Acts 19:28-41 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 19:28-41. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 19:28 (NIV)
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
On verse 28: Artemis was believed to be the many breasted goddess of fertility and should not be confused with Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt. According to the New American Commentary, the temple of Artemis was located in Ephesus and was very large at over 50,000 square feet (about 165 feet by 345 feet). Ephesus was thus the centre for the worship of Artemis and Ephesus’ economy was closely connected with Artemis worship.
Acts 19:29-31 (NIV)
29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater.
30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.
31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
On verses 29-31: Chaos erupts in Ephesus as an angry pro-Artemis crowd is intent on doing something to Paul for preaching that Artemis is no god at all. Unable to find Paul, the pro-Artemis crowd grabs Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions, and occupy the largest public building in Ephesus, the amphitheatre, with a seating capacity of approximately 25,000 people. Paul sees this as an opportunity to preach, but both his team and some Asian government officials, who were friends of Paul’s, stop him from going inside for fear that something might happen to him (v30-32).
Acts 19:32 (NIV)
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.
On verse 32: Sometimes crowds can form and everyone in the crowd might look very united. But chances are, in most crowds, you’ll find a wide range of people with different levels of commitment to the cause that has apparently brought them all together. That is why at Thrive Church we want to move people from the crowd to the core, from being superficially connected to committed members of our church family.
Acts 19:33-34 (NIV)
33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people.
34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd…
On verses 33-34: To avoid being blamed for all this commotion, some Jews push their representative Alexander to the front to explain what is going on. Realizing Alexander is a Jew like Paul, the crowd ignores what Alexander is trying to say and instead chant the praises of Artemis for about two hours. Who is finally able to quiet the crowd? The city clerk. That is because the city clerk was the chief administrator of Ephesus and had authority that Alexander did not have.
Likewise, who is the only one who has the authority to quiet our hearts and put a stop to the unrest within us? It’s Jesus, the one who has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). So when Jesus is speaking, be sure to quiet your heart and listen. Otherwise you’ll be in trouble. And if you want to settle the unrest in your heart, go where Jesus is and take time to listen to Him. For with Jesus there is rest.
Acts 19:35 (NIV)
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?
On verse 35: What does the city clerk mean by “her image, which fell from heaven” (v35)? Scholars believe that this was a meteorite which landed and possibly looked like a many-breasted woman that reminded people of Artemis. Thus “[m]eteorites were often associated with the worship of the Mother Goddess.”[1]
Consider this: When God wanted to show humanity an image of what He is like, He sent Jesus, a human being, God in the flesh, “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Jesus is God’s “meteorite” from heaven, the stone that was rejected but which has now become the capstone of our lives.
Acts 19:36-41 (NIV)
36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash.
37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess.
38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.
39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly.
40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today’s events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.”
41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
On verses 36-41: The city clerk has some wise counsel for the unruly crowd. He reminds them that the Christians they were angry at had not done anything wrong (v37). He also tells them that if they really have an issue, to take it to the courts or settle it in a legal assembly (v38-39), but not to a senseless riot which would put them all in danger with the Roman government (v40).
What can we learn from this? When you are angry and upset, don’t do anything rash. Be thoughtful and wise in how you express your anger. Otherwise, instead of solving anything, you’ll just end up making the situation worse and bringing more trouble on yourself and others.
Holy Spirit, thank You for showing me through Your Word today not to do anything rash when I’m angry or upset, and that I need to let Jesus Christ, the authority over my life, quiet my heart and speak to me before I lose control. I pray also that You would make us so effective at bringing in a crowd of people who might not even know why they are here and transforming them into a core of committed followers of Jesus. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
[1] Polhill, John B. New American Commentary – Volume 26: Acts. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
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