Acts 19:21-20:6 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 19:21-20:6

• Context:  We have been looking at Paul’s 3rd  missionary journey which has turned into an extended stay of 3 years in the City of Ephesus. This has given Paul the opportunity to concentrate on sharing the gospel in what we now call Turkey.  We saw last week where the community was changing many were giving up there magic arts and turning to God.   There will be more ramifications of this tonight
• Acts 19:21-22
• 21 After these events, Paul resolved by the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem. “After I’ve been there,” he said, “It is necessary for me to see Rome as well.” 22 After sending to Macedonia two of those who assisted him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
  • What are Paul’s plans in the future?
    • Go back to Jerusalem on the way cut thru Greece visit the churches there then after Jerusalem go to Rome.  Paul even sends two helpers ahead of him…Timothy and Erastus.
    • Note: Erastus was well known…in 1929 a stone was found in ancient Corinth that read “Erastus procurator of public buildings, laid this pavement at his own expense.”  Is this the same guy? Romans 16:23…Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works,…
  • Something happens before Paul leaves Ephesus…
• Acts 19:23-27
• 23 About that time there was a major disturbance about the Way. 24 For a person named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, provided a great deal of business for the craftsmen. 25 When he had assembled them, as well as the workers engaged in this type of business, he said, “Men, you know that our prosperity is derived from this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods. 27 Not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin—the very one all of Asia and the world worship.”
  • Did you notice the name for the church?
    • The Way
  • Is the church seen here as making a large impact on society?
    • Big time…Years (AD160) Later the governor of Bithynia in this area would write to Emperor Trajan bemoaning the fact that the temples were deserted, neglected worship to the gods and no idols were being purchased…because the whole region had become Christians.
  • This fellow Demetrius; was his real concern the religion of Artemis?
    • He is more concerned about the economic impact to him personally…Less worshippers of Artemis less sales of idols…
  • Do you think economic issues and religion clash in our time?
    • Abortion and baby parts…locals don’t want churches moving in because they don’t pay property tax… 
• Acts 19:28-41
• 28 When they had heard this, they were filled with rage and began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 30 Although Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him. 31 Even some of the provincial officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent word to him, pleading with him not to venture into the amphitheater. 32 Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some Jews in the crowd gave instructions to Alexander after they pushed him to the front. Motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 When the city clerk had calmed the crowd down, he said, “People of Ephesus! What person is there who doesn’t know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple guardian of the great Artemis, and of the image that fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess. 38 So if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a case against anyone, the courts are in session, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it must be decided in a legal assembly. 40 In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disturbance.” 41 After saying this, he dismissed the assembly.
  • What impact did Demetrius’ speech with the craftsmen have?
    • It’s intended effect a near riot… 
  • Who got snapped up in the confusion?
    • Gaius and Aristarchus known Christians and companions of Paul. That these men were known means Paul was well known among the population of Ephesus.
  • Had Paul ever dealt with hostility like this before in Ephesus?
    • See 1 Corinthians 15:32  If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained?
  • Why do you think Paul wanted to appear before the crowd?
    • Help his fellow Christians and defend the gospel. Preach to a big crowd.
  • Do you think it was better that he did not?
    • Yes, I think it only would have escalated the situation.
  • Who were some of the people that tried to keep Paul from speaking to the crowd?
    • Not only other Christians but officials of the province, friends of Paul. It sounds like Paul had some powerful friends.
  • Why do you think the Jews pushed Alexander to speak to the crowd?
    • Probably to point out that Paul and the Way people have nothing to do with the Jews. But he never gets the opportunity 
  • What do you think of the way this near riot was averted?
    • I wonder if this city official was put there by God. The Greek word for the official was Asiarchs- they were in charge of the Emperor cult which co-opted the worship to Artemis) … he used a level head and common sense to defuse the situation (we could use many like him today). Keep in mind that Ephesus was the 4th largest city in the Roman Empire at that time. This guy is there because he is the liaison between the rulers of Ephesus and Rome. He could send a bad report to Rome that they are rioting. 
• Acts 20:1-6
• After the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples, encouraged them, and after saying farewell, departed to go to Macedonia. 2 And when he had passed through those areas and offered them many words of encouragement, he came to Greece 3 and stayed three months. The Jews plotted against him when he was about to set sail for Syria, and so he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas, 6 but we sailed away from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread. In five days we reached them at Troas, where we spent seven days.
  • Do you remember how Paul got to Rome?
    • As a prisoner of Rome close to 3 years later
  • Why did Paul change his plans?
    • See Verse 3  
  • What is Paul doing as he stops and visits with each congregation along the way?
    • Encouraging them…What do you think Paul said to them? he may have said much of what we find in his letters back to the congregations…these are people who are trying to live out a life for Christ in a lost pagan world do you think they might have questions and discouragement?
  • Why are all these other men traveling with Paul?
    • These mean are responsible for getting the offering from the Gentile churches to Jerusalem…Gentile Christians carrying a gift back to help the primarily Jewish church in Jerusalem this is the 2nd times this has happened.
• TAKE AWAY
  • Is it still possible the church may find itself making a change on the local culture?
  • What would happen to the abortion clinics – bars – night clubs if 50%- 75% of the residents of Monroe Co were committed Christians?
  • Is the church called to transform not only individuals but society too?
  • Paul spent a lot of time sharing the gospel but he spent time encouraging and instructing Christians which do you think is the easier…Leading someone to Christ or Nurturing an infant Christian to maturity?
  • What can we learn about Paul’s commitment to Christ and the church?