Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen did what they did best. 

“When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater. The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭28‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Well, that did it! Once again, there was a violent clash between light and darkness. Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen had lit the fuse with their rage about their loss of income, and their so-called “concern” for their goddess’ stolen glory… and the powder keg of anti-Jewish sentiment exploded. 

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it! This kind of reaction is not new. There are devotees of false religions today who react in exactly the same way. One such religion deliberately advocates this kind of violent behaviour. Hate the Jews! Kill the Jews! Exterminate all who refuse to believe their religious teaching. Kill everyone who converts to Jesus. Take over the world by force! Chant the name of their god as though this will somehow get his response and earn his approval

These radical anti-Jewish activists in Ephesus set up such a commotion that the entire city was in an uproar. 

“The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.”

How mindless and foolish people can be! Like sheep, they simply follow the crowd without thinking about their behaviour or its consequences. Kill! Destroy! Ruin! The mindset from hell itself! 

Paul’s reaction was to talk to the crowd but his compatriots knew that this would not work. Reasoning with them was useless when the mob was stirred up by the total loss of reason. 

“Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.”

There was at least one man with authority…who managed to speak sense into this mob of madness. 

“The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭35‬-‭41‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The city clerk cashed in on the reasonable way to handle the situation….

First, the people of the city should understand that Artemis was well able to defend herself…she was from heaven after all. The people of the city were only custodians of her temple. All their rioting and noise was not necessary. She, supposedly, could look after herself. 

“Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash.”

Second, the ones they were accusing had done nothing wrong. 

“You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess.”

Third, there was a legitimate way to deal with grievances. 

“If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.”

Fourth, this whole commotion can backfire. You can be charged with rioting…

“As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.”

Reason and good sense prevailed. 

This story is a study in the way to handle and not to handle conflict. We can take a lesson out of the city clerk’s wisdom. 

This brings me to a vital life lesson. As children of God, we all wrestle with the demands of the flesh…our old nature that still intrudes into our actions and reactions. We can either give in and act sinfully or we can respond through the power of God’s grace. 

Grace says,” Don’t retaliate!”

Paul’s counsel is…

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone…Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬, ‭19‬, ‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Retaliation only throws gasoline on the fire.  

Jesus shows us how to respond to injustices. …

“But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If we choose to let offences go without retaliating, as Jesus did when He faced the worst of injustice,  grace will triumph over evil. 

To be continued