frenzy.
1. The primary cause of their rebellion - The gospel had changed lives!
The preaching of the gospel had caused a serious decline in business.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”
2. The preferred cause of their rebellion - “this Paul”
We have here the noble testimony of a heathen to the zeal and success of the ministry of Paul. It is an acknowledgment that his labours had been most strikingly successful in turning the people from idolatry.
3. The pretended cause of their problem
The worship of Diana was nothing but a pretended cause for the stirring up of the craftsman. If they would have profited by the destruction of the temple, they would have offered no protest as they did.
How often men like to disguise their evil under the guise of some good cause such as religion. Today gambling is being pushed under the guise of aiding the economy and of giving financial help to our city governments, to our schools, and to various other works.
All this talk about gambling sounds so nice and charitable, but gambling is still sticking the two-edged knife of destruction of character and destruction of financial stability. Gambling destroys souls, wrecks havoc on the financial stability of multitudes, and leaves countless homes and families destitute of daily needs. But the disguise has beguiled much of society today, just as Demetrius was successful in making it look like the craftsmen were most concerned about the honor and worship of Diana and the temple.
II. The Riot In Ephesus
Here was a mob. A mob is monster with heads enough, but no brains.
How easy it is to get a crowd to support wrong causes. They can be drummed up in a matter of minutes it seems. But to get a crowd to support truth is another story.
A. Cruel mob
They grabbed the first Christians they could find and forced them into an open arena.
They were mad. That’s the first characteristic of riot is anger.
In their fury, they start screaming the name of their goddess.
B. Confused mob
"Some therefore cried one thing, and some another." Now is that a mob? Everybody yelling their whole heads off and saying what they want. "For the assembly was confused."
And here’s Luke’s sense of humor. "And the more part knew not wherefore they were come together."
They just started screaming, and they kept it up for two hours. Can you imagine the frustration just standing there screaming for two hours?
It was completely out of control.
This is an good description of a mob, assembled for what purpose they knew not; but agitated by passions.
When we sort away all the secondary causes for the confusion at Ephesus, we come to the fact that the root cause of the confusion was the rejection of Christ.
Rejection of Christ is the reason for all the confusion that exists today in our world and in individual lives. Christ did not come to earth to bring chaos and confusion. He came to bring order, calm, and peace. If you are in a confused state of things, check your relationship with Christ. If He does not reign in your life, confusion will.
III. The Reprieve at Ephesus
The third point we come to is the calming of the riot. There was one sharp guy there who handled the situation. Verse 35 and we’ll go through this quickly. "And when the town clerk" -he was the secretary of the town council. He was the very important citizen. He finally quieted the people after two hours of standing in the middle of that place screaming their heads off.
Now he’s smart man. He knew what he was doing.
A. He catered to their pride
He feed the mob’s pride. He reminded them that everyone knew about Ephesus and their worship of Diana (35). People delight to know that they are well-known for something. In catering to their pride, he gained their ear.
B. He chides their conduct
He tells them that they ought not to act rashly and hastily.
C. He counsels them about the court (38,39)
Take it to court. Follow due process of law.
The truth is we’re in danger to be called and questioned by Rome because we have no justifiable reason for this riot.
1. Undignified on their part
2. Unjustifiable on their part
These men have not robbed you. You have brought hither these men, and are ready to pull them to pieces; but have you considered what is their transgression and what is their offence? What can you charge them with? They are not robbers of churches, you cannot charge them with taking away of any dedicated thing from your temple.
3. Unnecessary on their part
There is right way to settle this thing. There is a right way to settle your grievances,
"When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly." After several hours of mass confusion, mob hysterics, everybody went home.
Conclusion
What the people at Ephesus did not recognize was that they were in a far great peril than that of the anger of the Roman government. They were in peril of the judgment of God for their rejection of the gospel Paul preached. They feared facing men more than they feared facing God.
Are we causing a stir because we are preaching the Gospel and men are turning to God from their wicked deeds?
These early disciples were completely fearless, outrageously happy, and constantly in trouble.
I realize that God sometimes grants the church times of peace (9:31). I also realize that the freedom of religion in our country assures us a certain amount of protection from persecution. But I also think that we should ponder G. Campbell Morgan’s words: “The Church persecuted has always been the Church pure, and therefore the Church powerful. The Church patronized has always been the Church in peril, and very often the Church paralyzed.”
