A COMMOTION ABOUT THE WAY

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on June 7, 2023 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group: June 7, 2023 from Acts 19:23-41

Theme: The gospel of Jesus Christ disrupts this world’s systems … even as it saves souls.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

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The apostle Paul had been ministering in the city of Ephesus for a couple of years. And as he had so successfully spread the gospel that “all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:10); and even as many then turned away from their false worship and burned their books of magic arts and the occult—things had remained remarkably peaceful.

But suddenly, all of that changed. We’re told in Acts 23 that “a great commotion about the Way” occurred (or as it is in the original language, “a disturbance … not a small one”). In Acts 19:49 and 20:1, it’s called an “uproar”. It, in fact, came very close to turning into a city-wide riot. And it came about—not primarily because of the content of the message of the gospel itself—but because of how “the Way” had led many people to turn away from paganism … and thus threatened the local idolatry-based economy. The uproar wasn’t so much about the savings of souls as it was about the loss of money.

This reminds us of something that the Lord Jesus once said—in Matthew 10:34;

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).

It’s true that Jesus is the Prince of Peace; and it’s true that His rule eventually brings peace on the earth. But not at first. He said that His coming would divide people down to the level of the closest relations … even down to the division of family members from one another. This passage, then, gives those of us who are Jesus’ witnesses in a fallen world a picture of the kind of turmoil the gospel can really bring about. The coming of the gospel saves souls—and praise God it does! But it also disrupts systems, upsets existing states of affairs, and even impacts people’s ‘bottom line’. It calls people from out of darkness and into the light—and as a result, angers those who profit from keeping people in the darkness.

As this passage warns us, the gospel of Jesus Christ disrupts this world’s systems … even as it saves souls.

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Now; this event is reported to us in remarkable detail. It suggests very strongly that Luke—the writer of the Book of Acts—was present to witness the things it describes; and that he reported a first-hand account of what he saw. He began by telling us about …

1. THE CONFLICT THAT AROSE (vv. 23-27).

Luke tells us, in verses 24-25,

And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen (vv. 24-25).

We’re told clearly that this matter arose because of the impact of “the Way”. That’s the name given for the gospel message. It was first referred to as “the Way” by the demon-possessed girl of Philippi in Acts 16:17. She said that Paul and his missionary partners were proclaiming “the way of salvation”. Then, we’re told in Acts 18:25 that Apollos spoke of “the way of the Lord” … except without really knowing the Lord. In verse 26, Aquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside and told him more clearly about “the way of God”. In Acts 19—in the story about the ministry in Ephesus—some of the Jews “spoke evil of the Way”. Later in the Book of Acts—while speaking to the Jews in Jerusalem in Acts 22:4—Paul said that he “persecuted this Way”. And later still, in Acts 24:14, Paul stood trial before the Roman governor Felix and said that he worshiped God “according to the Way”. And what’s more, according to verse 22, he presented this testimony confidently to the governor, because he knew that the governor had “more accurate knowledge of the Way”. It’s a remarkable name for the gospel; because it includes the idea not only of a system of beliefs, but also a pattern of living … and a destination that is sought. Jesus Himself is ‘the Way’. And now—in Ephesus—no small disturbance occurred because of this “Way”.

It began because a man named Demetrius brought forth a complaint. He was a silversmith—perhaps a leader of the guild of craftsmen. Along with the others, he made a great deal of profit from the production and sale of small idols and figures and silver shrines for the false goddess Diana. Diana—also called Artemis—was a fertility goddess whose image supposedly fell down to earth from heaven. (And if you’d ever seen it, you’d know why heaven would want to drop it!) The temple of Diana was located in Ephesus; and people came from all around the world to participate in the immoral practices that were associated with the worship of this false goddess.

This man Demetrius was crucial to the local economy that was built on this false system of worship; because, as we’re told, he “brought no small profit to the craftsmen.” Verses 25-27 go on to tell us;

He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship” (vv. 25-27).

Demetrius’ complaint was that the then-worldwide idol-making trade was in danger; but not wanting to sound so entirely crass as that, he used a bit of sentimentality and added that the temple of the goddess may be despised. His argument sounds a little like the arguments that were used to oppose Paul in Acts 16:16-21. Back then, the demon was cast out of the ‘fortune-telling’ girl of Philippi; and everyone was angry—not for her sake—but because this hurt the profit her owners were making off her. Many unbelieving people are willing to tolerate a little ‘religion’ and the preaching of the gospel. They’re willing to put up with what might make other people happy. But when it starts to diminish ‘profits’, then it becomes a serious threat. Consider the following:

• According to a Rand Corporation report in 2019, the amount that Americans spent on illicit drugs neared $150 billion annually.
• According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the 42.1% spirits share (i.e., not beer) in 2022 equated to $37.58 billion in sales.
• According to the Marijuana Policy Project, since the first legal sales began in 2014, states that have legalized marijuana have collectively garnered more than $10 billion in cannabis tax revenue as of January 2022.
• According to Forbes, the US set a gambling record in 2022—through the nation’s casinos and mobile gaming apps—with just under $55 billion in revenue.
• According to ISIS World statistics; the market size (measured by revenue) of the Adult & Pornographic Websites industry was $1.1 billion in 2022.
• According to Grand View Research, the U.S. sex reassignment surgery market was valued at $1.9 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 11.23% from 2022 to 2030.
• And though it’s very difficult to estimate the number of people working in sex trades in the US (since it operates in an underground economy); according to Britannica ProCon.org (as cited in a 2015 book titled Prostitution: Prices and Statistics of the Global Sex Trade), over $180 billion is made each year in the global sex industry.

The gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to deliver people from these kinds of practices and addictions and to save their souls. But just think of how disruptive to the economy it would be if it did so! No wonder there would be strong human forces put into motion to prevent that from happening!—to say nothing of the demonic forces that would inspire them to do so!

Well; such a thing was threatening to happen in Ephesus! And that leads us to consider …

2. THE COMMOTION THAT ENSUED (vv. 28-34).

Luke tells us, in verse 28;

Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (v. 28).

Everyone in the various guilds and crafts that profited from this idolatrous system of worship broke into an angry chant. This indicates that a reasoned discussion about the matter was not likely to occur. And because of this, the commotion spread to a truly dangerous level:

So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions (v. 29).

Rushing into the public gathering place, the confused mob grabbed hold of two of Paul’s ministry associates. Gaius is mentioned in Romans 16:23 as Paul’s ‘host’ and also ‘the host of the whole church’. And Aristarchus is mentioned in Colossians 4:10, who Paul identifies as his ‘fellow prisoner’. It would have been very upsetting to Paul to hear that his two companions and brothers in Christ were seized-up in this dangerous situation—perhaps at the threat of their very lives. It may be that, because of them, he himself wanted to step courageously into the situation. But Luke tells us in verses 30-31;

And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater (vv. 30-31).

Paul had to sit things out in this story. Sometimes, it’s God’s will that His servants stay out of a circumstance rather than jump into it. Apparently, Paul submitted to their plea. And wisely so; because things grew to be almost completely out of control. As verses 32-33 go on to say;

Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people (vv. 32-33).

Who was this man Alexander? We’re not told. Perhaps he’s ‘Alexander the coppersmith’ that Paul warned Timothy about in 2 Timothy 4:14. Timothy was serving as a pastor in Ephesus at the time that Paul wrote his letter; and Paul warned him that “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.” It must be that the Jewish people put Alexander forward in an effort to show that the Jewish people themselves hadn’t sought to stir up hostility toward the idol-worship business. The New American Standard translation has it that some of the crowd “concluded that it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward …” But in any case—whatever the motivation may have been—it didn’t make things better. Because the Jews and the Christians both rejected all forms of pagan worship, presenting Alexander may have actually only stirred up the outrage of the Ephesian mob all the more! Verse 34 tells us;

But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (v. 34).

Imagine what a dangerous situation this was! And deafening! And it was all because people were being turned away by Christ from a profitable sin! We often pray for revival … and we certainly should keep on doing so. But we ought also to keep this story in mind. If God graciously gives revival, it will save many souls … but it will also greatly anger those who draw benefit from the works of the devil! Revival is a glorious work … but not, by any means, an easy and peaceful one!

Now; the hard work of the gospel that Paul gave himself to over the past few years was in danger of being brought into disrepute. But that’s when we go on to read of …

3. THE CONCILIATION THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED (vv. 35-41).

And how providentially it came about! Truly, it was God’s work! We’re told in verse 35;

And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?” (v. 35).

Whether or not this city official actually believed those words is somewhat beside the point. He knew that the general population did; and so, he sought to pacify them on that basis. He went on to say;

“Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess” (vv. 36-37).

In saying this, he vindicated Paul and his missionary partners. They had actually done nothing to harm the temple or to slander the religion of the people. Even the officials of Asia were Paul’s friends. The missionaries had acted wisely in how they presented the gospel … and now, that wisdom was paying off. This city official then prescribed a course of action:

“Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly (vv. 38-41).

The city of Ephesus was in danger of being held accountable by the Roman government—which always insisted upon peace within its realm—for an uproar that could not be explained. This could have resulted in the city losing its favorable standing with the empire; and perhaps even have resulted in bringing the Roman authorities down upon themselves. This city official’s wise handling of the matter resulted in dispersing an angry crowd, placing things once again under the rule of law, and perhaps saving many hundreds of lives.

But in the providence of God, it resulted in more. It gave greater credibility to Paul and to his work in the gospel … and made the message of ‘the Way’ even more widely known!

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Now; what spiritual lesson might we draw from this story? That’s a bit hard to say. Perhaps we can see something in it of the sovereign hand of God in the work of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ—even in very dangerous situations.

But there’s certainly a very practical lesson to be learned. The faithful preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not going to be the way to bring about an atmosphere of peace and tranquility in a fallen world that is under the sway of the devil. The salvation of souls and transformation of lives will disrupt the system … and will threaten people’s money sources. Such a thing doesn’t bring peace. Instead, it brings a sword of division.

And yet, let’s faithfully proclaim the message of the gospel. It saves souls! And in eternity, the salvation of souls will prove to be of far greater value than the preservation of any temporal peace with a sinful world system.

AE