Day 1224: The Way. Acts 19 vs 21 - 31

21-22 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

23-24 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25-27 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”

28-29 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. 30-31 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs (high-ranking officers of the province of Asia) who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theatre. Acts 19:21-31 English Standard Version

“Man proposes and God disposes.” That’s an old English saying that likely comes from Proverbs 19:21 which says: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” That was certainly true of the plans Paul was making in vs 21-22, especially his desire to go to Rome. What happened in the midst of Paul's planning? (vs 23-24)

Luke tells of a disturbance that arose about “the way”, and he says that it was “not a little one!” This description of the gospel comes from Christ Himself who said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Paul used the term when he was on trial, and said: “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women.” What was it about 'the way' that had so riled Paul before he was converted, and now riled Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen?

I would say it was the exclusivity of what Jesus said. “No one comes to the Father except through me!” Christ claims to be the only true way to peace with God. They now held Paul responsible for teaching that “gods made with hands are not gods.” No doubt they would’ve been content if he simply preached of a god like the other idols. It would mean more business for them. Romans worshipped Diana who, like Artemis, was a goddess of hunting and of childbirth, and also associated with the moon. They would happily make shrines for her. But Paul was preaching about a unique Saviour from sin.

We see how Demetrius dressed up his accusation with religious jargon. He said that Artemis would fall out of favour, and her temple would be regarded as nothing. She, whom all Asia and the world worshipped, might even be deposed from her magnificence. But his real motive was because he and his fellow craftsmen would lose the business that brought them such wealth. A riot broke out. (vs 28-29) As is the case of all riots, the city was in confusion. Two companions of Paul's were seized by the mob and Paul had to be restrained from going into the theatre.

What happened in Ephesus that day is what has often happened whenever the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ have been faithfully preached in the world. In 2 Corinthians 4:4 Paul says “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Today there are many who say that all religions are equal. Let us not be afraid or ashamed to teach that there is only one way to God, and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ.