Introduction
In today’s text, Acts 19:21-41, we encounter a city in turmoil—a riot ignited by the powerful disruption of the gospel.
Ephesus, a hub of idolatry and cultural pride, was shaken not by force or political movements but by the transformative power of God’s truth.
Acts 19:21-14, however, is more than a historical account.
Our text for today is a vivid picture of how God’s sovereignty, the gospel’s power, and the church’s faithful witness collide with rebellion and idolatry.
However, this is not just the story of Ephesus in the first century.
It is our story too in the twenty-first century.
Today, we live in a world riddled with modern-day idols, cultural resistance to biblical truth, and challenges to faithful discipleship.
Yet, as our text teaches, God’s sovereign hand controls even opposition.
The gospel confronts the idols of our age, and the church has a unique calling to engage our culture with the truth of the gospel.
Through it all, we can trust that God is working for his glory and our good, no matter the opposition we may face.
Let’s learn how the gospel encounters idolatry.
Scripture
Let’s read Acts 19:21-41:
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.
Lesson
Acts 19:21-41 shows us how God’s sovereign power confronts idolatry, calling his people to trust him and continue proclaiming the gospel boldly, even in the face of opposition.
Let’s use the following outline:
1. The Holy Spirit Guides the Plans of Attentive Believers (19:21-22)
2. The Gospel Exposes Idolatry (19:23-27)
3. Jesus Equips Believers to Endure the Cost of Faithful Discipleship (19:28-34)
4. God Restrains Evil Through Common Grace (19:35-41)
I. The Holy Spirit Guides the Plans of Attentive Believers (19:21-22)
First, the Holy Spirit guides the plans of attentive believers.
The apostle Paul had a very productive two years in Ephesus.
Luke noted in Acts 19:11 that “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”
After describing the gospel’s victory over the powers of darkness, Luke summarized in Acts 19:20, “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.”
Paul knew that a powerful church had been planted in Ephesus.
He sought the Lord about where to go next, as he continually wanted to see the gospel go to places where there was no witness to Jesus.
So, Luke noted in verse 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.’ ”
We know from Paul’s letter to the Romans that he wanted to pass through Rome and go on to Spain (see Romans 15:24, 28).
But first, he needed to return to Jerusalem to collect the money he had arranged for the saints in Macedonia to be delivered to them.
That is why he sent Timothy and Erastus on to Macedonia so that they could collect the money that would then be delivered to Jerusalem.
The point is that Paul made his plans and submitted them to the Lord.
The Holy Spirit approved and gave him a sense of peace that he was to do what he had resolved to do.
Proverbs 16:9 states, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
It is good and right and wise to make plans.
But, we should do so prayerfully, asking the Lord to confirm those plans by opening or closing doors.
And, if we are attentive to the Holy Spirit, he will establish our steps.
II. The Gospel Exposes Idolatry (19:23-27)
Second, the gospel exposes idolatry.
Ephesus was an important city in the Roman Empire.
It housed the Temple of Artemis, also known as the Temple of Diana.
It was listed as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The Temple of Artemis was the largest religious building in the Hellenistic world.
It was about the size of a football field and four times that of the Parthenon in Athens.
It was the first building to be constructed entirely of marble.
It was stunningly beautiful.
Silversmiths used to make little models, or shrines, of the Temple for visitors to purchase.
Visitors would either offer them as a sacrifice at the Temple or take them home to worship Artemis.
However, as the gospel brought people to faith in Jesus, they repented of their previous idolatrous ways.
So, an increasing number of visitors were no longer buying the little silver models of the Temple of Artemis.
Demetrius, apparently the leader of the silversmiths guild in Ephesus, gathered the other silversmiths to discuss the problem.
In verses 25-26, he said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 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.”
Demetrius said that the root cause of their problem was not doctrinal or ethical, but economic.
They were losing money!
But Demetrius was clever.
He realized that he needed more respectable motives for objecting to the growing number of Christians.
So, he added three more reasons.
First, the trade would lose its good name. He said in verse 27a, “And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute.”
Second, the temple would lose its prestige, as he said in verse 27b, “… but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing.”
And third, the goddess would lose her divine majesty, as he said in verse 27c, “… and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
Pandita Ramabai was born in India in 1858 into a high-caste Hindu family.
Her father was a devout Hindu scholar, and Ramabai grew up immersed in worshipping Hindu gods and studying sacred texts.
Despite her privileged upbringing, she experienced deep sorrow and loss, including the deaths of her parents and husband.
These tragedies left her searching for meaning and truth beyond the idols she had worshipped.
Ramabai’s journey took a dramatic turn when she encountered Christian missionaries who introduced her to the Bible.
She was struck by the teachings of Jesus, particularly his compassion for the poor and marginalized.
After much reflection and study, Ramabai renounced Hindu idolatry and embraced Jesus, finding peace and hope in him.
Her conversion led her to dedicate her life to serving others.
She founded the Mukti Mission, a refuge for destitute women and children, where she shared the gospel and provided education and care.
The gospel exposes idolatry.
Just as Ramabai rejected idolatry and embraced Jesus, so did numerous Ephesians.
The Temple of Artemis caused people to worship a physical idol.
Biblically, an idol is anything that takes the place of God.
It could be Artemis, shrines, physical gods, materialism, sex, or approval.
What are the idols in your life?
What do you love more than Jesus?
“Well,” you say, “how would I know if there is an idol in my life?”
Look at what you give yourself, your time, or your money to.
If you love Jesus, you will follow hard after him.
You will spend time with him in prayer.
You will spend time reading his word.
You will want to serve him well.
If you find yourself making excuses as to why you cannot pray, read God’s word, or serve him, then you may have an idol in your life.
The gospel exposed idolatry.
III. Jesus Equips Believers to Endure the Cost of Faithful Discipleship (19:28-34)
Third, Jesus equips believers to endure the cost of faithful discipleship.
A riot erupted when the Ephesians heard Demetrius’ speech.
The Ephesians crowded into the Ephesian theater, a semicircular outdoor amphitheater seating 25,000 people.
They shouted, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (v. 28).
Paul’s companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, were dragged into the theater.
Paul wanted to go into the crowd and talk to the crowd, but his disciples would not let him do so because they realized that the people were in a frenzy and were not acting reasonably.
The crowd would likely have hurt Paul and perhaps even killed him.
Luke notes, somewhat humorously, “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” (v. 32).
The Jews in the crowd pushed poor Alexander forward.
They wanted him to explain that the Christians were not part of the Jewish religion.
But the crowd would have none of it.
Luke said in verse 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!’ ”
Nicky Cruz was born in Puerto Rico in 1938.
He grew up in a household filled with turmoil, neglect, and abuse.
Seeking belonging, Cruz moved to New York City as a teenager and joined the notorious Mau Maus, one of Brooklyn’s most feared gangs.
By the age of 16, he became their leader, living a life of violence, crime, and despair.
Cruz’s life changed when David Wilkerson, a young preacher who was called to preach the gospel to New York gang members, shared the gospel with him.
At first, Cruz rejected the gospel, even threatening Wilkerson’s life.
But Wilkerson persisted.
Cruz felt the Holy Spirit convict him of his sins at one of Wilkerson's meetings.
Nicky Cruz trusted in Jesus alone and repented of his sins.
Jesus instantly transformed him.
Cruz left the gang, turned in his weapons, and began studying the Bible.
Cruz faced hostility from his former gang members.
Nevertheless, he boldly shared the gospel's good news with those who vigorously opposed him.
Jesus equips believers to endure the cost of faithful discipleship.
He did so with Paul.
He did so with Nicky Cruz.
And he will do so with you.
Share the gospel.
Faithfully share the gospel, even when you face opposition.
When you tell others about the only way to save their souls, trust God to protect and provide for you.
IV. God Restrains Evil Through Common Grace (19:35-41)
Fourth, God restrains evil through common grace.
The town clerk in Ephesus was roughly equivalent to a mayor of one of our cities.
He may have heard the crowd shouting.
One of his staff members may have told him what was happening.
He realized Ephesus was a city under Roman oversight and did not want Rome to punish the town—or him—for things getting out of hand.
So, he quieted the crowd and he reasoned with them.
He made four points to the crowd.
First, the whole world knows that Ephesus is the guardian of Artemis’ temple and image, as he said in verses 35-36, “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? Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.”
Second, he said in verse 37, “For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.”
There was no evidence that the Christians were blaspheming Artemis. They were helping the Ephesians understand that the true God was Jesus.
Third, rather than a mob riot, the silversmiths should use legal procedures against the Christians, as he said in verses 38-39, “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. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.”
And fourth, he warned that the Ephesians were in danger of civil disorder, as he said in verse 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.”
Luke then noted in verse 41, “And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.”
God restrained evil through common grace.
He used an unbeliever to quiet the riotous mob and get them to leave the Christians alone and go home.
After Martin Luther’s bold stand at the Diet of Worms in 1521, where he refused to recant his teachings, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V declared him an outlaw.
This meant that anyone could legally kill him without consequence.
Luther’s life was in grave danger, but God intervened through Frederick the Wise, the Elector of Saxony.
Frederick arranged for Luther to be "kidnapped" by his own men and taken to Wartburg Castle, a secluded fortress in the Thuringian forest.
This protection act was carried out in secret, and Luther lived under the alias "Junker Jörg" (Knight George) to avoid detection.
While at Wartburg, Luther continued his work, including translating the New Testament into German, which made Scripture accessible to ordinary people and advanced the Reformation.
Frederick the Wise was used by God to restrain evil through common grace.
Although Frederick did not openly share Luther’s theological views, his decision to protect Luther ensured the
Reformation's survival and spread of the gospel.
Friends, God is always at work.
Look for God’s hand at work in unexpected places, even when the situation seems out of control.
Conclusion
God’s sovereignty is unshaken by human rebellion.
The gospel’s power dismantles even the most ingrained idols.
And the church's faithful witness can make an eternal impact.
In Ephesus, God used a chaotic riot to advance his kingdom, proving that even opposition bends to his sovereign will.
This truth gives us courage today.
While we may encounter resistance in our workplaces, communities, or even within ourselves, we serve the same God who reigns sovereign over all.
The gospel still transforms lives, calling us to surrender our idols and faithfully count the cost of following Jesus.
As we engage in our culture, we can reflect Jesus’ love and truth, trusting God to work through us, just as he worked through the Ephesian church.
So let us live as a countercultural community marked by love, prayer, and boldness, knowing that God is using us to shine his light in a world desperate for hope.
As Paul would later write to the Ephesians, may we “be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10), standing firm in faith and trusting in God’s unshakable providence. Amen.
