The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-28
Sunday School LESSON for August 29.
Paul Opposed ait Eplhesus.
BY j. e. GILBERT, ID. D., Ill. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

CONTENTIOUS last lesson, historic
in character, on August /, taken from the
eighteenth chapter of the Acts, left Paul
in Corinth. After teaching there a long
time (verse p, undisturbed except by one
insurrection of the Jews, he departed
from Europe and returned to the conti-
nent of Asia. In company with Pris-
ella and AQuila, he sailed across the
Aegean sea, and landed at Ephesus, one
Of the chief towns in those parts. There
he was cordially received by the Jews
who invited him to teach in their syna-
gogues. Though urged to remain among
them he again sailed, landed at Caesarea,
and went uD to the feast at Jerusalem
(XViiil: 2l-22). Having saluted the breth-
rem he went forth again, traversing all
the country of his previous ministry in
Galatia and Phrygia and returned a sec
ond time to Ephesus, according to prom
ise There for the first time he met Apol-
los, who had lately come from Corinth.
Paul remained in Ephesus a long time
xix: 10) teaching, working miracles, and
contending for the faith as 1t Is in Jesus.
FURPOSE.-After this useful ministry
in EphesuS the apostle proposed to re-
turn to Macedonia and Achaia, the two
European provinces which he previously
visited, that he might meet the converts
and Corinth. Verse 2D. He was drawn
to this the more by the feet that the
Spirit of God prompted him to go upward
to Jerusalem and Rome. Those places
reveal the enlarging field of this great
mans work. and show the truly apostolic
character of his office. Unable to depart
at once he sent two of his assistants,
Timothy and Erastus. Verse 22). The
first, as a beloved son, had been his COM
panon in nearly all his missionary oper-
tions, and the latter, who had been an
officer under the Roman government
(Rom. XVII 29, was destined to become
pastor or bishop at Corinth. III Tim. iv:
20). Herein is presented the plan of m1n-
lsterial service employed. A series of To-
cal churches or congregations had been
established, al! under apostolic supervls-
ion, to be visited, encouraged and IN
structed at intervals.
CRAFTSMEN.-S Shortly after the de-
parture of Timothy and Erastus a great
commotion was raised in Ephesus .(Verse
20. 1t originated in new and uneX-
pected quarter. The city was the seat of
the worship of Diana. At certain times
in the year the people resorted thither
from all parts of Asia Minor to worship,
and when they returned to their homes,
they were pleased to take with them va
rious images of the goddess to assist them
in continuing their devotions. As a con-
sequence worknen were employed to
make these images, deriving from their
sale a livelihood and in some Instances.
deriving large wealth, The spread OF
Christianity through the preaching of
Paul greatly interfered with this Lusi-
ness oversees "a and 2D, and as a conse-
quence the men engaged therein, smart
ing under the loss sustained conspired
together. Demetrius, a man largely in-
terested, called his fellow workmen to-
gether and represented the case The
gospel was opposed by the craftsmen
They were a type of large class, who
In every age and land, care less for
Righteousness than for worldly gain.
CONFLICT.-Demetriu did not rest his
objections on purely selfish considera-
tions, although he began his speech with
statement OF loss in business. He af-