The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1916-08-17
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNlYS0l0OL,
LESSON
(By E. o. SELLERS Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course Of the Moody
Bible Institute. Chicago)
copyright. 1916. Western Newspaper Union)
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. Pau1
resided at Ephesus nearly three years.
A. D. SO to Sc. The events of this les
son occurred about threH gears after
our last lesson In Acts.
!. The Missionary Work OF Pau'
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 great mission
field. In Revelations and Is lst
of the churches which he evangellzeo
from this center. It was a great ana
effectual door for him Il Cor. $50;
read also Acts 2O:17; $3.50. In this
city Paul found religious guild OF IL
members (see Wv. 2-7), whose relig-
lous experience needed the enrichment
of the Holy Spirit; like need Is ever
before the Christian church.
II. The Miracles Wrought by Paul
wv. 11-2O). Ephesus was center OF
magic and witchcraft, and speclal
power was given Paul to work mira
cles which COMPOUNDED 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 ma
tons to seek after the Christian rehg-
ion. But such deeds are often lml-
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 magnifled in Ephesus. Hnl-
tation is often the sincerest form OF
f1attery. ..
Ill. The Mob's Attack Upon PauPs
Work wv. 21-4D. The first result OF
Paul's work was the burning of the
books of magic wv. 1920. Many VINO
had been dupes Of the magiclaas
ceased their secret practices and de-
clared their wrongdoings in this pup
lie manner. Literally, book after DOCK
was thrown into the fire, much the
same as in Florence Savonarola nao
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 a stir sooner or later.
Preach the Gospel faithfully and fully,
and it 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
ting hot. The good results OF revlV-
ais do not hurt business, but they 90
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
1t was entirely unintentional. tSee
I Thess. l 800. 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,-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, ana
who cry out against any reform whlcn
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, Wv. %, 81 Demetrius ap-
pealed ~ to wealth, (2) to religion,
CD to the honor and fame of the city,
and (4) 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-
Die, 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 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 fam would APP
peal to the mob ". 90), he refraineds