(A) Introduction (Read the reference.)

Paul worked in Ephesus for longer than any other city. Paul was bound to be opposed sooner or later for the same reason that he always aroused hostility: he was too effective. The feature of Paul's ministry that distinguishes him from most of God's servants was its fruitfulness. When God uses an evangelist to change so many lives that society itself begins to change the enemies of Christ are mobilised for battle. This is what happened in Ephesus and a riot ensued - although thankfully no lives were lost.

(B) The origin of the opposition to Paul was economic in nature.

Ephesus contained the temple of the god Artemis or Diana. She was the goddess of fertility. The temple was famous throughout the Mediterranean world and attracted many visitors. The religious tourists bought silver models of the temple to take home as souvenirs.

Such was Paul's success as a gospel preacher and so numerous were the converts to Christianity that the sale of the silver shrines was declining. Demitrius the silversmith was right in saying that Paul taught: Man-made gods are no gods at all. v26. Not only were profits in free fall but attitudes toward the work of the silversmiths were shifting. Increasing numbers of people considered the carefully crafted silver temples without value. Demetrius complained: "Our trade will lose its good name." v27.

There are four points to note:

(1) Wherever the church grows rapidly some people lose out financially. If there were mass conversions in Britain then I am sure certain leisure and entertainment businesses would suffer. The take on the National Lottery would plummet! If Japan became substantially Christian many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples would lose support. Shinto and Buddhist priests might experience a drop in income.

People whose profits fall with the success of the gospel are inevitable among the most strident opponents of Christianity.

(2) In England the local church is opposed whenever it produces any inconvenience to non-Christians living in the vicinity. I receive complaints whenever there is a wedding or funeral at our chapel and visitors park in the road. It doesn't happen very often and cars are not parked for any length of time but it is still an opportunity for someone to make a fuss. A proposal by an inner city church to use its premises to provide accommodation for the homeless is guaranteed to upset residents for fear it might lower property prices.

When the members of the Grace Baptist Church at Highbury, London, proposed to demolish their decaying Victorian chapel and replace it with something suitable for the 21st century they aroused a storm of protest. Ultra-conservative, special interest groups are frequently unwilling to countenance any change to the urban environment.

(3) In Britain people who work in the arts and media hate the church. This is because Christians are especially critical of many radio and TV programs, films and what passes for modern art. BBC producers, directors, journalists and commentators have lost their good name in Christian circles.

(4) The church is never entirely free from the worst aspects of the world. Many Christians oppose projects that will leave them out of pocket. I was at a chapel recently where the foyer had been greatly improved. Yet the new development had been bitterly opposed by a minority within the membership.

Whenever a religious dissident questions the received wisdom of the leadership whether it be of a church, association or denomination the respective leaders often see this as an attack on their good name. It is very rare for the truth of a dissident's arguments to be considered impartially because the leadership is so intent on preserving its authority and reputation.

(C) The public statement of opposition to Paul is expressed in such a way as to win popular support.

Demetrius pretended that he was concerned about the status of the temple of Artemis and the reputation of the goddess herself. Demetrius said, "There is a danger ....... that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty." v27.

This was the issue that incited the people of Ephesus to riot.

The strategy of Demetrius reveals the subtlety of sin which usually seeks to conceal its ugliness by draping itself in something elegant and becoming. Many dreadful things have been done in the name of piety, benevolence or patriotism. The advocates of segregation in S. Africa and the USA argued that the races were happier kept apart. The proponents of abortion on demand, little more than legalised murder, talk about a woman's right to choose. The mandarins at the BBC who would never broadcast a fervent, forthright gospel message justify their censorship by saying that that it would be wrong to offend people of other faiths. The fact is they hate the gospel. When the Baptist church at Highbury proposed to demolish their outmoded Victorian building the opponents of change pleaded, "Don't destroy our dear little chapel." The people making all the fuss never set foot inside the building. They were not interested in a vibrant Christian witness in Highbury, London.

Sadly the tactic used by Demetrius is also used within the church. Frequently a church member proposes a change for personal reasons but dresses it up as something else. A pastor might announce that he feels led to leave the church whereas the real reason for his decision is that his wife is getting too friendly with the church secretary. That is unlikely ever to happen in my church!

Sometimes a brother will oppose a suggested change in the church for personal reasons. The majority of members are in favour of moving the Sunday evening service to the afternoon. The brother who argues so passionately that the evening hour is more conducive to worship actually wants to watch rugby football on TV on Sunday afternoon.

It happens all the time. A young couple decide to leave a struggling village church for a more lively fellowship in the town. The reason they give for leaving their church is that they want something better for the children. The fact is they want something better for themselves. They want Christian friends of their own age. I even know of a man who wanted to close the prayer meeting in the winter months because his wife, upon whom he relied for transport, did not like driving in the dark. This was not the reason he gave in the church meeting!

Jesus taught the importance of integrity - let your yes be yes and your no, no. In my experience Christians are often economical with the truth to save face.

(D) Strong emotions preclude rational argument.

Demetrius' appeal to civic and religious pride inflamed the emotions of the population of Ephesus. The temple in Ephesus was their temple and Artemis was their goddess! Artemis belonged to the Ephesians and they would stop at nothing to protect her high standing.

Today football supporters feel this way about their team, their stadium and their star player.

When the Ephesians began shouting slogans like, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians," they abandoned reason. They shouted for two hours and were prepared to howl down anyone vaguely Jewish - as Alexander found out.

Those who shout the loudest are rarely interested in a calm and rational dialogue. The mobs who boycott ecumenical gatherings in Northern Ireland roaring, "No popery," at the participants have abandoned reason.

I preach at a village church where a few religious pictures hang in the Sunday school room. Some time ago a very narrow-minded, zealous, young man joined the fellowship. He strongly disapproved of the pictures and removed them all. This incensed some of the older generation. The church secretary arranged a meeting at which the matter could be discussed reasonably. Things started well. The zealot began his defence, quoting from Scripture and referring to Puritan literature. After a few minutes little Mr Hubbard could contain himself no longer. He got to his feet and said, trembling with indignation, "If you don't put those paintings back by the weekend I shall inform the police." That was the end of rational discussion. The meeting degenerated into a heated free for all! It was not honouring to God.

(E) Jewish self-interest.

The assembly of the Ephesians in the amphitheatre represented an extra-ordinary meeting of the Citizen Body. This was a form of local democracy. The inhabitants of Ephesus were entitled to gather in the amphitheatre to discuss and make decisions about town affairs.

It wasn't long before the Jews pushed Alexander up to the rostrum to speak on their behalf. In view of the prevailing confusion, with most of the people not knowing why they were there, (v32) Alexander got some shouted instructions about what to say from those who did. However, Alexander had been shoved to the front to disassociate the Jews from the Christians. As soon as it became apparent that he was a Jew the crowd howled him down.

The Jews and the Christians were united in their opposition to idolatry. This was an issue they could have made a united stand upon. Sadly the Jews did not want to be ill thought of for the sake of Christians. They did not wish to suffer because Paul had been successful in making converts.

Christians should unite behind the truth whenever they can but conservatives do not like to share a platform with liberals nor Protestants with Catholics even on issues where they are in agreement.

During my time at Grammar school I was a militant Christian. I was quite prepared to tell anyone that he was a sinner and needed saving. This didn't go down too well and I took a lot of stick. Now there were other Christians at the King Edward VI who shared my beliefs. They did not come to my support. These timid believers refused to associate with me because they did not want to be teased or bullied.

Many Christians are frightened of getting a bad name and so keep quiet when they should speak up and agree when they should disagree. Jesus had little time for the Pharisees whose dominant desire was to be well thought of by men.

(F) Prudence Counselled.

Sometimes caution is the better part of valour. Paul was keen to appear before the crowd in order to put his case but the disciples would not let him. v30. The apostle had made friends with some of the local politicians known as Asiarchs. These men were city deputies to the provincial council of Asia. They begged Paul not to venture into the theatre. v31.

Paul's courage was never in doubt. It would have been foolish to appear before a mob who were in no mood to listen. They were so worked up all they wanted was blood.

There is no point reasoning with people who are not going to listen. We also need to watch what we say when emotions are raw. It is appropriate to preach the gospel at the funeral service of a Christian. The life of a believer can hardly be celebrated without referring to all he, or she, owed the Lord Jesus Christ. It is inappropriate to give a rip-roaring, gospel address at the funeral of an unbeliever. His family feel bad enough about losing their loved one without being told he has gone to hell.

Paul did not preach Christ to an inflamed crowd of pagans. It would only have antagonised them further. They would not have listened to a word. The hostile mob was not open to the gospel.

A lot of open air preaching today is doomed to failure. I was travelling by London Underground recently when a young man got on and began reading aloud from a Christian tract. He got off at the next stop. Now I would say only one person in ten million who travels by tube in the rush hour is in the mood for a dose of religion. It is a very inefficient way of sowing the seed as most of it falls by the wayside.

(G)The rule of law.

In his letter to the Romans Paul writes: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Rom13v1.

We see the importance of the governing authority in the way the city clerk dealt with the riotous assembly. He was the chief law officer in Ephesus and the equivalent today of a chief superintendent of police.

The city clerk informs the crowd that their dispute should go through the proper channels. He was a very shrewd operator:

(1) He tells the mob what they wanted to hear. The reputation of the city of Ephesus as guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and her image was secure.

(2) He defends Paul and his associates - Gaius and Aristarchus. They had not taken direct action against the temple or spoken specifically against Artemis. Paul's preaching was on the whole positive. He spent his time proclaiming the truth about God and his Son. The God he worshipped was not an idol but the creator of the universe. The apostle did not picket the temple of Artemis or poor scorn on her worshippers. He was wise not to ridicule the religion of the Ephesians.

(3) The city clerk advises the assembly to follow the correct procedures. Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths should take their grievance to the court presided over by the proconsul of Asia. A legally constituted Citizen Body could deal with any problem affecting the town as a whole.

Christians must respect the rule of law. We cannot pick and choose the laws we obey. The Jews in the time of Christ did not like the Roman law that gave a soldier the right to commandeer a civilian to carry a burden for a mile. Jesus said, "If you are compelled to go one mile - go two." In other words you should not be the sort of person who is always trying to get round rules and regulations that are inconvenient.

Christians should follow the correct procedures in church affairs. It is wrong to take the law into your own hands. The young man who unilaterally removed the religious pictures from the schoolroom of his chapel acted unreasonably. He should have brought his concerns before the church and then abided by the decision of his church.

A tremendous amount of damage is done to the well being of the church by the failure of Christians to follow the procedures laid down by Jesus on what to do in the event of having a private grievance against a brother or sister. If a fellow Christian mistreats us Jesus tells us exactly what to do. See Mt18v15to17. The first step is to go and see the offender alone and talk it through. It is a bad, bad mistake to ignore that instruction. Jesus always knows best.