Riot in Ephesus
In the second half of Acts 19, Paul had laid out plans to travel to Macedonia, but before he was able to leave some idol makers stirred the whole city up in a chaotic riot. A man named Demetrius, a silversmith, gathered together his fellow craftsmen and started to complain about how Paul’s teaching was having an effect on the sale of idols (verses 23-27). Demetrius finishes his speech with verse 27,
There 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.
Reading the rest of the chapter will tell you of the city wide riot where they apprehended Pauls traveling companions and gathered in the theater shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Chaos was rampant and most of the people weren’t really sure why they were even there. Finally the city clerk calmed everyone down with a reminder that Rome may punish them for rioting, and dispersed the crowd by reminding everyone that Paul had broken no laws, robbed no temples and had not blasphemed their goddess, and if there were any grievances, they should be brought to the courts.
Paul and his travelers were fortunate that this riot didn’t end in a beating or imprisonment like so many others. Almost everywhere Paul traveled to spread the Gospel of Christ, a group of people would cause trouble, either because they believed their power, influence, or pocketbook would be hurt from the Grace that Christ provides.
In the case of the craftsmen, it hurt their idol making business, and it is their only reason for their concern for the reputation of their local goddess.
In the case of the religious leaders, such as the Pharisees, the grace of Christ put all men on equal footing and equal opportunity before God. This hurt their positions as “holy” men who were “superior” in God’s and men’s eyes because of their strict following of the laws and customs.
But message of the Gospel proclaimed all a person must do is receive Jesus. It is not dependent on how well they follow every letter of the law. It is through the grace of God, through the sacrificial punishment of Christ, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit on a person’s life that makes them holy in God’s eyes.