Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
LESSON FOR AUGUST 20
RIOT AT EPHEsUs.
.rssoN TExT-Acts 1884.

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,
I A.D. So to Sc. The events of this les
son occurred about three years after
our last lesson in Acts.
I. The Missionary Work of Paul
wv. 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 a great mission
field. In Revelations 2 and Is a hSt
of the churches which he evangelized
from this center. 1t was great and
effectual door for him Il Cor. SO;
read also Acts 2O:17; 2 1851. In this
city Paul found religious guild OF L
members (see Wv. 2-D, 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
wv. 11-20). Ephesus was a 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 heathen ma
! tions to seek after the Christian relig-
ion. But such deeds are often imi-
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. Ini-
tation is often the sincerest form of
| flattery.
III. The Mob's Attack Upon PauI's
Work wv. 21-41). The first result of
Paul's work was the burning Of 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
IlC OOOh eAAlCA OOON
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. tx
sure to create a stir sooner or later.
Preach the Gospel faithfully and fully,
and 1t will stir up any community. 1t
is not necessarily a bad sign when
things begin to be disturbed. 1t may
simply indicate that the fire is 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 a striking and truthful COM
mendatiOn of Paul ". 26), although
it was entirely unintentiOnal. (See
1 Thess. 1 :9-10). Demetrius does not
seem to seek to contrOvert 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-
SideratiOns. The modern world is full
of descendants of the Ephesian silver
smiths.-politician 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 refOrmSwhich
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. His statement about all
Asia and the world wOrshipping Diana
was not true, nor did he care the
least about Diana.
Some were enraged because they
saw their business going to pieces;
some because they saw their religion
going upon the rocks; and there was
a considerable number who desired to
re-establish business and religion at
the same time. Therefore the united
cry, "Great is Diana of the Ephe-
SianS."
At this theater meeting paul was
not present, Wv. 20, 31) Denetrius ap-
p6dlGu ~ " hCt1ILs w " ANAAesANA'
(3) to the honor and fame Of the city,
and az he also made an esthetic ap-
peal, wv. 25, 26, 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 maliclOusly
hope to destroy the worship of Diana
and the business interests of that city.
Their effort, however, only stirred the
mob to a 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 (v. 30), he refrained.
The mob must soon awaken to the
manlIness and spirit of Paul's soul.
It was the town clerk who interfered
". 35-41) and by skillful management
uuelled the excited mob. He was the
temple keeper and showed that the
of Diana was so settled in
Ephesus that no company Of Jews
could overthrow it. and that they did
not have any real cause for violenre.
He also emphasizes the fact that
the image of Diana, their chief god.
had been miraculously sent to them