28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” 29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions. 30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. 31 Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. 32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. 34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
In Acts 19:28-40, violence broke out against Paul’s companions until the town clerk calmed the crowd.
19:28
Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying,
The crowd of artisans reacted to Demetrius’s warning by asserting their support for the goddess Diana. The issue was not only their business at stake but their civic pride in the worship of Artemis.
“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
The artisans praised the goddess, Diana of the Ephesians, hoping to affirm her honor.
19:29
So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.
The artisans functioned as a violent mob rushing into the theater as a group. They had cut this theater of more than 24,000 seats into the side of Mount Pion facing west toward the harbor. The amphitheater was 495 feet in diameter. They took Paul’s travel associates, Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Macedonian captives.
19:30
And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.
Paul wanted to deal with the mob directly, but believers would not allow him to enter the theater.
19:31
Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends,
Not only did believers warn Paul about attempting to rescue his colleagues, but his friends, who were Asian officials, warned him not to do so as well.
sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.
His friends informed Paul that he would enter a dangerous situation and maybe die if he chose to go in.
19:32
Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
Harking back to the artisan mob, this verse shows they did not have a cohesive case against Paul’s colleagues. The “assembly” here is local government. Many officials did not know why they were there. The scene was one of utter confusion.
19:33
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward.
The Jews singled out Alexander to defend the Jews; they presented him to the officials in Ephesus to defend their case that the commotion Paul created was not their fault.
And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.
Alexander silenced the crowd to defend himself in court, but their silence did not last long.
19:34
But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
When the assembly found that Alexander was a Jew, the mob in unison shouted for two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” This chant drowned out Alexander.
PRINCIPLE:
The church thrives under persecution.
APPLICATION:
The church persecuted is the church powerful. A bold church gathers strength from its opposition. Persecution originates not only from society but from Satan himself. The gospel causes dissidence among those without Christ because it confronts their values. It forces them to choose between Christ and what they believe.
