The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-08-19
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Journey-The Riot in Ephesus,
Acts 1923 and 2O:1-Goldep
Text: 2 Cor. 1870.
TIME-A. d. 5S.
PLACE.-Ephesus.
EAFoSIT1ON. - I. A Riot in
Ephesus, $3.50. Paul had wonder
ful success in Ephesus Tvs. 1912;
lS-2O). He must also have testing
before he leaves. 1t might seem to
us that 1t 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
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 1t touches
MS business. The Gospel faithfully
and fully preached will stir up any
community, at home or abroad. 1t
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-
1ected business (v. 25). Reforms
ana revivals are all right if they do
ehs pouS > UuSlHeSS. IL InGy
DO, why, of course. business is busi-
ness and the reform and the .revi-
val must go. The love of monty 81
what prolific mother of evils it is
comp. 1 Tim. Go, 10, R. W. The
Surs.ay newspaper may be a great
curse, but then the Christian mer-
chant must advertise in 1t: for
you see, by this business we have
our wealth." There are MANY apnli-
cations. Let us see if we cannot find
one that will hit ourselves. Deme-
trlus uttered very striking and
truthful, though entirely unintention-
al, commendation of Paul ". 26).
Would that we had more Pauls who
Will persuade people and turn them
away from the worship of false gods
to serve the living and true God:
and to wait for His Son from heaven
II Thess. 1:9, 10). The first and
chief danger was injury 20 business;
out there was another; poor Diana
was 1mperiled ". 2O. 1t is doubt
1ul 1f Demetrius really cared much
Tor her; but he knew that an aDpeal
to religious prejudices would carry
many with him whose co-operation
he greatly desired. There are many
to-day who become very enthusiastic
reliSionists II they can coin money
out OF 1t or get into an office. His
statement that all Asia and the world
Wcrshiped Diana was hardly consist
ent 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
renSlon going to pieces. And then
there was concert of action to re-es-
tapllSn business and religion at the
same time. In unison they opened
their mouths and yelled: Great is
Diana of the Ephesians!" This way
or proving point has not gone out of
use, even in our day. The crowd who
can yell the loudest are quite sure
they have proved their point and car
rled 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-
tlon or fearless courage and humble
common sense in Paul. The mad
mob awakened the manly fire in
PauPs 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 persuasions of
his friends who were in place Of DOW
er. 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 one 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 It
themselves in their inmost souls, and
were rying to convince themselves of
1t by yelling the louder.
III. 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 and
crimes punished, and that they were
In danger Of getting into trouble
themselves by raising a riot. Men
who incite riot or set in motion mob
law ought always to get in trouble
themselves. The advice given the ex
cited citizens Of Ephesus is good ad-
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 ". an.