ACTS 19 21-41

Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased  [ ] ref  { } thots

     Book of the Acts of the First Believers

21 - Now after all these things (for a Paul’s journeys thus far, brief summary scroll down) Paul decided in the Spirit to pass again through Macedonia and Achaia (Greece) and go to Jerusalem, thinking, “After I’ve been there, I must go on to Rome.”

     22 He sent two of his brothers (in the faith) Timothy and Erastus who were traveling with him, into Macedonia and he stayed on 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 [Greek Artemis, Roman Diana) brought a lot of business to the craftsmen. 25 So he gathered them together, with other workmen of the same trade, 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 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 forward 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 quiet down and not do anything 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 the crowd, and sent them out of the theater. {How fitting, a dispute of ‘gods’ taking place in a theater.. The gospel rode forth “conquering and to conquer” and was “openly victorious over powers and principalities”.}

Next - 20:1-16

Paul’s travels thus far:

On the way to Damascus to arrest Christians he’s blinded by the radiance of Jesus.. He converts, and after a while starts preaching Jesus’ message, and about his death and resurrection, mostly in synagogues. He and Barnabas are sent on a spread the Good News journey, from Antioch, north of Jerusalem. They went up around the Mediterranean spending time in some towns north of it. Then after returning through each town the way they had come, they sailed back to Antioch.

     Soon they went down to Jerusalem to counsel about non Hebrew believers, should they follow Torah/Old Testament Way as if Judean/Israeli? Jesus summed up the ten commandments as Love God. Love fellow person. And that pretty much became the agreed upon answer, diet and days were not required. {Keeping the Sabbath and, or the original holy days of God, as in the Scripture can be a wonderful thing. They’re an outline, for one thing. But Romans 14:5 says - “Let each be persuaded in their own mind”. And to not throw stumblingblocks in front of each other (vs.13). All are saved by grace alone when God gives the faith, “each in their own order” 1Cor.15:22-28 w/ Mt.13:33, key word 3.}

   Paul goes on a second journey, this time with Silas.. they go up around the Mediterranean and through the regions north of it, but going further this time, passing through Asia and then over water to Macedonia, north of Greece. Through those regions they are pursued and harassed, beaten/flogged and thrown in jail but while singing the chains break and the doors opened.. resulting in believers.. They’re followed and persecuted as they go along, so Paul goes as far as Athens and teaches in Corinth for a year and a half.

   After returning to Caesaria and then Jerusalem, he again, in a third journey, rounded north of the Mediterranean, through Asia to Ephesus on the  shore, teaching for two years at the Hall of Tyrannus..