Acts 19 (Second Half)
Read Acts 19:23-41
Paul and his gang of rabble-rousers (OK, maybe it is a little loose to label them as such) have caused another great disturbance in Ephesus. Ephesus was known for it's temple and worship of Artemis (also known as Diana). Her temple in Ephesus was one of the "7 wonders" of the ancient world. This was an amazing temple, drawing many from all around.
With this massive temple, the worship of Artemis had become big business. Paul and his fellow followers of the Way had become a big problem to this business. You see, when Paul led others to Christ, they did not come back to the temple...they did not come back and buy new statues...or new offerings to Artemis. When they found the Truth, they abandoned all of that. So when Demetrius calls together his fellow artisans and business people, he points out how Paul is leading people astray...AWAY from them! And worse, he is discrediting the temple!!! And, to take it one step further, if Paul has his way, he will rob the goddess of her DIVINE MAJESTY... Wow, powerful stuff. Powerful accusation. You see this was not just a business threat but a threat to the goddess herself! "We must protect her!!!," Demetrius says.
HMMMM... Don't know about your god but my God does not need me to protect Him. I cannot do anything to rob him of His majesty!!! He's go that covered. If He can create all we see (and all that we do not see) I do not have to protect Him. Not to say that we are not to take a stand with God. But it is with Him, not for Him. It is telling that the argument is phrased the way it is. I cannot minimize or send Yahweh into obscurity, even when I mess up or bring dishonor to the name "Christian". I may hurt myself, my church, my own reputation...but not God. I cannot remove His honor and glory.
Look at the many historical religions of the world. The Greek and Roman Gods are pretty much gone as "gods." The worship of Baal? Gone. The Babylonian and Phoenician subjects of worship? Gone, too. Only one God did not have a start and end date. That is the one true God, Yahweh, the I AM. Some people seem to believe that Christianity started 2000 years ago...not true. It started in the Beginning... The God of Abraham is our God too. Don't ever forget that. Christianity is not a passing fad, doomed to be cast off into the pages of a history book. It can be traced and documented as far back as any history can go. Over 2000 years ago, Jesus was born...not a religion but a continuation of a story long foretold. The prophets spoke of it hundred's of years before. The archetypes showed lesser reflections of Him to point the way. And then He came, not a "new thing" but to continue the love story of God with His people.
Back to the story, Paul companions are grabbed to answer to this riot and these accusations. Paul would like to appear to the crowd, to calm the crowd I'm sure, but he is not allowed to do it. As a matter of fact, friends begin to send him letters begging him not to do it. They seem to know better than Paul that he tends to cause riots, not quell them! So, for once, Paul is quiet and on the sidelines of the disturbance.
The City Clerk is the one to quiet the crowd and he listens to their call. He is not a clerk as we think of one in the modern world. He is not a powerless bureaucrat, pushing paper. He is powerful figure, the one who leads the general assembly and reports to Rome. He is the one who will likely answer to Rome for the riot. Needless to say, he is quick to point out that Rome will not like the riot. The Romans had one response for riots: send in the troops! Easy way to end up dead. Both the trade guilds and the Clerk were likely to be dead at the end of that...
So in the end, things wrap up rather quickly. The clerk calls on them to press their charges in a way that will be acceptable to Rome and to the local society. Since many of them were just caught up in the moment and in the group, they see the light quickly. Isn't it human nature to do things as a group that we would never do as an individual...sad but true.
In one dramatic turn of events, God has called an end to Paul's three years in Ephesus. His work here was done, he had laid a good foundation and was now pretty much unwelcome in the city. That door was closed...but Paul still had more race ahead...
May God bless your reading of the Word...
D
Read Acts 19:23-41
Paul and his gang of rabble-rousers (OK, maybe it is a little loose to label them as such) have caused another great disturbance in Ephesus. Ephesus was known for it's temple and worship of Artemis (also known as Diana). Her temple in Ephesus was one of the "7 wonders" of the ancient world. This was an amazing temple, drawing many from all around.
With this massive temple, the worship of Artemis had become big business. Paul and his fellow followers of the Way had become a big problem to this business. You see, when Paul led others to Christ, they did not come back to the temple...they did not come back and buy new statues...or new offerings to Artemis. When they found the Truth, they abandoned all of that. So when Demetrius calls together his fellow artisans and business people, he points out how Paul is leading people astray...AWAY from them! And worse, he is discrediting the temple!!! And, to take it one step further, if Paul has his way, he will rob the goddess of her DIVINE MAJESTY... Wow, powerful stuff. Powerful accusation. You see this was not just a business threat but a threat to the goddess herself! "We must protect her!!!," Demetrius says.
HMMMM... Don't know about your god but my God does not need me to protect Him. I cannot do anything to rob him of His majesty!!! He's go that covered. If He can create all we see (and all that we do not see) I do not have to protect Him. Not to say that we are not to take a stand with God. But it is with Him, not for Him. It is telling that the argument is phrased the way it is. I cannot minimize or send Yahweh into obscurity, even when I mess up or bring dishonor to the name "Christian". I may hurt myself, my church, my own reputation...but not God. I cannot remove His honor and glory.
Look at the many historical religions of the world. The Greek and Roman Gods are pretty much gone as "gods." The worship of Baal? Gone. The Babylonian and Phoenician subjects of worship? Gone, too. Only one God did not have a start and end date. That is the one true God, Yahweh, the I AM. Some people seem to believe that Christianity started 2000 years ago...not true. It started in the Beginning... The God of Abraham is our God too. Don't ever forget that. Christianity is not a passing fad, doomed to be cast off into the pages of a history book. It can be traced and documented as far back as any history can go. Over 2000 years ago, Jesus was born...not a religion but a continuation of a story long foretold. The prophets spoke of it hundred's of years before. The archetypes showed lesser reflections of Him to point the way. And then He came, not a "new thing" but to continue the love story of God with His people.
Back to the story, Paul companions are grabbed to answer to this riot and these accusations. Paul would like to appear to the crowd, to calm the crowd I'm sure, but he is not allowed to do it. As a matter of fact, friends begin to send him letters begging him not to do it. They seem to know better than Paul that he tends to cause riots, not quell them! So, for once, Paul is quiet and on the sidelines of the disturbance.
The City Clerk is the one to quiet the crowd and he listens to their call. He is not a clerk as we think of one in the modern world. He is not a powerless bureaucrat, pushing paper. He is powerful figure, the one who leads the general assembly and reports to Rome. He is the one who will likely answer to Rome for the riot. Needless to say, he is quick to point out that Rome will not like the riot. The Romans had one response for riots: send in the troops! Easy way to end up dead. Both the trade guilds and the Clerk were likely to be dead at the end of that...
So in the end, things wrap up rather quickly. The clerk calls on them to press their charges in a way that will be acceptable to Rome and to the local society. Since many of them were just caught up in the moment and in the group, they see the light quickly. Isn't it human nature to do things as a group that we would never do as an individual...sad but true.
In one dramatic turn of events, God has called an end to Paul's three years in Ephesus. His work here was done, he had laid a good foundation and was now pretty much unwelcome in the city. That door was closed...but Paul still had more race ahead...
May God bless your reading of the Word...
D
Awesome, I checked this like three times on Sunday. Hi from college by the way... Checked out a church thing here and it was pretty cool but I still miss you guys. Since I'm the music guy i'd like to leave this for anyone who hasn't heard it. Found a remix of it yesterday and it blew my mind:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.edjeung.com/crowder/audio/openskies.mp3
If I can find the remix again I'll share that too...
In Christ,
~Chris~