4/12/10 Acts 19
Great Artemis?
(Ac 19:28)28When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Acts 19 describes Paul coming to the city of Ephesus. Ephesus was a large city and the home of temple Artemis (Diana). While Paul was in Ephesus for three months, he was reasoning and persuading the Jews about the kingdom of God in the synagogues. When the majority of Jews rejected Paul’s message he took those who had believed away and went to the school of Tyrannus and taught there for a period of two years. Tyrannus was either a name of the building where Paul taught or it was the name of a philosopher who taught at this location. Paul was given access to this building and freedom to teach for a period of two years. As Paul taught those who had believed they would go out and start churches and teach others about the kingdom of God thus the phrase “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”
There were many miracles done by the hands of Paul and many Jews and Greeks were fearful because of the great miracles that were being done so the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified and the word of the Lord was growing and prevailing.
Since the preaching of Jesus was impact hearts and families and also transforming the entire city and region there arose a great resistance that was nearly a riot in the city of Ephesus, probably at the spring time festival of worship of the great Artemis.
Demetrius who was probably the chief silversmith in Ephesus, who made small scale silver shrines of Artemis, gathered his business colleagues and set out to oppose Paul and the Christians because it was making a financial impact on their businesses. In order to do this he incited economic fear, religious zeal and conviction, and pride in their great city. He basically said if we allow this teaching of Paul and the Christians to continue then our businesses will fail and great Artemis will be worthless and dethroned.
So the question must be asked how great is Artemis anyway? Why is great Artemis threatened by a simple human being teaching some new doctrine? Why does great Artemis need a business man to defend her name? If she is so magnificent why had there been thousands that had turned from worshipping her?
The fact is that great Artemis is not great at all. Paul brought a message to the people about the only one who is truly magnificent and is enthroned forever; Jesus. There is no reason for us to fear anyone or thing that in the eyes of the culture been raised to greatness. There is nothing that can match the magnificence of Jesus, no person, no government, or any crafted thing. The Lord Jesus is the only one deserving of worship and those who are called by his name are responsible to tell others about His Greatness.
Prayer: Father, thank you for being the Great One in all the created order. For you created the universe and you alone deserve worship. I worship you because your sovereign and glorious plan of redemption has brought me into fellowship with you through the Great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As I walk through this day and the coming week may I see more clearly your Greatness and tell others of your Greatness, in Jesus name. Amen.