The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-03-11
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Subject: The Riot ct Ephesus. Acts a'x..-
2e.Ao-6oldsn Text. Pss, x1xi.. %.
Memory Verses. 1881 - Commentary
on tho Days Lssson.
!. Demctrius causing a tumult Tvs. 81
2). Demetrius was a leading spirit among
the Ephesian shrine-makcrs, and may q
been a wholesale dealer, executing orders
for the shrines and employing artisans
who received lucrative wages for their L.
bor.' The preaching OF Paul, the growth
of the church and the advancing ciyilizs-
ton of that time were making inroads
upon idol worship. and the sale q the
shrines was decreasing. These shrines
were made Of wood or metal, and were bit.
tie images or models OF the temple OF
Diana, containing an image Of the goddess.
They were sold to the people Ut Ephesrs
and to the many strangers who VISITED Inc
city, and were also sent TO- distant citses
for sale. Demetrius collected al the WORK.
men who were connected with 81: busi-
ness. and very artfully aroused their pas
craft or trade was in danger Of being
brought into disrepute, and then unwit-
tins!y paid a glowing tribute to the spos-
tie Paul and the effectiveness OF the go.
pel I've. %, "a. The cause OF the tumiiit
was covetousness under the guise OF rehg~
ion. Greed and gain blind men to The.
highest interests of mankind.
II. Paul's companions seized Tvs. y
a2y. The address Of Demetrius. was effect
i've. The men to whose worldly ,nseIesss
he had appealed responded with loud
cries. Great il Diana Of the Ephesians."
The design OF this clamor was 70 raise q
persecution against Paul, and thua serve
their own interests.
q. Confusion" All the people rushed
to the theatre, in which public meetings
were often held. As the apostle himself,
at the moment. could not be found. his at
tendants were violently dragged along, By
the multitude: "Gaius." Hs bad lived as
Corinth and had entertained Paul at his
house Il Cor. ]: Il; Rom. Is: ~. "Aris-
tarchus." He attended Paul to Rome, and
was there a prisoner with him (Col. =. l01.
30. Would have entered" Paul was
fearless and ready to stand IN the fore
front Of danger. He no doubt hoped TO DO
Fable to auclI the outbreak. Suffered him
not" His life was too precious TO b
thus risked. 1t appears that Paul listened
to the entreaties Of the disciples oc-
c~asion; at other times be did not tAsts
or even death, yet he wisely yielded to-
persuasion and did not risk Sis life when
there was no necessity for so doing.
81. 'The chief Of Asia" The original;
word il Asiarchs. There were ten men,
annually elected from the most influential
in the province, to conduct. the sacrlicisi
worship. Thus we zee that some OF the
men honored with the highest Offices az
this festival were friendly 70 Paul and
Christianity, and, probably had no greas
care for Dians or her worship.
81. knew not" The crowd bad been
drawn together by the noise and excite
mcnt, and only . few knew the real cause.
OF the commotion.
III. The uproar lncreasing Tvs. s.. 80.
e. Drew Alexander" He was probably
an unconverted jew. II may have been
the case that the Jews wished Alexander,
who was, perhaps, an experienced pubne
orator, to speak in their behalf, q thus
transfer the blame from themselves TO
Christians. But when he attempted 70
speak the people perceived he was 2 jew,
and would not permit him to utter q word:
"a. "a jew" There was Q general
prejudice against the Jews. They were
disposed to charge the whole difficulty
upon the Jews. esteeming Christians 70 Do
but a acct o: 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. It Is moi unlikely
that in the hot rage and excitement such
lay the tumult. "Cried out" etc. This
they at first did to silence Alexander. The-
excitement, however was continued IN or
der to eyince their attachment 70 Diana, -
would be natural in an excited a tumui-
tuous mob of debased heather worshiperx.s
III. The town clerks speech (vs. %,
4Ol. IS. "The town clerk" This Official
was a very important person. He was an.
thorized to preside over public assembiies,
ral CHIEF, and performed his duties during
the absence or on the death of that officer.
Had quoted" His influence was 90
great that the mob became auiet. and gave
him a hearing. "He said" The speech
is full Of tact and ability and shows that
the man was well qualified to I'll the high
Office he held. "A worshiper-tenp!e-
keeper" Literally, temple sweeper. The
name no doubt was first used TO imply
that any Office in the service Of 20 magn,s-
:.Tbe IMAGE" etc. This sacred image
which was believed to have fallen down
from Jupiter was "a rude wooden figure
nearly the shape OF o mummy
&c. 81. do nothing rashly." They had
performed n very rash act in seizing two
persons against whom It appears tksy
could take no proceedings. Robbers OF
temples" As the temple at Ephesus Aad
a great treasure chamber the offense might
not be unknown among them. Nor bias
phcmers." From this we see that the Ian
cuage of Panl and his companions had been
guarded. The general. effect OF their
preaching was to overthrow idoiatry, but
they had refrained from denunciation and
opprobrious epithets. To have taken any
other course would have deprived them OF
all chance Of \ hearing.
$40. Courts are OPEN" It IL q mercy
OF Gcd when q wise government exists,
which is able to maintain law and order.
"Otier matters" Anything. that pertains
to public affairs. Lawful" It shall be
settled in conformity to law and not BY .
us6bss< To move an unlawful tumult was .
~~capital orense, and Demetrius was now in
quite az much danger a. Paul. Mob law 10
still a great evil in the land. It deadcns
the pub!ic conscience and strikes q blow
ri 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 sedition in the prov.
inccs with n jealous eye. It was a capitaiS
offen,e to take any part IN 4 riotons pro
cecd,ng. NO cause" There being NO
cause for it. and as touching. it we shall not
be able to give account OF this concourse."
r. v. This is a complete vindication OF
Paul and his method of work and Of Chris
tianity in general. The charges Of lawless-
ness and violence which were 30 often pre-
fcrred against the Christians by their enc
mics were entirely sroundless.