Lesson 35
Best Laid Plans – Different Results
Acts 19:21-41
Back when I was working a strange dynamic would sometimes occur. There would be meeting that would be held to deal with issues that would affect the section in which I worked. We would sit down before the meeting and discuss exactly what we were going say and what would be our position. When we got into the meeting our lead person who had been privy to all of the planning would flip-flop and take the side of the opposition. I would come away from the meeting trying to figure out what happened. I would be both disappointed and frustrated with the decisions that were made, because they certainly would not been what I expected.
We have all probably experienced this sort of thing in the church. The church will do a lot of planning and have all kinds of discussions on some direction to be taken. Everyone will seem to be excited by what is happening and seem to be on board. Then because of some opposition to the idea it is scuttled. We then find ourselves in the same position that we were before the idea was ever put forth.
Acts 19:21
Paul sensed that his work was done in Ephesus. As will be noted in the next chapter he had established a strong vibrant church with good leadership in the form of elders. His plans upon leaving there was to once again travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. Once that was completed, he wanted to go to Rome. See Romans 1:11-14 and 15:20 for the reasons he wanted to travel to Rome.
- As the Scripture says, “what things were finished?”
- Why did Paul plan to leave Ephesus?
- Why would he want to go back through Macedonia?
- What did he hope to accomplish in Rome?
- Why was that city so important in the mind of Paul?
Acts 19:22
Paul did not leave immediately but sent Timothy and Erastus ahead of him. He then remained in Asia for some time.
- Why did Paul send Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia and Achaia ahead of him?
- For what reasons did Paul remain in Ephesus?
- Why would he go back into Europe from Asia before going to Jerusalem?
Acts 19:23-27
Before Paul could leave trouble ensued concerning Christianity. One of the silversmiths named Demetrius made statues of Artemis to sell. This trade was profitable for all of the craftsman who were engaged in the business. He determined that Christianity, and the work of Paul in particular was detrimental to their business. According to Demetrius Paul was stating that gods made with hands were not gods at all. Demetrius saw three outcomes if the trend of more and more people becoming Christians was allowed to continue.
- Their business would be gone.
- The temple of Artemis would be “regarded as worthless.”
- The goddess who all of Asia worshipped would be dethrone and lose “her magnificence.”
- What happened in Ephesus that immediately altered Paul’s plans?
- What affect would Christianity have on the trade of Demetrius?
- What did he fail to acknowledge in his evidence shared with the other craftsmen?
- Which of the three trends would be truer than the others?
- In what ways can gods or goddesses like Artemis be dethroned?
Acts 19:28-31
What started out with the outrage of a few angry artisans soon grew into a full scale riot involving the whole city. One of the first acts of the mob was to drag two of Paul’s travelling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus into the theater. The theater mentioned here has been excavated by archeologists and was able to hold over 20,000 people. When Paul tried to go into the meeting his friends including the Asiarchs prevented him from doing it.
- What was the true underlying reason that Demetrius and the others started the riot?
- Why did they use religion to mask what really upset them?
- Why would the mob drag the companions of Paul into the theater?
- Why did Paul’s friends keep him from going into the assembly?
- What would he accomplish by doing so?
Acts 19:32-34
What took place in the theater was a scene of mass confusion. Because most of the people there had not heard the accusations of Demetrius they were swept along by the mob mentality. Each of them had a different story and no one knew why they were there. The crowd decided that Alexander the coppersmith was responsible and put him forth to explain what was taking place. His defense was to distance himself and his fellow Jews from Paul and those with him. When the crowd determined he was a Jew making him part of the opposition to Artemis they began to shout him down. For two hours the people continued to shout one thing. “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.”
- Why does a scene like is seen here result in one of mass confusion?
- What are some clues that indicate that the people did not know what was taking place?
- What did Alexander try to explain to the people?
- Why would he be considered the opposition even though he was not a Christian?
- Going back to the previous verses how did the Asiarchs prove to be wise?
- What was the advantage to those who had been dragged into the theater because of the crowd’s confusion?
- What was the rallying cry of the mob?
- Out of all the confusion how could they know why they were shouting for Artemis?
- When may there have been times when you have been swept up in what became a crowd and did not really know what was going on?
Acts 19:35-36
The town clerk was finally able to restore order. Once they were quiet he gave a defense of Artemis that would satisfy them. His points were
- Everyone knows that Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of Artemis and the statue that fell out of heaven.
- Since that was an undeniable fact there was no reason for their actions.
- How was the town clerk able to calm the situation?
- What were the points that he used to get them thinking about what they were doing?
- How is this a pattern that can be used to diffuse many volatile situations?
Acts 19:37
His actions showed his impartiality in this situation. He first defended the Paul and those with him. His words indicate he was aware of what was going on in the city. Paul and the others did not need to defame Artemis. All they needed to do was preach Jesus. The natural outcome would be that people would turn from the false goddess to the one true God and His Son. The town clerk was right they had committed no crime.
- In what ways did the town clerk show his impartiality in this situation?
- What was the one thing of which Paul could be accused?
- In what ways did fact that the town clerk understood the real issue indicate that the Romans did not see Christianity as a threat at that time?
Acts 19:38-39
After addressing the crowd he brought clarity to the real issue. It was not about religion at all. Pointing out that Demetrius was behind the riot indicated that it was all about economics. The craftsman had couched their accusations in religious issues knowing that that was the only way that they could get the reaction they wanted. The town clerk saw through their ploy and basically called them on the carpet. It is interesting that he had said that Paul had not committed a crime and if Demetrius really had a case it should have been tried in the proper courts not in the court of public opinion where the facts could be skewed.
- How do we sometimes muddy the water in our discussions?
- Why do we need someone like the town clerk in the church?
- Why do we beat around the bush with the statements we often make?
- How was it that the town clerk was able to see clearly the situation?
Acts 19:40-41
The greatest fear that the town clerk had was that the Romans would accuse them of rioting. One thing that was not tolerated was that kind of unruly mob activity. The Romans prided themselves on being a law abiding orderly society. The second concern was there had been no legitimate reason for the outburst. The town clerk also could have lost his position if he could not maintain a peaceful environment and the city may have been brought under martial law. There were no objections when he dismissed the crowd.
- What was the greatest fear of the town clerk?
- Why should he have been concerned?
- What would have happened if he had not been able to regain control?
- What would have happened to the city?
- When a business section in the church gets out of hand what could result?
- What are the real consequences when we act like the Ephesians?
- What are some things over which we get worked up that do not have validity in the ongoing activity of the church?
- In what way did the town clerk show that he was the one with a cool head and right perspective on the situation?
- What lessons can be learned from the attitudes of the players in this narrative?
You-
- Before making a decision be sure that you have all of the facts.
- Never let yourself get caught up in a mob scene.
- Think of ways that you can diffuse destructive conversation and actions in the church?
- Learn to be the person who displays wisdom by keeping a cool head and the right perspective.
- Make sure that any discussion reflects the kingdom purpose for the church.
We do need to learn that there are at least as many different opinions in the church as there are members, and maybe more. The problem does not lie with opinion itself but the ways we try to influence others to our way of thinking. As was seen in the lesson today, Demetrius saw a problem that needed to be addressed. Rather than being straight-forward he attempted to twist the truth. He knew that the ephesians were proud of and sensitive of the goddess Artemis and the temple in the city named for her. He used this issue rather than the economic one to try to dismantle the work by Paul thus drawing his customers back to him.
We do need to be very careful that we always present the facts in a clear and truthful way. If the church does this it can be sure that God will honor the decisions that are made. The last thing that any of us want is to bring confusion and divisiveness to the Church. Let us take the difficult road that leads to a Christ-like attitude that He will be glorified.
Additional Notes:
C-Timothy and Erastus were sent ahead into Macedonia while Paul remained a while longer in Ephesus. (Acts 19:22)
C-Demetrius, a silversmith, became upset because his business was being affected because many of the Ephesians were turning to Christ and were no longer buying the idols be made in the image of the goddess Artemis. He was able to convince others to join him. These men became an angry mob who tried to stop Paul from continuing preaching to the people. When Paul could not be found they dragged Gaius and Aristarchus, his travelling companions into the theater where the assembly was taking place. Fortunately, the town clerk was finally able to quell the riot. (Acts 19:23-41)
GC-We are to be so concerned with the spiritual welfare of others that we take every opportunity to persuade them to turn away from meaningless gods m ade by men. (Acts 19:26)
RT-There are those who will follow the crowd even if they have no idea where it is going or for what it stands. (Acts 19:32)