The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-08-04
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INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR AUGUST %.

Subject: Paul's Third Missionary
Journey-The Riot in Ephesus,
Acts 1928 and 20:1--Golden
Text: 2 Cor. 1879.
TIME.-A. D. 5S.
PLACE.-Ephesus.
EXPOSITION. - I. A Riot in
Ephesus, $3.50. Paul had wonder
full success in Ephesus Tvs. 1912;
1920. He must also have testing
before he leaves. 1t might seem to
us that it would have been better for
Paul to leave in the full blaze Of his
success; but God looks at these
things quite differently from what we
do. The Gospel Way is sure to create
a stir sooner or. later. Men do not
realize all its bearings and all it's de-
mands at once, so they receive it
quite calmly. But Demetrius will
wake up to the fact that it touches
his business. The Gospel faithfully
and fully preached will stir up any
community, at home or abroad. It
is not necessarily a bad sign at all
when things begin to boil in city, viii
lage or church. 1t may simply indi-
cate that the fire is getting hot. The
stir came because the new religion af-
fected business ". 25). Reforms
and revivals are all right If they do
not hurt anybody's business. If they
do, why, Of course, business is bust
ness" and the reform and the revi-
val must go. 1.-The love of money
what a prolific mother of evils it is
Comp. 1 Tim. So, 10, R. W. The
C,,rlay ,,~prrNo~@~ ho N-oaf
curse, but then the Christian mer-
chant must advertise in it; for
you see, "by this business we have
our wealth." There are many appli-
cations. Let us see If we cannot find
one that will hit ourselves. Deme-
trius uttered a very striking and
truthful, though entirely unintention-
al, commentator of Paul ". 26).
Would that we had more Pauls who
will persuade people and turn them
away from the worship Of false gods
ito serve the living and true God;
and to wait for His Son from heaven"
Il Thess. 10, 10). The first and
chief danger was injury to business;
but there was another; poor Diana
was fmperiled ". 27). 1t Is doubt
full If Demekrius really cared much
for her; but he knew that an appeal
to religious r'ejudices would carry
many with HIM whose cooperation
he greatly desired. There r many
to-day who become very enthusiastic
religionists if they can coin money
out of it or get into an Office. His
statement that all Asia and the world
worshiped Diana was hardly consist
emit with his professed apprehension
concerning her; nor was it exactly
true. Some were enraged because
they saw their business going to
pieces; some because they saw their
religion going to pieces. And then
there was a concert of action to 're-es-
tablish business and religion at the
same time. In unison they opened
their mouths and yelled: "Great Is
Diana of the E~phesians!" This way
of proving a point has not gone out OF
use, ven in our day. The crowd who
can yell the loudest are quite sure
they have proved their point and car
ried the day. But somehow or other
Diana of the Ephesians lost her hold
on men from that day on, though
they screamed for two straight hours.
Points proven in that way do not stay
proven. There was a rare combina-
ton of fearless courage and humble
common sense in Paul. The mad
mob awakened the manly fire in
Paul's soul. He wished to go into the
midst of the riot and proclaim Jesus.
But he yielded to the entreaties OF
the disciples and the persuaslons Of
his friends who were in place of pow
err. Paul will have the opportunity
of facing a maddened mob further
on; the time has not yet come. Mobs
are always irrational and mob law
always insane. There was a babel OF
voices, one crying n thing and an
other another. There was utter con-
fusion and the majority knew not
WHY they were come together. The
original cry ". 2S) is taken up again,
and with one voice they shout it for
two hours. What a strange sight: a
great %concourse shouting steadily for
two hours, Great is Diana OF the
Ephesians." If shouting could prove
anything, surely this proposition was
proven. But shouting, no matter how
loud, how long or how unanimous,
proves nothing. The probability Is
they did not altogether believe 1t
themselves in their inmost souls, and
were trying to convince themselves OF
It by yelling the louder.
II. The Mob Quieted by the Town
clerk, 53-4O. The townclerk was a
sensible fellow. He told them that
there was no use in yelling so loud to
prove what everybody believed. He
also put in a protest against mob law.
He told them there was a legal way
of having difficulties settled n
crimes punished, and that they were
in danger of getting into trouble
themselves by raising a riot. Mel
who incite a riot or set in motion mol
law ought always to get in trouble
themselves. The advice given the ex-
cited citizens of Ephesus is good adj
vice for us all-"be quiet" do moth
ing rash" Paul and his companions
had respected the rights even of idol
ators. He seems to have used his
strength rather in preaching TRUTH
than in attacking error ". 37.