The Silversmiths Riot at Ephesus

This chapter is based on Acts 19:21-41; 20:1.

For more than three years Ephesus was the center of Paul’s work. He raised up a flourishing church, and the gospel spread from this city throughout Asia among both Jews and Gentiles.ULe 108.1

The apostle now “purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’” In harmony with this plan he “sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia” (NRSV), but feeling that Ephesus still needed his presence, he decided to stay there until after Pentecost. An event soon occurred, however, that made him leave sooner than planned.ULe 108.2

Once a year, special ceremonies were held at Ephesus to honor the goddess Diana. These attracted great numbers of people. This gala season was a difficult time for those who had newly come to the faith. The believers who met in the school of Tyrannus were clearly out of harmony with the festive occasion, and people freely heaped ridicule and insult on them.ULe 108.3

Paul’s efforts had given the heathen worship a serious setback, and there was a noticeable drop in attendance at the national festival and in the enthusiasm of the worshipers. The influence of Paul’s teachings extended far beyond the actual converts. Many who had not accepted the new doctrines had still gained enough light that they lost all confidence in their heathen gods.ULe 108.4

There was also another cause of dissatisfaction. A profitable business had developed in selling small shrines and images, modeled after the temple and image of Diana. Those in this industry found their profits shrinking, and they all blamed the unwelcome change on Paul’s ministry.ULe 108.5

Demetrius, a manufacturer of silver shrines, called together the workmen of his craft and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity from this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed.” The excitable people “were full of wrath and cried out, saying, ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians!’”ULe 108.6

A report of this speech quickly circulated, and “the whole city was filled with confusion.” People searched for Paul, but the apostle was not to be found. His fellow believers had quickly removed him from the place. God sent angels to guard the apostle. His time to die as a martyr had not yet come.ULe 109.1

When they failed to find the object of their anger, the mob seized “Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions,” and they “rushed into the theater” with them.ULe 109.2