Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-03-14
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
March Is.
Subject: The Riot at Erliesus, ACTS XIX, 1910
-GoIden Text, Pisa. XXI, 23-Memory
Verses. 29-5l-Commentary on
The Days Lesson.

1. DclnelfluS causing 4 tunult Tvs.
"a. Demetrlus was leading spirit among
the Ephesian shrine-makers. and may have
been wholesale dealer. executing orders
for the shrnes and employing artisans
who received lucrative wages for their Ia
Dor. The preaching OF Paul, the growth
OF the church and the advancing civi!iza-
ton OF that time We're making inroads
upon idol worship. and the sale of the
shrines was decreasing. These shrines
were made OF wood or metal and were lit
tie images models OF the temple of
Diana, containing an image OF the goddess.
They were sold to the people OF Ephesus
and to the many strangers who visited the
city, and were also sent TO distant cities
for sale. Demetrius collected all the work
men who were connected with his bust
ness. and very artfully aroused their pas
sions. In his speech he declared that their
craft or trade was i'll danger of being
brought into disrepute. and then unwit-
tingly paid a glowing tribute to the apos-
tie Paul and the effectiveness OF the Cos
pei Tvs. %. 27l. The cause of the tumult
was covetousness under the guise OF relg-
ion. Greed and gain blind men to the
highest interests OF mankind
III. Pauis companions seized Tvs. oS
32l. The address OF Demetrius was effect
i've. The men to whose worldly interests
he had appealed responded with loud
cries, Great is Diana of the Ephesians"
The design OF this clamor was to raise
their own interests.
% Confusion All the people rushed
to the theatre. in which public meetings
were often held. As the apostle himself
at the moment, could not he found. his at
PENDANTS were violently dragged along by
the multitude. "Gaus.' He had lived at
Corinth and had enter. aimed Paul at his
house q Cor /: IA; Rom. IL: 23l. "Aris-
tarchus He attended Paul to Rome and
was there prisoner with him fCol. 4: l0l.
30. Would have entered Paul was
fearless and ready to stand in the fore
front OF danger. He 40 doubt honed to be
able to nuell the outbreak. Suffered him
not HIS life was too precious to be
thus rIsked. 1t appears that Paul listened
to the entrcaties OF the disciples on this oc-
casion; at other times he did not (Acts
81: l0-li),. Viii Paul did not fear mohs
or even death. yet he wisely yielded to
persuasion and did not risk his life when
there was no necessity for so doing.
81. The chief of Asia" The original
word is Asiarchs. There were ten men.
annually elected from the most influential
in the province. to conduct the sacrificial
worship. Thus We that some of the
rcn honored with the highest offices at
Christianity. and probably had no great
care for Diana or her worship
81 knew not p" The crowd had been
drawn together by the noise and excite
ment. and only few knew the real cause
OF the connection.
H. The uproar increasing Tvs So. 3N.
30. Drew Alexander" He was probably
an unconverted jew. il may have been
the case that the jews wished Alexander.
who WAS, perhaps. an experienced public
orator. to speak IN their behalf. and thus
transfer the blame from themselves to the
Christians. But when he attempted to
speak the people perceived he was n jew.
and would not permit HIM to utter a word
81. a jew" There was a general
prejudice against the Jews. They were
disposed to charge the whole difficulty
upon the Jews. esteeming Christians to be
but sect OF the Jews They were. there
fore. indignant and excited. and indis-
criminate in their wrath and unwilling to
listen to any defense. Two hours" In
the division of time among the Greeks and
Romans an hour did not differ greatly
from an hour with us. 1t is no. unlikely
that in the hot rage and excitement such
a length OF time would be necessary to al
lay the tumu't Cried ont" etc This
they at first did to silence Alexander. The
excitement. however was continued in or
der to evince their attachment to Diana. as
would he natural in an excited and tumul-
tuous mob of debased heath 4 worshipers.
III. The town clerks ,eech Tvs. 81
40l. >. The town clerk" This official
was n very important person. He was au-
thorized to preside over public assemblies.
and he stood next in rank to the munich
pal chief. and performed his duties during
Had quoted" His influence was so
great that the mob hecan," quiet and gave
him hearing. He said The speech
is full of tact and ability and shows that
the man was well qualified to fill the high
office he held ~ worshiper-t emp'e-
keeper" Literally. temple sweeper. The
name no doubt was first used to imply
that any office in the service OF so magnifi-
cent 4 goddess was grand distinction.
The image" cite. This sacred image
which was believed 20 have fallen down
from Jupiter was "a rude wooden figure
nearly the shape Of mummy"
&c. 81. DO nothing rashv.' They had
performed 4 very rash act in seizinS two
persons against whom it annears they
could take no proceedings. Robbers of
temples As the temple AZ EuhesuS i J
n great treasure chamber the offenSe !. .rnt
not be unknown among them. Nor bias
phcmers. . From this We see that The Ian
guage Of Panl and his companions had been
guarded. The general effect OF their
preaching was to overthrow idolatry. but
they had RETAINED from denunciation and
orprobrious en'thct,;. 70 have taken any
other course would have deprived them OF
all chance OF hearing.
$50. Courts are open. Il Is mercy
o! Gcd when wise government exists,
which is able to maintain law and order.
Other matters. Anything that pertains
to public affairs. Lawful" II shall he
settled in conformity TO law and not by 4
mob. To move an unlawful tumult was 4
capital oifenSc. and Demetrius was now in
quite as much danger as Paul. Mob law is
still great evil in the land. 1t deadcns
the public conscience and strikes blow
at the very foundation of good govern
ment. In danger" They were in danger
of being called to account by the procon-
sui. The Roman Government watched
every appearance OF sediton in the PROV
inces with jealous eve. 1t was capital
otfense to take any part IN riotous pro-
ceeding. No cause There being no
cause for it, and as touching it VIC shall not
be able to give account of this concoursc"
r.. V. This is complete vindication of
Paul and his method of work and Of Chris
tianity in general. The charges Of lawlcss-
ness and violence which were So often pre-
ferred against the Christians b. their enc
mics were entirely groundcss.
GUARD DOGS AcAlNsT cMALLPox