Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-08-17
LESSON F0a AUGUST 20
RIOT AT EPAEsUs.

names of the places Paul visited. Paal
resided at Ephesus nearly three years
A. D. SIS to So. The events Of this les
son occurred about three years after
our last lesson in Acts.
!. The Missionary Work Of Paul
wy. 1-10) How long Paul remained al
Antioch after his second journey we
10 net know, but having passed
/ through the upper codst" he came to
this city Of Ephesus, which was an
important city and great mission
4 field. In Revelations and 3 is a list
Of the churches which he evangelical
4 from this center. It was a great and
effectual door for him Ct Cor 60;
read also Acts 2Qti5: $3.50 IN this
city Paul found religious guild Of Y
members fsee w 2-7), whose relig
}ous experience needed the enrichment
/ Of the Holy Spirit; a like need is ever
before the Christian church.
u. The Miracles Wrought by Paul
/ wv 1l-2ol, Ephesus was center Of
] magia End viieif;oratf. and special
! power was given Paul tQ work mira
cIes which cohounded the Ihagicians
in this. their stronghold The Gospel
proves its power most and best by
transforming the characters of men.
Deeds Of love ana service are the best
4 proofs Of Christianity, and these are
the things which awaken heather ma
/ tions to seek after The Christian relig-
ion. But such deeds are often irni-
| tated as in this case (See V. 49,
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. Imi-
tation IS often the stncerest form Of
aadery,
/ III. The Moh's Attack Upon Paufs
Work Wv. 21-41). The first result of
/ Paul's work was the burning of the
books of magic wv. 1920. Many who
had neen dupes of the magiciaas
ceased their secret practices and De-
ciarod their wrongdoings in This pub
lie manner. Literally, book after book
was thrown into the fire, much the
same as in Florence Savonaroia had
hjs ''bonGre Of vanties" PauIs won
dprful success had to have it's testing
before he left The Gospel way" the
way of salvation, Of true living, is
sure to create a stir sooner or later,
iTreach the Gospel faithfully and fully,
and it will stir up any community. 1t
is not necessarily q bad sign when
things begin to be disturbed. 1t may
simply indicate that the fire is get
a 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 Enhcsus. H2mctrus, their leader
uttered striking and truthful com
mendaticn Of Paul " 2G}, although
it was entirely uEintentional. (See
I Thess. ! :9-10). Demetrius does not
seem to seek to c0ntrovert the preach
ing of Paul, or that it did not square
with the word of God, but rather that
it would Interfere with financial CON
Sderations The modern world is full
Of descendants of the Ephesian silver
politicians and business in
forests which defend the saloon, and
fairly respectable citizens who receive
rents from such business, or from i'm
moral or unsanitary properties and
who cry ont against any reform which
interferes with trade and money max
ing There are many today who are
very enthusiastic religionists if they
can coin money out of it or get into
an Office.
At this theater meeting Paul was
not present, w. %, 31) Demetrius ap-
4 rcaled % to wealth. (2) to religion.
80 to the honor and fame of the city,
and (4) he also made an esthetic APP
peal, (vv. %, &c. ~ The Jews put
forward enc Of their number, Alexan-
der. 70 make q defense unto the peo-
pie and to show that they were not
in sympathy with Paul and his COM
panions in their preaching against the
worship Of Diana or that as Jewish
Christians they did net fnaliciousiy
hope TO destroy the worship Of Diana
and the business interests of that city.
Their effort, however, only stirred the
mob 70 a larger shout "Groat is Diana
Of the Ephesians," which lasted fer
two hours.
Those who yell the loudeet think
they are sure to prove their point,
though in such way the point does
net stay proved. Paul combines fear
i@ss courage ard humble common
sense, and, While he fain would APP
peal TO the mob q. so, he refrained.
The mob must seen awaken to the
manliness and spirit of Pauls soul.
It was the town clerk who interf red
: ". 35-411 and by skillful IaanagcI.cnt
qaelied the excited mob. lie was the
temple keeper and showed that the
worship Of Diana was 50 settled in
Ephesus that no company of Jews
could overthrow ii, and that they did
Tot have any real cause for violence
a. also emphasizes the fact that
the image Of Diana their chief god,
had 6eea iniracuJous'y sent 70 them
~ Jupiter He called attention ID the