Monday: A Riot in the Amphitheater
Read Acts 19:21-20:1. What lessons can we draw from this story?
Paul’s witness in the large, sophisticated city of Ephesus was so effective that it impacted an important economic engine for the city, tourism focused on the Temple of Artemis. And what a temple it was! This magnificent structure was composed partly of 127 pillars, each 60 feet high, of Parian marble, a pure-white, flawless marble highly prized for sculptures. Thirty-six of these pillars were sculpted and overlaid with gold, earning the temple its reputation as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Image © Providence Collection at Goodsalt.com
Concerned that Paul’s anti-idolatry rhetoric was draining financial support from the temple (Acts 19:27), Demetrius the silversmith whipped his fellow craftsmen into a frenzy. A rapidly expanding and highly energized crowd swept from the marketplace into the large amphitheater, which seated some 25,000 people. There the commotion continued, featuring two continuous hours of shouting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:34, ESV). After the crowd is dispersed by the town clerk, Paul meets with the believers and leaves the city.
At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul meets with elders of the Ephesian church. How would you summarize Paul’s concerns? (See Acts 20:17-38).
A tentative chronology of Paul’s relationship to Ephesus:
- A.D. 52: Paul’s initial, brief visit to Ephesus (Acts 18:18-21).
- A.D. 53-56: Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20:1). He composes 1 Corinthians near the end of his stay there (1 Corinthians 16:5-9).
- A.D. 57: While at Miletus, Paul meets with the elders from Ephesus (Acts 20:17-38).
- A.D. 62: Paul composes his letter to the Ephesians, probably from confinement in Rome.
“Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears,” said Paul (Acts 20:31, NKJV).
| What do you think Paul would warn our church about today, and why? |
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I have had a very busy few days and have not had time to gather my thoughts on the book of Ephesians yet. What I like to do when we are studying an epistle is read the whole letter right through to see if I can encapsulate the big picture. That is pretty much how it would have been received in Paul's day.
I would like to issue a challenge to our readers to do something similar. We have about 3 months to study the book in detail, so getting an overall picture is likely to be a good investment of our time.
Challenge accepted Maurice!
Good activity for this Friday night and Sabbath afternoon for those of us employed with busy schedule.
Challenge accepted
As followers of Christ, we can play a great part as a transformation and change agent in our societies and communities like what happened at Ephesus. Our focal point as Christians is to preach the gospel as commanded in Matthew 28. Jesus said we must teach them to “observe ALL things….”.If our communities observe all these things which Jesus taught us, it will ultimately lead to the transformation of the social, physical and spiritual lives of those whom we will reach out to. What we teach and preach can be influenced by the prevailing political and socioeconomic factors.
Paul could warn the church today on the following issues:
-Membership retention,especially the youth as many are backsliding shortly after baptism and also dealing with COVID-19 fallout.
-Every member to be involved in the spreading of the gospel. Many members are not taking part in the spreading of the gospel. Some think that it is the work of the leaders of the church.
-Some people now take Christianity as old fashioned. We must stick to what was commanded to us.
-We are to preach about sin in our churches. Our pulpits are gradually becoming silent when it comes to sin.Think of things like homosexuality,marriage is being redefined,issues related to gender identity.
-Sharing.Poverty is wrecking havoc in many parts of the world.
-Racism.It is destructive and humanizing.
-Worldy discipleship.Our thinking and convictions are now being influenced mainly by TV,Social Media etc which produces hatred,anxiety,anger,rivalry,pride and arrogance.
Is there a better way?
"Often the heart that hardens under reproof will melt under the love of Christ." MH p60
"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." 1Cor 2:2
I was blessed to visit the city if Izmir in Turkey a few years ago. While there I visited the ancient city of Ephesus. I will encourage as many people as can make the time and whatever it takes to visit the city. All the places mentioned in the lesson today can be seen in the city. The temple of Artemis is mostly destroyed and only a few stones and one or two of the pillars are there, but the original location is preserved. This gives a good prospective of the lesson we are studying this week and would help to enrich our discussions.
The city of Ephesus at that time can be pictured with an luring spark of excitement above other cities.
At this age of our time we have the same problem with all sorts of evil reaching every corner of the world in various forms for example sensuality.
This is Paul's concern to the people of Ephesus to preserve their faith which yield purity.As Christians we aren't to be changed by circumstances no matter how difficult they are when we choose and are rooted in Jesus Christ.
Were Paul here nowadays, he would probably warn people about their own choices. One of today's problems is that while some do not commit, some are extremists. He would say that the love of Jesus could save us all!
Wonderful lesson that will rekindle our faith to avoid forgetting what Jesus did in the cross of Calvary....have a blessed Sabbath worship