The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-08-17
INTERNATIONAL.
S(JNIlzY.SC[l(D()L,
LESSON
LESSON FOR AUGUST 20
RIOT AT EPHEsUs.
by II o. SELLEItS. Acting Director Of
me Sunday School Course OF the Moody
Bible Institute. Chicago)
Copyright. 1910. Western Newspaper Union ,

| VIC 9ool VI ull KINGS Oh evil Tim. 6:10.
Teachers ought to have good fnnps
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. d. 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. 1-1O). How long Paul remained ut
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 3 is a list
of the churches which he evangelical
from this center. 1t was great and
effectual door for him U Cor. go;
read also Acts 20:17; 2:35). In this
| city Paul found religious guild Of IL
members (see w. 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. 11-20). 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 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 rclig.
Ion. But such deeds are often imi-
tatcd as In this case. (See V. 13.)
However, only the real spirit Of Christ
can work the true workings Of the
Gospel, and thus the name Of the Lord
Jesus was magnlned in Ephesus. Imi.
tation is often the sincerest form OF
fattcry.
III. The Mob's Attack Upon Pau's
Work Wv. 21-4D. The first result of
Paurs work was the burning OF the
books Of magic (vv. 1920. Many who
had been dupes Of the mugicians
ceased their secret practices and dc.
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." Paul's 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 n 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
Ct y,1u {y,It
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 EphcSus. DometriuS, their leader
uttered striking and truthful com.
lnendation Of Paul ". 2G), although
1T was entirely unintcntionnl. (Sec
l Thess. 0-10. Demctrius does not
| seem to seek to cOntrovcrt the preach.
! ing Of Paul, or that it did not square
with the word Of God but rather that
1t would interfere with financial con.
sidcrations. The modern world is full
OF descendants Of the Ephcsian silver.
smiths, and business in.
| terests which defend the saloon, and
/ fairly respectable citizens who receive
rents from such business, or from i'm.
moral or unsnnitary properties, and
! VINO cry out against any reform which
| intcrfercs with trade and money max.
ing. There arc many today who are
very enthusiastic rcligionists if they
can coin money out OF it or get into
! an Office.
At this thcatcr meeting paul was
! not present, w. %, 31) Denctrius an.
/ pealcd O to wealth, (2) to religion,
| (3) to the honor and fame of tho city,
and (4) he also made an esthctic ap.
/ peal, (vv. 20, &c, 27). The Jews put
| forward one OF their number, AlcXan.
der, to make a defense unto the Dco
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 rs 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 Ephcsians," which lasted for
two hours.
Those who yell the loudest think
they are sure to prove their point,
though In such q way the point does
not stay proved. Paul combines fear
less courage and humble common
sense. and, willie he fain would ap-
peal to the mob ". 30) he rcfraincd.
The mob must soon awaken to the
manllness and spirit Of Paul's soul.
1t was the town clerk who intcrfered
". 35-41) and by skillful management
qucllcd the excited mob. He was the
temple keeper and showed that tho