BIBLE STUDY LESSON 11
SERIES V --- JOURNEYS FOR YESHUA
THE SILVERSMITH
THE THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY: DEMETRIUS AND THE SILVERSMITH RIOT
From Acts 19:23-41
Paul had made plans to leave Ephesus for Jerusalem, going through Macedonia and Achaia. But before he left, a riot broke out against the believers. It started with Demetrius, an Ephesian silversmith who manufactured silver shrines honouring the goddess, Diana. Business was poor because so many people had become believers and stopped buying these silver shrines. Demetrius called an emergency meeting of his workers and the other silversmiths of Ephesus to deal with the problem. [Our high income depends on the sale of these silver shrines,] Demetrius reminded them. [As you know, business is not thriving here in Ephesus and throughout Asia because that fellow Paul has persuaded many that man-made gods like ours are not true gods. If our business continues to decline, the temple of Diana will lose its reputation, and this glorious goddess, which now has a worldwide following, will lose her influence.] By this time the silversmiths were furious. [Great is Diana of the Ephesians!] they chanted as they rushed into the streets. Before long others joined them, without realizing why they were chanting, and the riot was successfully started. Two of Paul’s companions, Gaius and Aristarchus of Macedonia, were dragged to the large open-air theatre. Paul tried to follow, but his followers stopped him. Some of the officials who were friendly to Paul urged him not to risk his life this way. The crowd in the theatre was in complete confusion. Some people shouted one thing and some another. Most of them did not know why they were there. The Jewish people pushed Alexander forward to speak, but when he motioned with his hands for the crowd to be quiet, they recognized him as a Jew and refused to let him give a defence. [Great is Diana of the Ephesians,] the crowd chanted. This chanting continued for two hours. The town clerk stood up next, and the crowd became quiet for him. [Now gentlemen, everyone knows that the temple of Diana was given to Ephesus, and that we are in charge of her image which fell from heaven. Since no one is disputing these facts, you should calm down and do nothing foolish. You’ve brought some men here who have not robbed the temple or blasphemed Diana. [If Demetrius and the other silversmiths have a complaint against anyone, we have both courts and judges ready to hear their charges. If there is something more serious, we have a City Council to deal with it. What if the Roman government wants to know why this riot started? What should I say?] The town clerk ended his speech and dismissed the crowd. The people went home and the riot was over.
COMMENTARY
THE TEMPLE OF DIANA
Today only a few stones remain of the temple of Diana. In ancient times it was one of the great wonders of the world, drawing many visitors to Ephesus, but it was destroyed in 263 A.D. when the Goths invaded the city. In spite of the temple’s great fame, the goddess to whom it was dedicated remains a mystery. Diana was the Roman name of Artemis, a Greek goddess. Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and the twin sister of Apollo. The Greeks worshiped her as the goddess of hunting and archery. She was the defender of wild animals, newborn children and all helpless creatures. But Diana of Ephesus was very different from the goddess of the ancient Greek myths. Her worship was mixed with the worship of a different Persian goddess. The Ephesians thought Diana was the mother of all living things. They believed that her statue fell to earth in the form of a meteorite. Diana’s temple was four times the size of the Parthenon. Great wealth poured into its many storerooms. The temple served as a treasury and bank, as well as a place of worship. Pictures of Diana’s temple appeared on many Asian coins. But the Ephesians did not believe that Diana lived only in her temple. The mother of all life could be worshiped anywhere. Artists crafted miniature copies of the temple for tourists who wished to worship the goddess at home. Paul caused a riot in Ephesus when the craftsmen complained that his preaching hurt their sales. They feared that the believers might become stronger than the followers of Diana and force them out of business.
Planning is great, but without #faith and obedience, all our plans will turn to dust in the end.
https://www.americantorah.com/....2017/07/24/faith-and
This is such a refreshing, blessed site! I am so grateful to have a group to interact with that is positive and based in the Word. The world is closing in on us and shutting us out of other platforms. Thank you, Rhy for your time and effort!
And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.
Deuteronomy 1:39
The undeserved curse of a parent against a child has no effect except on their relationship. See also Proverbs 26:2. (OTOH, the behavior of a parent can have profound negative impact--curses--on the life of a child.)
I found a bunch of old blog posts, written on days when I was especially tired, where I gave ideas on how to be present with my children despite my fatigue. I am hoping they will help you plan ahead for the inevitable hard times. https://archive.aweber.com/awlist6425868/DK2Ok
In order to prove the Scriptures as Truth to the world, you must know the history surrounding the Word. You gotta know at least some of the wonders and show evidence of their existence. People will NOT take your word for it. Show proof or it means nothing. Why do you think the world is bent on hiding Yahuah from the nations by smearing His Name all the way down to Judaism with G-d. 'Call on My Name' not 'Call on whatever you want and I'll protect you'!
Good Morning Torah Crew!
If I was dead inside then I wouldn't be hurting!
Hebron is in the heart of Judah, which means praised. Caleb's heart was pure and faithful, and so God made him the patriarch of Judah and gave him land in the heart of Judah's territory. Joshua 14:14
https://rumble.com/vefd3f-cale....b-and-the-heart-of-p
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