Acts - Week 63

Week 63 Acts 19 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 19:23-25 

23 About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. 25 He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. 

Many had turned to God and burned their books about idol worshiping. Trouble now breaks out by those who use their making of an idol, Artemis known also as Diana, to add to their wealth. Although they seek to make it a spiritual issue, the heart of the problem is seen in verse 25, “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.”  

REFLECT 

Be careful that you do not use a spiritual reason to cover up a material, sinful problem. Adding to one’s wealth by using religion is hypocrisy of the worst kind. 

RESPOND 

With your disciple read Genesis 27:14-20. This tells of Rebekah making it possible for her son Jacob to deceive her husband Isaac. She wanted her husband to think Jacob was Esau. When Isaac asked how Jacob found the game so quickly, notice how he covered his lie by claiming something spiritual.  

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 19:26-27 

26 But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! 27 Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!” 

The head silversmith tells what Paul has done in telling others not to worship idols. The greed of the silversmith for making the idols is covered up by his claim it would cause the goddess to lose influence and her great prestige. This must have sounded so spiritual to the people who did not realize that greed was the real basis of the silversmith’s concern.  

REFLECT 

When you hear an argument for something, ask God to give you insight and wisdom to know the real concern of the person making the argument. 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Timothy 4:1-2 to see Paul’s warning about what will take place in the last days. This should remind you of the spiritual warfare in which believers are engaged. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 19:28-31 

28 At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. 30 Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. 31 Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater. 

The silversmith had been proclaiming his message to craftsmen and others employed in similar businesses. This finally got the entire city stirred up. Paul’s companions were dragged into the amphitheater. Paul wanted to join them, but some of the officials of the province and his friends urged him not to risk his life by doing so. This reveals his friends thought the idol worshipers might kill Paul if he went into the amphitheater.  

REFLECT 

Discuss with your disciple how strongly religionists can vent their anger at anyone who teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and risen from the dead. Some standing behind pulpits may sound good, but what do they really believe. Be discerning. Do they believe in the virgin birth, the deity of Christ and his substitutionary atonement? 

RESPOND 

Check the internet for the church that interests you. Search for the Statement of Faith the church has. Do not go to one that is not clear about biblical teachings. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 19:32-34 

32 Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. 34 But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 

Notice that most in the crowd did not know why they were there. Mobs today are like that also. They want to join a group and bring destruction, but they really don’t know why. Notice also the hatred of the Jewish people the crowd had. Alexander was about to speak until they learned he was a Jew. They began shouting about Artemis and kept it up for about two hours. They were not open to talking; they only wanted to shut down any opposition. 

REFLECT 

Have you ever been in a situation where people did not really want to know what you believe? Their only concern was to keep you from speaking to give another view. 

RESPOND 

When faced with this kind of opposition, about all you can do is pray for them. Read what Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew 5:43-45. The word for “love” used here is one that refers to seeking the other person’s highest good. The highest good of an enemy is to come to Jesus. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 19:35-37 

35 At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. 36 Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess. 

Finally, the mayor of Ephesus calmed everyone down. His message reveals how convinced unbelievers can be of something that is a lie. They thought the image of their idol fell down from heaven, and adds, “this is an undeniable fact.” That is the way those speak today who deny God and think all came about by chance and long ages. They want people to think that “everyone knows” that it is true and what they believe is undeniable. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize it takes more faith to believe what God-deniers believe than it does to believe what God has revealed in the Bible? It takes a lot of faith to be an atheist.  

RESPOND 

No one was there when the earth, the sea and everything in it was created. This is why Hebrews 11:1-3 reveals it is important to have faith in what God has revealed. Verse 6 in this passage says, “It is impossible to please God without faith.” Talk about this with your disciple.