Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-08-18
LESSON FOR AUGUST 20
RIOT AT EPHESuS.


classes both the ancient and modern
names of the places Paul visited. Paul
resided at Ephesus nearly three years,
A. d. 80 to 56. 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 is list
of the churches which he evangelical
from this center. 1t was a great and
effectual door for him Il Cor. go;
read also Acts 20:17; 2:35). In this
city Paul found a religious guild of II
members (see w. 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. 11-2O). 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 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 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. lmi-
tation is often the sincerest form of
f1attery.
III. The Mob's Attack Upon PauIs
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
/ lie manner. Literally, book after book
| was thrown into the fire, much the
! same as in Florence Savonarola had
! his "bonfre of vanities." PauPs Won
derful success had to have its testing
1 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. 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
I Thess. l :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.-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 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 al
the same time. Therefore the united
cry, "Great is Diana of the Ephe-
slams"
At this theater meeting (Paul was
not present. w. 20, 31) Demetrius ap
pealed ~ to wealth, (2) to religion
90 to, the honor and fame of the city
and ~ he also made an esthetic ap
peal, wv. 25, 26, 2O. The Jews put
forward one of their number, Alexan
der, to make a defense unto the peo
pie, and to show that they We're 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 Diuni
of the Ephesians." which lasted fol
two hours.
Those who yell the loudest tlrinl
they are sure to prove their point
though in such a way the point doe.
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 interfereC
". 35-41) and by skillful management
quelled the excited mob. He was thu
temple keeper and showed that thu
worship of Diana was so settled il
Ephesus that no company of Jew
could overthrow it, and that they 7lit
not have any real cause for violence.
He also emphasizes the fact tha
the image of Diana, their chief god
had been miraculously sent to then
by Jupiter. He called attention to tn,
fact that Paul had not committed tn,
wrong of which he was charged. Pau
was not a robber of churches. He hat
preached simply the gospel of Jesu
Christ, and his converts had no
blasphemed the goddess.
Paul had a better way of overcom
ing idolatry. Again he emphasizes
3 there was better way for the peOpl
to secure redress (see V. 80 Am. r..
3 Literally, "the courts are open an,
y there are prOcOnsuls; let them accus
one another" Lastly he calls atten
ffop m fha douUar tbot tho Dop1o,