The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-08-17
LESSON FOR AUGUST 20
RIOT AT EPHEsus.

Teachers ought 10 nave goou mhps
and keep before the minds Of their
classes both the ancient and modern
names OF the places Paul visited. Paul
resided at Ephesus nearly three years,
A. ID. SO TO 90. The events OF this les
son occurred about three years after
our last lesson In Acts.
.. The Missionary Work Of Paul
wv. 1-10). How long Paul remained mt
Antioch after his second journey we
do not know, hut having passed
through the upper coast" he came TO
this city Of Ephesus, which was an
important city and a great mission
field. In Revelations . and 3 is list
OF the churches which he evangelical
from this center. II was great and
efrectual door for him q Cor. go;
read also Acts 20:17: 2:35). In this
city Paul found a religious guild OF II
members (see w. 2-O. whose rellg-
ious experience needed the enrichment
OF the Holy Spirit; n like need is ever
before the Christian church.
u. The MlraeIes Wrought by Paul
wv. 1l-20). Ephesus was center Of
magic and wltchcraft. and special
power was given Paul 20 work mira
cles which confounded the magicians
in this, their stronghold. The Gospel
proves Its 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 ma
lions to seek after the Christian rclig-
ion. But such deeds are often imi-
tated as In this case. (See v. l3.)
However. only the real spirit Of Christ
can work the true workings of the
Gospel. and thus the name OF the Lord
Jesus was magnified In Ephesus. Ini-
tation IL often the slncerest form OF
fattery.
~. The Mob's Attack Upon PauI's
Work wv. 2l-4l). The first result OF
PauIs work was the burning Of the
books Of magic wv. $500. Many who
had been dupes OF the magicians
ceased their secret practices and de-
clared their wrongdolngs 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." Paurs won
dcrful success had TO have Its testing
before he left. The Gospel way" the
way OF salvation, of true living. Is
sure TO create n stir sooner or later.
Preach the Gospel faithfully and fully.
and II will stir up any community. IL
Is not necessarily bad sign when
things begin to be disturbed. II may
simply Indicate that the fire II get
ting hot. The good results OF reviv-
ais do not hurt business. but they do
hurt the devil. So that big business"
was intensely stirred up In the city
OF Ephesus. Demetrius, their leader,
uttered striking and truthful COM
mendation Of Paul ". 26). although
Il was entirely unintentional. (See
I Thess. / :0-i0). Demetrius does not
seen TO seek to controvert the preach
ing Of Paul, or that II did not square
with the word OF God. but rather that
Il would interfere with financial con-
slderations. The modern world Is full
OF descendants Of the Epheslan silver
neutrality-suspicious. and business In
terests which defend the saloon, and
fairly respectable citizens who receive
rents from such business or from Inn
moral or unsanitary properties, and
who cry out against any reform which
lnterferes with trade and money max
| ing. There are many today who are
very enthusiastic religionlsts II they
can coin money out OF 1t or get into
an office.
At this theater meeting paul was
not present, Wv. 20, 3l) Demetrius APP
| pealed u) TO wealth, (2) 10 religion,
| (3) to the honor and fame of the city,
and ca he also made an esthetic APT
peal, wv. %, 60 27). The Jews put
forward one OF their number, Alexan-
der, to make a defense unto the peo-
| pie, and TO show that they were not
In sympathy with Paul and his COM
panlons In their preaching against the
worship OF Diana or that as Jewish
| Christians they did not mallciously
hope to destroy the worship OF Diana
and the business interests OF that city.
Their effort, however, only stirred the
mob 10 larger shout, "Great is Diana
Of the Ephesians," which lasted for
two hours.
Those who yell She loudest think
they are sure TO prove their point.
though In such way the'pOlnt does
not stay proved. Paul combines fear
less courage and humble common
sense, and, while he faln would APP
peal TO the mob ". 80), he refralned.
The mob must soon awaken TO the
manliness and spirit Of Paul's soul.
1t was the town clerk who interfered
". 35-41) and by skillful- management
quelled the excited mob. He was the
temple keeper and showed that the
worship Of Diana was 30 settled In
Ephesus that no company of Jews
could overthrow II. and that they did
not have any real cause for violence.
He also emphasizes the fact that
the image OF Diana, their chief god.
had been miraculously sent to them
by Jupiter He called attention 10 the