Joel M Bradshaw

23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

28When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

32The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”–Acts 19

1. I have generous in-laws who years ago took my wife and me on a Holy Land cruise. One of the sites we saw was the ancient city of Efes (Ephesus).
2. As we walked through the ancient streets, I pulled out my phone and read Acts 19, imagining the crowds of friendly tourists to instead be like the angry rioters in Paul’s day.
3. It made the ancient text come alive as I walked in the same steps as Paul’s companions were dragged.
4. I remember considering my own faith and how I represent Jesus in this pluralistic, relativistic, religious world.
5. Today, I journey with people who make “gods or idols” of their own in their lives and serve them faithfully with their priorities and decisions.
6. When an idol is confronted, many people get angry or defensive. It is something they have made equal to Jesus in their life and they will rationalize its presence.
7. Acts 19 comes to mind from time to time. What idol do you protect? Politics, selfishness, entertainment, comfort, pleasure, security, affirmation, and the opinions of others are big idols today.–JMB