Day 34: October 16, 2009, Acts 19.1-41

Day 34: October 16,  Acts 19.1-41

My commentary appears below after the text: 


Acts 19.1-41


Paul in Ephesus

19While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ 4Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— 7altogether there were about twelve of them.

8 He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.* 10This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.

The Sons of Sceva11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. 13Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ 14Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15But the evil spirit said to them in reply, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ 16Then the man with the evil spirit leapt on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. 17When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. 18Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices. 19A number of those who practised magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books* was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins. 20So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

The Riot in Ephesus

21 Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, ‘After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.’ 22So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia.

23 About that time no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way. 24A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans. 25These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, ‘Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business. 26You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.’

28 When they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ 29The city was filled with the confusion; and people* rushed together to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s travelling-companions. 30Paul wished to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let him; 31even some officials of the province of Asia,* who were friendly to him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theatre. 32Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33Some of the crowd gave instructions to Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defence before the people. 34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours all of them shouted in unison, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ 35But when the town clerk had quietened the crowd, he said, ‘Citizens of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple-keeper of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven?* 36Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37You have brought these men here who are neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of our* goddess. 38If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another. 39If there is anything further* you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. 40For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.’ 41When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly

Commentary:    Once again to you pick up that early Christians were known as followers of "The Way."  It was how Christianity was known, "The Way."   That to me has always had a wonderful double meaning to it, and in some ways I'm sorry that we are no longer known as "The Way."   The way suggest two things:  First of all it reminds us of Jesus who said he was the way, the truth and the life.  So being followers of the "The Way" is to be a follower of Jesus.  But it also suggests movement, a journey, a lifelong process.  The way is not just something you possess, but a condition of living, and action, not a noun.  This seems to be in keeping with the great revelation of God as "Yahweh"  (I am who I am, or I'll be who I'll be).  Followers of a God who is in motion are rightfully called those of "The Way."

 

What a great story with the sons of Sceva!!  The demon is a tough one, and this little story offers us a great insight into the difference between religion and superstition.  "Jesus I know, and Paul I know...but who are you?"   Although it has been the name of Jesus that has been invoked in Acts, the name itself is not magical or a cure all charm.  It is faith or belief in the Name that brings the benefits of God's Holy Spirit.  This is a great warning to all of us who would use the name of Jesus as a personal charm or amulete.   It is our connection to Jesus that gives us the Spirit...not just knowing the name.  Here's somehting fun as well.  Even the demons know the name of Jesus!  To know the name is not enough!

 

The great riot in Ephesus:  Can you imagine, the ampitheater in Ephesus seats about 20,000 people, it is huge!  All of them chanting:  "Great is Artemis!"   The Temple in Ephesus was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.  People came all over to worship and to buy the little statue of Artemis.   The problem is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ actually has economic implications!  If the old gods go away, so does the economic livlihood of those who serve them.   Amazing, 2000 years later, the name Artemis (or Diana as she was known to the Romans) has long since passed into obscurity, but the name of Jesus remains!