The Elbert County tribune., 1916-08-18
N1FpNllONAl.
SUNDMS0b0OL
LESSON
(By f. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
the Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute. Chicago1
Copyright. 1915. Western Newspaper UnionD
LESSON FOR AUGUST 20
RIOT AT EPHESuS.

Teachers ought to have good maps
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 So. 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 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 a great mission
field. In Revelations and 3 is list
of the churches which he evangelized
from this center. 1t was great and
effectual door for him U Cor. SO;
read also Acts 20 II; :35). In this
city Paul found a religious guild OF IL
members (see Wv. 2-T), whose relig-
ious experience needed the enrichment
of the Holy Spirit; like need is ever
before the Christian church.
II. The Miracles Wrought by Paul
(vv. 11-20). Ephesus was center OF
magic and witchcraft, and special
power was given Paul to 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
tions to seek after the Christian relig-
nttf .xff ttY,I-
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 sincerest form OF
fiattery.
III. The Mob's Attack Upon Paui's
Work wv. 21-4D. The first result of
Paul's work was the burning CT the
books of magic wv. 1920. 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 Its testing
before he left. The Gospel way" the
way of salvation, of true living, Is
sure to create stir sooner or later.
Preach the Gospel faithfully and fully,
and 1t will stir up any community. II
is not necessarily bad sign when
things begin to be disturbed. 1t may
simply indicate that the fire is get
TIM hot Ika -
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 a striking and truthful COM
mendation of Paul ". 28), although
1t was entirely unintentOnal. (See
Thess. / :9-10). Demetrius does not
seem to seek to controvert the preach
ing Of Paul, or that 1t did not square
with the word Of God. but rather that
it would interfere with financial con-
siderations. The modern world Is full
of descendants of the Ephesian silver
smiths,-politicians and business in
terests 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 out against any reform which
interferes with trade and money max
ing. There are many today who are
very enthusiastic rellgionists IL they
can coin money out of 1t or get into
an office.
At this theater meeting (Paul was
not present, w. 20, 31) Demetrius ap-
1ad 70 10
(3) to the honor and fame of the city,
and (4) he also made an esthetic ap-
peal, wv. 25, &c, 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
panions In their preaching against the
worship of Diana or that as Jewish
Christians they did not malicIously
hope to destroy the worship of Diana
and the business interests of that city.
Their effort, however, only stirred the
mob tn larger shout, "Great is Diana
of the Ephesians," which lasted for
two hours.
Those who yell the loudest think
they are sure to prove their point,
though in such a way the point does
not stay proved. Paul combines fear
less courage and humble common
sense, and, while he fain would ap-
peal to the mob ". 30), he refrained
The mob must soon awaken to the
manliness and spirit of Paul's soul.
1t was the town clerk who interfered
". 354D and by skillful management
quelled the excited mob. He was the
temple keeper and showed that the
worship Of Diana was so settled in
Ephesus that no company of Jews
could overthrow 1t, and that they did