Acts About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
Acts 19:23-27 NIV
Well, that set the cat among the pigeons! There were some in Ephesus who would not take this new situation lying down. Demetrius, the silver smith, was enraged. He and his fellow craftsmen were losing money. He had to take action and quickly to save his bank account.
He called a meeting of all his fellow craftsmen involved in this lucrative business of making replicas of the famous goddess, Artemis. This had to stop. What was the best way to discredit Paul and put an end to his attack on their trade?
Demetrius made no bones about the reason for his disquiet. This was more about money than about the goddess…although he couched his argument in religious talk. He had to make it sound like he was a faithful devotee of the goddess.
So, he framed his argument carefully. The worship of Artemis was in jeopardy. Imagine that! How is it possible that a goddess who came from heaven…who was credited with “divine majesty”…who was worshiped throughout Asia and the whole region…whose grand temple was right there in the city, could be robbed of that majesty…could be so easily unseated by the words of a mere man?
All this, of course, was only a smoke screen to hide Demetrius’ real worry…his business. The people would believe Paul…in fact they had already done so…and the people wouldn’t buy his little Artemises any more.
There is something that stands out on this whole episode that speaks to me…loud and clear. Demetrius had a problem. He took it to his fellow craftsmen. He stirred up their anger. He got their cooperation. They took action…and it backfired on them.
These men were dealing with something far bigger than themselves. They were trying to put out a fire started by the Holy Spirit. No one can take God on and win. Artemis, for all the fancy words about her, had no power to defend herself because she did not exist. Not even the demons who were behind the delusion of Artemis could resist the power of the living God.
Before we consider what the silver smiths did to try to stop this move of God, let’s think about our own efforts to solve problems. Demetrius’ way did not work. There is a way to live that does work…that smooths out the bumps in our path.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
When we trace Paul’s journey through the book of Acts, we see a man who lived by the promises of God’s Word. His life was not trouble-free but…every trial was another lesson on the way…another reason to trust the Lord…and another victory under his belt to prove that God is real, God is faithful, and that faith in Him is the guarantee of the final destination.
What mattered most in all these situations was that, despite the opposition and the efforts to stop it, the gospel message spread and took root in every corner of the Roman Empire because…God was in it. Jesus said, “I will build my church…”…and He did…and His is…and He always will…until He returns.
To be continued