The Green Forest tribune., 1916-08-18
INTERNATIONAL SUNIlXISC[N)OL
 LESSON CBy E. o. SELLERS. Acting Director of the Sunday School Course of the Moody Bible Institute Chicago) (Copvright. 1916 Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR AUGUST 20
RIOT AT EPHC SUS.
LESSON TExT-Acts 19:23-41.

l. I
 GOLDEN TEXT-The love of money IS the root of all kinds of evil-I Tim. 6;lo Teachers ought to have good maps and keep before the minds of thelr classes both the ancient and modern names of the places Paul visited. Paul resided at Ephesus nearly three years A 53 to 56. The events of this les son occurred about three years after our last lesson in Acts.
 |. The Missionary Work of Paul (vv. 1-1O). How long Paul remained at Antioch after his second journey we do not know, but having passed through the upper coast he came to this city of Ephesus, which was an important city and great mission field In Revelations 2 and 3 is list of the churches which he evangellzeu from this center. It was a great ana effecrual door for him q Cor. o;9 ; read also Acts 20:17; 2:35). In this city Paul found religious guild of l2 members (see ". 2-D, whose reilg- ious experience needed the enrichment of the Holy Spirit; a like need is ever  before the Christian church.
 II. The Miracles Wrought by Paul tvv. 11-20). Ephesus was a center or magic and witchcraft, and special power was given Paul t0 work mira cles which confounded the magicians in this. their stronghold. The Gospel proves it's power most and best by transforming the characters Of men. Deeds of love and service are the best proofs of Christianity. and these are the things which awaken heather na- tfons to seek after the Christian relig- ion. But such deeds are often lml- tated as in this case. {See V. l3) However. only the real spirit of Christ can work the true workings ct the Gospel. and thus the name of the Lord Jesus was magnifed in Ephesus, lml- tation is often the sincerest form of flattery.
 III. The Mob's Attack Upon PauPs Work (vv. 2l-41). The first result ot Paul's work was the burning of the books of magic (vv. 1S-20). Many who had been dupes of the magicians ceased their secret practices and de- clared their wrongdoings in this pub lie manner. Literally, book after book was thrown into the fire, much the same as in Florence Savonarola had his bonfire of vanities.' Pauls won derful success had to have it's testing before he left The Gospel way" the way of salvation, of true living, IS sure to create q stir sooner or later. Preach the Gospel faithfully and fully, and it will stir up any community. IA is not necessarily bad sign whf >things begin to be disturbed. It n< simnIs f1dicaTe that tne ire IS get ting hot. The good results of revfv- als do not hurt business, but they do hurt the devil. So that "big business" was intensely stirred up in the city of Fphesus. Demetrius, their leader, uttered a striking and truthful com mendation of Paul (v. 26), although it was entirely unintentional. (See I Thess. l :9-10l. Demetrius does not seem to seek to coatroyert the preach ing of Paul. or that it did not square with the word of God, but rather that i if would interfere with financial con i alterations. The modern world is full ] of descendants of the Ephesian silver smiths,-pOiticians and business in terests which defend the saloon, anG fairly respectable citizens who receive rents from such business, or from i'm
 moral or unsanitary properties anG who cry out against any reform which interferes with trade and money mak ing There are many today who art very enthusiastic religionists if they
 can coin money out of it or get into
 an office His statement about al
 Asia and the world worshipping Diani
 was not true, nor did he care th'
 least about Diana.
 Some were enraged because the.
 saw their business going to pieces
 some because they saw their religion going upon the rocks; and there wa a considerable number who desired t
 re-establish business and religion a the same time Therefore the unite' cry. Great is Diana of the Ephe sians"
 At this theater meeting fPaul wa
 not present W. %, 31) Demetrius aT pealed CD to wealth, CD to religion @ to the honor and fame of the city and (4) he also made an esthetic aT peal (vv. g, 26, 27). The Jews pu 2 f. T 1F A der. to make a defense unto the pee pie, and to show that they were nc in sympathy with Paul and his con ]. panions in their preaching against tn worship of Diana or that as lewis 1 Christians they did not maliciOusl hope to destroy the worship of Dian and the business interests of that cit, \ Their effort, however, only stirred tn mob to a larger shout Great is Dian
 of the Ephesians, which lasted fC | two hours
 ] Those who yell the Ioudest thin they are sure to prove their poin though in such a way the point doc
 not stay proved. Paul combines fea | less courage and humble commC ] sense, and, while he fain would al peal to the mob (v. 30), he refraine l The mob must soon awaken to Il
 manliness and spirit of Paul's SOU
 It was the town clerk who interfere l (v. 35-4D and by skillful managemel 1 quelled the excited mob. He was u temple keeper and showed that u | worship of Diana was so settled
 Ephesus that no company of Jev
 could overthrow it, and that they q
 not have any real cause for violence.