Acts 19:23-41

Tumult at Ephesus. A change of religion (for the Way, cf. Acts 9:2) bears hardly on certain trades. In ch. 16 the Gospel interfered with the trade of soothsaying; here the art of the silversmith suffers. This opens a large chapter in the early history of Christianity (cf. Tertullian, On the Public Games; The Soldier's Crown). Demetrius, to judge from his speech, is rather an employer than a craftsman. His business has been falling off, or he fears it may do so. The silver shrines would be used as mementoes of travel, but people would not purchase them if they ceased to believe in Artemis, and this was the evident outcome of Paul's teaching. The silversmiths and allied trades are therefore called together, and it is pointed out that not only the trade but the goddess herself must suffer if the preaching goes on. The audience fully agrees, works itself up, and vents its feelings in the cry or invocation, Great Artemis of the Ephesians (cf. D). The feeling overflows the city; the population flocks to a meeting in the theatre. Two of Paul's companions are hurried there. Aristarchus is of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4); Gaius is called a Macedonian (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:14; Romans 16:23), but in Acts 20:4 * is perhaps said to be of Derbe. Paul is kept by his friends from going to the theatre; so this was not the deadly peril of which he speaks in 2 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 4:9. Some of the Asiarchs also (imperial functionaries with certain religious duties connected with the temples and service of the Emperor in Asia) dissuade him from going to the meeting; he has thus attained an influential position at Ephesus. The meeting is graphically described, the shouts, the confusion, the want of purpose. A Jew named Alexander is put forward by his fellow-countrymen to speak; he no doubt was ready to disown the Christians and denounce them as the source of unrest, but the crowd refuse to listen to a Jew, and set up again the shout Great Artemis! Great Artemis! which goes on for two hours. Then the town-clerk, who doubtless has seen such outbreaks before, comes forward and with a little flattery quiets the people down. All know, he says, that Ephesus is the Warden of great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven (not a pretty image if it was like the known representations of the goddess; Demetrius dealt more in temple-models, which might be more artistic). Robbing of temples (Acts 19:37) was an offence with which Jews were liable to be charged (see Romans 2:22); the town-clerk vouches for those against whom this tumult has been got up, that they could do nothing of that sort, nor yet blaspheme the goddess. Demetrius is to proceed regularly in the courts if he has any lawful grievance, and any public question is to be settled in the regular meeting of the citizens. The town has gravely exposed itself by the tumult.