The Riot, Luke 19:23-41

This post concerns the riot that began during Paul’s preaching at Ephesus.

The Riot discusses the public demonstration that the silversmiths caused, Acts 19:23. “About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.”

At that time, Demitrius gathered the silversmiths, makers of images of the false god Artemis. He then warned them that Paul’s preaching caused many to stop worshiping Artemis. And their profits were lower. That warning caused them to express publicly their anger, Acts 19:28. “When they heard this, they were enraged and were crying out, “Great…Artemis of the Ephesians!”

So, the city was filled with the confusion…they rushed together into the theater… They dragged with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians…Paul’s companions in travel.”

Bravely, Paul wanted to speak to the mob, Acts 19:30-31. “But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.”

The Jews thought they could quiet the mob by putting forth a spokesman, Alexander, Acts 19:34. “But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great…Artemis of the Ephesians!”

These two hours of confusion brought forth the town clerk who managed to quiet the outcry. After bragging on the legend about Artemis falling from the sky, he reminded them what Artemis meant to the city, 19:35; 40. “… when the town clerk had quieted the crowd…“Men of Ephesus, who…does not know that the city of the Ephesians…temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from m the sky?”

Then, he warned them, Acts 19:40. “For we really… in danger of being charged with rioting today…no cause that we can give to justify this commotion…he dismissed the assembly.” This warning must have alerted many in the crowd that they were in danger of the Romans shutting down their businesses.

This post constitutes a preview of the later riot in Jerusalem when Paul became a prisoner.

So, what did we learn?

1.The silversmiths caused a riot in Ephesus about Paul’s preaching.

2.The town clerk quieted the riot after two hours.

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