Riot In Ephesus; Acts 19:23 – 41 Part 2

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

The complaint was made by Demetrius, a silversmith, who was a principle in the trade and one that would be thought to understand and consult the interests of it more than others of the company. Whether he worked in other areas of the trade or not, we are not told; but the most advantageous branch of his trade was making silver shrines for Diana. Some think these were medals stamped with the effigies of Diana, or her temple, or both; others think they were representations of the temple, with the image of Diana in it in miniature, all of silver, but so small that people might carry them about with them, as the Catholics do their crucifixes. Those that came from far to pay their devotions at the temple of Ephesus, when they went home bought these little temples or shrines, to carry home with them, for the gratifying of the curiosity of their friends, and to preserve in their own minds the idea of that stately edifice. The people he appeals to are not the magistrates, but the mob; he called the craftsmen together, with the workmen of a similar occupation (a company of mechanics, who had no sense of anything but their worldly interest), and these he endeavored to incite against Paul. He wanted those who would be concerned as little by reason and as much by fury as he could possibly get.

He has a full list of complaints and represents them very well. He stands up for the principle that the art and mystery of making silver shrines for the worshippers of Diana was necessary and should be supported and continued: "You know that by this craft we have not only our subsistence, and our necessary food, but our wealth. We grow rich, and raise estates. We live great, and have wherewithal to maintain our pleasures; and therefore, whatever comes of it, we must not allow this craft to become obsolete." It is natural for men to protect, whether right or wrong, their livelihood; and many have, for this reason alone, turned against the gospel of Christ, because it calls men away from those crafts which are unlawful, regardless how much wealth is to be obtained by them. He claimed that Paul had dissuaded men from worshipping idols. The words, as they are laid in the indictment, are, that he had asserted that gods are not made with hands. Could any truth be more plain and self-evident than this, or any reasoning more convincing than that of the prophets, The workman made it, therefore it is not God?