WeekLy BooK oF Acts
21 - Now after all this, Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia (Greece) and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I’ve been there, I must go on to Rome.” 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia at Ephesus for a while.
23 At about that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith by trade, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought a lot of business to the craftsmen. 25 So he gathered them together, with other workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods! 27 So there is danger that this trade of ours may come into disrepute. And also the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be abandoned! And so she may even be deposed from her magnificence! She whom all Asia and the world worship!”
28 When they heard this, they were stirred up and became enraged, and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples wouldn’t let him. 31 And even some of Asia, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to go into the theater, 32 where some were crying out one thing, and some another. For the gathered crowd and assembly were in confusion, and most didn’t know why they had come together!
33 Some of the crowd put foreard Alexander, whom the Jews (Hebrews) had prompted, so motioning with his hand, he sought to present a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 Finally, when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is keeper of the temple of the great Artemis, and of her sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who have not been sacrilegious, nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against them there. 39 For if you seek anything further, it should be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting, as there is no cause that we can give to justify this great commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly and crowd and sent them out of the theater. {How fitting, a dispute of ‘gods’ taking place in a theater.. The gospel rode forth “openly victorious over powers and principalities” taking them down from thrones, “conquering and to conquer”.}
🗝️ [ ] - word/language insights, facts, cross references, etc.
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By Necessity Paraphrased
Weekly ‘Enter the Story’ Reading & Study
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