The beloved physician Luke 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 in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the whole city was filled with confusion” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And the whole city was filled with confusion:” Luke began with the words, “and the whole city” which means “and the entire and complete dwelling place, habitation and abode of Ephesus” “was filled with confusion” or “was imbued, influenced and supplied with disturbance and riotous persons”. Luke shared how the “entire” “city” of Ephesus was “full” of people who were rioting and causing disturbances.
The verse goes on to say, “and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater.” Luke continued with the words, “and having caught” which means “and laying hold of, seizing and snatching away by force” “Gaius” whose name means “lord” and was “a Macedonian man who accompanied Paul in his travels” “and Aristarchus” which refers to “a certain Christian of Thessalonica who accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey whose name means the best ruler”, “men of Macedonia” or “male human beings from the area of Macedonia which were inhabitants of Macedonia”, “Paul's companions in travel” which means “Paul's, whose name means small or little, fellow travelers”, “they rushed with one accord” or “the silversmiths along with Gaius and Aristarchus rapidly moved and impetuously surged and dashed in unity, having one mind and with one passion” “into the theater” which means “into the public place in which games, dramatic spectacles and public assemblies were held”. Luke shared how the “silversmiths” accosted “Gaius and Aristarchus” who were from the area of “Macedonia” and rushed into the “public place” where assemblies were held.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about the “riotous” acts of the “silversmiths” who were motivated by the speech of “Demetrius”. They “arrested” “Gaius and Aristarchus” who were fellow travelers with “Paul”, and they rushed into the public assembly place in Ephesus. This was now a full blown public demonstration against the “gospel of Jesus Christ” and for the worship of the goddess “Diana”. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, however, His message does not go without opposition. Although all people are invited, not all receive Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. Those who are against Him become demonstrative and attempt to keep themselves and others from believing and trusting in Jesus, and those who are wise will study the reaction of the “silversmiths” and be certain never to align with them or their thinking.
Next time Luke shares what happened, “when Paul would have entered in unto the people”, 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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