Riot In Ephesus; Acts 19:23 – 41 Part 6

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

He turned them over to the regular methods of the law, which ought always to supersede popular turmoil, and in civilized well-governed nations will do so. If the complaint be of a private injury, let them have recourse to the judges and courts of justice, which are kept publicly at stated times. If Demetrius and the company of the silversmiths, that have made all this complaint, find themselves harmed, or any privilege they are legally entitled to infringed or entrenched upon, let them bring their action to due process, and the matter shall be fairly tried, and justice done: The law is open, and there are deputies; there is a proconsul and his delegate, whose business it is to hear both sides, and to determine according to equity; and in their determination all parties must acquiesce, and not be their own judges, nor appeal to the people.
He made them aware of the danger they were in, and of the position they have put themselves in by this riot. We are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar. We may called into account for this behavior. When he has finished showing them the absurdity of their riotous meeting, and the bad consequences that might follow from it, he advises them to disperse. He dismissed the assembly, ordered the crier perhaps to give notice that all manner of persons should peaceably depart and go about their own business, and they did so