Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-03-13
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
March Is.
Subject: The Riot at Ephesus, Acts XIX, Z9'fo
Golden Tex, Pisa. XXI, 23-Memory
Verses, 2s-3l-Commentary on
The Days Lesson.

The Days Lesson.
l. Demetrius causing a tumult Tvs. o.
2O. Demetrius was leading spirit among
the Fphesian shrine-makers, and may have
been wholesale dealer, executing orders
for the shrines and ''ep 1:oying artisans
who received lucrative wages for their la
bor.' The preaching of Paul, the growth
of the church and the advancing civi.iza-
ton of that time were making inroads
hpon idol worship, and the sale of the
shrines was decreasing. These shrines
were made OF wood or metal. and were lit.
tie images or models of the temple of
Diana, containing an image OF the goddess.
They were sod to the peop,e OF Ephesns
and to the many strangers who visited the
city, and were also sent to distant cl.ies
for sale. Demetrus collected all the work.
men who were connected with his bust
ness. and very artfuly aroused their pas
sions. In his speech he declared that their
craft or trade was in danger of being
brought into disrepute, and then unwit
tingly paid glowing tribute to the apos-
tie Paul and the effectiveness Of the Cos
pei Tvs. 26, 81. The cause of the tumu,t
was covetousness under the guise of re!ig-
ion. Greed and gain blind men to the
highest interests of mankind.
il. Paul's companions seized Tvs. o.
32). 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 ciamor was to raise a
persecution against Paul, and thus serve
their own interests.
90. Confusion" All the pcople rushed
to the theatre. in which public meetings
were often held. AS the apostle himself.
at the moment, could not be found; his at
The multitude. "Gaius." He had lived at
Corinth and had enter aimed Paul at his
house Il Cor. l: IA; Rom. Is: 23). "Aris.
tarchus" He attended Paul to Rome. and
was there prisoner with him (Col. A. l0).
&c. "Would have entered" Paul was
fearless and ready to stand in the fore
front of dang-r. He no doubt hoDed TO be
able to oncil the outbreak. Suffered him
rot" His life was too precious to be
thus risked 1t appears that Paul listened
to the entreaties of the disciples on this oc
casion at other times he did not (Acts
81: 1910. Viii, Paul dld not fear mohs
persuasion and did not risk his life when
there was no necessity for so doing.
81. "The chief of Asia" The original
word is Asarchs. There were ten men.
annually elected from the most influential
in the province, to conduct the sacrifcial
worship. Thus we see that some of the
men honored with the highest offices at
this festival were friendly to Paul and
Christianity, and probably had no great
care for Diana or her worship.
50. "Knew not" The crowd had been
drawn together by the noise and excite
ment, and only few knew the real cause
of the commotion.
Ill The uDroar increasing Tvs. SO. AZ.
an unconverted Jew. 1t may have been
the case that the Jews wished Alexander.
who was, perhaps, an experienced pnb!ic
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 jew,
and would not permit him to utter word.
a. "a jew" There was general
prejudice against the Jews. They were
disposed to charge the whole difficulty
upon the Jews. esteeming Christians TO be
hut sect of the Jews. They were there
fore. indignant and excited. and indis-
criminate in their wrath and unwilling to
listen to any defense 1.-TWO hours" In
the division Of time among the Greeks and
Romans an hour did not differ greatly
that in the hot rage and excitement such
a length Of time would be necessary to al
lay the ,tumult. "CrieI out" 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 be natural in an excited and tumu.-
tuous mob of debased heather worshipers.
III. The town clerks sneech Tvs. 81
4O). IS. ''The town clerk" This official
was 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 quieted." His influence was so
great that the mob became 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. "a worshper-temp,e-
keeper" Literally, temple sweeper. The
name no doubt was first used to imply |
that any Office in the service of so magnif- |
cent goddess was grand distinction. |
'The image" etc This sacred image |
which was believed to have ia len down !
from Jupiter was "a rude wooden figure |
nearly the shape of a mummy"
&c, 81. "Do nothing rash.v." They had
performed a very rash act in seizlng two
could take no proceedings. Robbers of |
temples" As the temple at Enhesus had |
great treasure chamber the offense might |
not be unknown among them. "Nor bias
Dhemers" From this we sec that the Ian
yuage of Paul and his compa MONS had been
guarded. The general effect of their
preaching was to overthrow idolatry, bat
hey had RETAINED from denunciation and
oDprobrious epithets. To have taken any
,ther course would have deprived them Of
I'll chance of a hearing.
2S-40. Courts are OPEN" 1t is mercy
IF Gcd when a wise government exists,
which is able to maintain law and order.
Other matters" Anything that pertains
% public affairs. Lawful" 1t shall be
settled in conformity to law and not by a
mob To move an unlawful tumult was
,apital ofense and Demetrius was now in
lutte as much danger az Paul. Mob law is
till a great evil in the land. 1t deadens
he public conscience and strikes blow
It the very foundation of good govern.
nent. 'In danger" They were in danger
IF being called to account by the procon.
ul. The Roman Government watched
very appearance of sedition in the prov.
nces with jealous eye. 1t was a capital
,ffense to take any part in a riotous pro-
eeding. "No cause" "There being no
ause for it, and as touching it we shall not
,e able to give account of this conconrse."
R. V. This is a complete vindication OF
PAUL and his method of work and of Chris
ianity in general. The charges of lswess-
less and violence which were so often pre-
erred against the Christians by their enc
MES were entirely groundess.