Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul was spreading the gospel throughout the city of Ephesus, and “there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen. Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover you see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater”, and in chapter nineteen and verse thirty of the book of Acts Luke shared what happened, “when Paul would have entered in unto the people” where we read:
And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
The verse begins, “And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when Paul” which means “and at the time and moment Paul whose name means small or little” “would have entered in” or “was minded and intended to arise and appear within the theater” “unto the people” which means “toward the people of Ephesus both male and female who were gathered”. Luke shared how “Paul” desired to go into the theater where the people in Ephesus were assembled.
The verse continues, “... the disciples suffered him not.” Luke added the words, “the disciples” which means “the pupils, students and attendants of Jesus” “suffered him not” or “did not allow or permit him to do so”. Luke shared how the “students and pupils of Jesus” who where traveling with Paul did not allow him to go into the theater where the hostile crowd of Ephesians were gathered.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” wanted to go into the “theater” where the riotous crowd was gathered, however, the disciples of Jesus who traveled with him did not allow him to go. This group of people were incited to riot by “Demetrius”, and if “Paul” went in among them, there is no telling what they might do to him. We can use our imaginations to see how hostile these people were against “Paul” because of the words of “Demetrius”, and since they were losing the profits from their “craft”, the temple of Diana and the worship of the goddess Diana herself, the people were angry with him. People have their idols and gods which they worship, and when a threat to their pattern of life and worship is suggested and made, they often oppose not only the idea but also the presenters of the “gospel of Jesus Christ”. Jesus knew there would be “persecution and tribulation” in the world, (See John 16:33) and when others oppose His plan of salvation, those involved may know they contend with Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. God will forgive the sins of every person who yields to His Son Jesus, and those who are wise will submit to His “eternal” plan of “salvation”.
Next time Luke shares how certain people were concerned about Paul, and were “desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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