Stop The World
Text: Acts 19:23-41
Introduction
1. Show the video "Stop The World" by Randy Stonehill.
2. We live in a society filled with contradictions.
A. It's okay to murder babies but we really ought to save the wales!
B. We're putting criminals in office because it's way too crowded in the jails!
C. Men and women choose to live together rather than getting married, but we encourage men to marry other men!
D. We don't want school children to pray or read the Bible, but they're required to read the Koran.
3. In reality our society has turned its back on God because it had a better idea, and the result was chaos!
4. Our society does want to live by Scripture because...
A. It effects them financially
B. It effects their world view
C. But...the Gospel always prevails
5. Let's stand together as we read Acts 19:23-41.
Proposition: In a world that has lost it's mind we need to stand firm in the Gospel of Jesus!
Transition: First of all, our society rejects the Gospel because...
I. It Affects Them Financially (23-26).
A. Our Wealth
1. Although Paul had a lengthy and effective time of ministry in Ephesus, as usual, there were also some problems.
2. Luke begins this section with, "About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy."
A. Just how many opponents there were in Ephesus soon became apparent.
B. Luke speaks of it literally as "serious trouble developed" concerning the Pentecostal Christian way of life that Paul preached.
C. Luke consistently stresses the real reasons behind such opposition, especially because opposition was usually for reasons other than the content of the gospel.
D. Here in Ephesus the root of the opposition was jealousy. As in Philippi, it had primarily an economic reason, though it was couched in religious and patriotic terms when presented in public.
E. The temple of Artemis was a key to the economic stability of Ephesus, for foreigners traveled there to worship and deposited money in the temple.
F. This had become more significant in the time of Paul since the city was beginning to lose its significance as a center for international trade.
G. Demetrius must have been the president of the guild of silversmiths.
H. In those days "members of the same trade united to form professional guilds, which set standards for their own trade and united to defend their economic interests."
I. The silversmiths made "silver shrines of Artemis" (v. 24), that is, "miniature silver niches, containing an image of the goddess, which her devotees bought to dedicate in the temple."
J. Archaeologists have found "silver reproductions of her image and clay models of her temple." (Fernando, NIV Application Commentary, The – Acts, 518).
3. Then Luke tells us, "He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!"
A. Now sales were falling. So Demetrius gathered all these skilled craftsmen together "with the workmen in related trades," involved in some way in the temple businesses, and made a speech pointing out that Paul's message had spread throughout "practically the whole province of Asia."
B. Demetrius knew what Paul's message was, but rejected it and scornfully called Paul "this man."
C. Because Demetrius was losing much of his income he considered Paul as a false teacher, having "led astray large numbers of people."
D. But he recognized how effective Paul's ministry was. Multitudes were believing the truth "that man-made gods are no gods at all" (Horton, 328).
B. Love of Money
1. Illustration: A man named E. Paul Hovey said, "Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them!"
2. When money becomes more important to us than God it become our god.
A. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NLT)
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
B. The love of money leads us to greed.
C. The love of money causes selfishness.
D. The love of money makes us lie, cheat, steal and murder.
E. Worst of all, the love of money leads us away from God!
3. It's impossible to serve both God and money.
A. Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
B. The love of money takes away our passion for God.
C. The love of money erodes our desire for the things of the Spirit.
D. Jesus didn't say, "It's difficult to serve two masters," he said, "No one can serve two masters...you cannot serve both God and money."
E. The love of money is a key reason that people reject the Gospel...it costs too much!
Transition: The Gospel not only effects their money, but also...
II. It Affects Their World View (27-34).
A. The Great Goddess
1. These people not only had an issue with their money, but they also had an issue with their belief system.
2. In v. 27 we read, "Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!”
A. As a result, the sales of the shrines were diminishing and the trade of making them looked as if it would "lose its good name" and be rejected.
B. Not only so, Demetrius claimed that the temple of the goddess Artemis would also "be discredited."
C. The goddess herself was also in danger of having her "divine majesty," or magnificence, diminished or destroyed.
D. Demetrius also claimed that not only the whole province of Asia, but also the entire (inhabited) world (that is, the entire Roman Empire as they viewed it) worshiped her (Horton, 328-329).
3. His rhetoric had it's desired effect as Luke tells us in vv. 28-29, "At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia."
A. Demetrius unwittingly bore witness to the great spread of the gospel.
B. He also succeeded in his purpose of touching his hearers with respect to both their livelihood and their civic pride in the temple of Artemis.
C. This, as he hoped, brought an outburst of wrath from the silversmiths. They cried out with passion, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
D. The Greek indicates they kept up this chant, filling the whole city with confusion and disturbance.
E. The result was that they all "rushed... into the theater" (a Greek-style amphitheater or arena open to the sky with room for over twenty thousand people).
F. First, however, they "seized Gaius and Aristarchus," Macedonians who were among Paul's traveling companions. Aristarchus was from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4).
G. Their presence shows Paul had more companions on this third missionary journey than on his earlier travels.
H. They were seized and dragged into the amphitheater, more for their association with Paul than for anything they themselves had done (Horton, 329).
4. Now Paul was always looking for an open door to preach the Gospel, even when it was not a really good idea. Luke tells us, "Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him.
31 Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater."
A. The apostle wanted very much to take the place of his colleagues, but the wisdom of the believers and Paul's influential friends prevailed, and he remained in hiding (vv. 30-31).
B. The word translated "officials of the province" is Asiarchai (Asiarchs). While there is some uncertainty about the exact duties of these high government officials, their presence in Ephesus during the first four centuries has been clearly attested.
C. Strabo, writing only one generation before the date of this story, refers to the Asiarchs of Tralles as a group.
D. In other words, Paul had wealthy and powerful friends at Ephesus. Luke's terminology and description of the proceedings has remarkable parallels with the evidence that is emerging about the social structure of Asia, especially of Ephesus, in the mid-first century.
E. The people gathered in the great theater of Ephesus, where meetings of the assembly were held (vv. 30-31) (Fernando, 518).
5. Once in the assembly we see a number of different world views at odds. In vv. 32-34 it says, "Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. 34 But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
A. In the crowd some were "shouting one thing, some another."
B. The assembly (Gk. ekklēsia, the same word usually translated "church") was in a state of total confusion; the majority did not know why they had come together (Horton, 330).
C. At this point the Jews pushed to the front Alexander (one of their own whom we don't know much about) with the intention of instructing them.
D. That is, they wanted him to explain that the Jews were not responsible for what the Christians were doing.
E. He came down to the front and waved his hand to get their attention and give his defense before the crowd.
F. "But when they realized he was a Jew," the whole crowd went wild. They knew the Jews worshiped one God and denied the reality of their gods and goddesses.
G. With one voice they kept crying, "for about two hours, 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'" The possession of this image and temple was a source of great civic pride for the people of the city (Horton, 330).
H. Not only were they against Paul's worldview, but they were opposed to any world view except their own.
B. I'm Not Religious
1. Illustration: Recently Tina won a couple of tickets to a comedy club in Columbus. So we went and had a nice dinner together and then went to see the show. The opening comedian, a young woman, who couldn't finish a sentence without using foul language, came out on stage. She finished her act by saying; "Now I'm not a religious person..." which based on her language went without saying. However, in my humble opinion, she was very religious. She worshipped the money she made, the applause she received, and the notoriety of being on stage. You don't have to worship Jesus to be religious, and usually those kind of people are opposed to any world view that contradicts their own.
2. The teachings of Jesus go against every other worldview.
A. John 14:6 (NLT)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
B. Notice the definite articles in Jesus statement...THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE.
C. He is saying that any other god or belief system is a lie!
D. He is saying these others are not the way, not the truth or the life.
E. He also says that you cannot come to God the Father without Jesus.
F. If someone says to you that all roads or beliefs lead to the same God are liars and are deceived.
G. There is salvation in no one else!
H. This is what our society cannot handle. The are tolerant of every way of life...except Christianity!
I. But the Gospel is the only way that leads heaven, and all other roads lead to hell!
Transition: Despite any opposition we may face...
III. The Gospel Always Prevails (35-41).
A. Have Not Spoken Against Our Goddess
1. One of the great themes of Scripture is that God has our back. Even though we might have to go through trials and difficulties from time to time God always is by our side.
2. This theme is illustrated at the tail end of our text. It says in vv 35-36, "At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. 36 Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash."
A. Finally, the city clerk "quieted the crowd" and asked them, "Who is there of humankind who does not know that the city of Ephesus is the templekeeper [lit. "templesweeper"] of the great Artemis, even the one fallen from the sky [or, "from the sky gods"]?" (The image may have been carved from a meteorite.)
B. The city clerk in this way argued that there was no reason to be so upset and excited since these things, in his opinion, could not be denied.
C. Therefore, it was their duty to quiet down. It would be wrong to "do anything rash" (Horton, 331).
3. Then look what he says next, "You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess."
A. The town clerk also pointed out that the men they had brought into the amphitheater were neither temple robbers (or sacrilegious), nor were they blasphemers of their goddess.
B. It is important to note here that Paul had been nearly three years in Ephesus, and there was no evidence that either he or the Christians ever said anything against the temple or Artemis.
C. They were not critical. They simply kept preaching the good news of Jesus Christ in a positive way, and the sale of the images and shrines automatically dropped (Horton, 331).
4. He then continues to argue for Paul and the other Christians when he says, “If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. 39 And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly."
A. The clerk also called for law and order. The court days were kept regularly in the marketplace; the proconsuls were available.
B. That is, the governor appointed by the Roman Senate would be there to give judgment.
C. If Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen had a case against anyone, let them bring their charges against one another (in the lawful way).
D. Then, if anyone wanted to seek anything beyond that, it should be explained and settled in "a legal [duly constituted] assembly" (Gk. ekklēsia, the word usually translated "church"), that is, not in a riotous gathering (also ekklēsia) like this (Horton, 331).
5. Then he states his fear of the Romans if things get out of hand. He says, "I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” 41 Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed."
A. Actually the clerk was upset about the mob because it put the city "in danger of being charged with rioting" (or revolution).
B. The Romans used their armies to ensure peace and order. In the Roman rulers' eyes there would be no reason or excuse for the events of this day; the Ephesians could give no account for this crowd, which the Romans could take as a seditious meeting or a conspiracy.
C. The city risked losing the privileges of self-government that the empire had given it. The people understood the city clerk's reasoning.
D. They quickly dispersed when the clerk "dismissed the assembly" (Gk. ekklēsia). The use of the Greek ekklēsia for this assembly is an important help to understanding the word as it was used in New Testament times.
E. It shows that the word had lost its old meaning of "called out" and was used of any assembly or gathering, including an illegal assembly or a spontaneous gathering such as this one in the amphitheater.
F. Therefore the word ekklēsia, usually translated "church," is properly translated "assembly," having the connotation that it was any assembly of citizens.
G. It is used in this passage of an assembly of the citizens of Ephesus. When it is used of believers, the proper translation is also "assembly," having the connotation that it is an assembly of believers who are "fellow-citizens with God's people (Horton, 332).
H. However, the point here is that even though things got a little scary God watch out for and protected his people.
B. Strong Tower
1. Illustration: Lorrie Anderson, missionary to the head-shrinking Candoshi Shapra Indians of Peru, was looking for a quiet place for her daily time of Bible reading and prayer, so she went down by the edge of the river. After reading the Bible, she took up her prayer list. Eyes closed, she did not see the deadly anaconda weaving through the water until it struck, burying its fangs into her flesh. It withdrew to strike, hitting her arm again and again as it held her, screaming, in its coils. It reared up for the death blows. Then suddenly the giant snake, never known to release its prey, relaxed its grip and slithered off through the water. While Lorrie was being treated, a witch doctor from a nearby village burst into the hut and stared at her. She couldn't believe Lorrie had survived. She said her son-in-law, also a witch doctor, had chanted to the spirit of the anaconda that morning and sent it to kill the young missionary. "I'm certain," Lorrie said, "that except for the protection of God, it would have worked."
2. Even in the midst of attacks, our God is our strong defender.
A. Proverbs 18:10 (NLT)
The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.
B. No matter what the world throws at us the name of the Lord is our strong fortress.
C. No matter what the devil throws at us the name of the Lord is our strong fortress.
D. No matter what our enemies throw at us the name of the Lord is our strong fortress.
E. No matter what life throws at us the name of the Lord is our strong fortress.
F. There is power in the name of Jesus!
G. There is protection in the name of Jesus!
H. There is provision in the name of Jesus!
I. There is victory in the name of Jesus!
Conclusion
1. In reality our society has turned its back on God because it had a better idea, and the result was chaos!
2. Our society does want to live by Scripture because...
A. It affects them financially
B. It affects their world view
C. But the Gospel always prevails
3. Are you ready to stand for the truth of Scripture?
4. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of the Lord stands forever!
