Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

SECTION XXXII.

A tumult is excited at Ephesus by the workmen who make models of the temple Diana.

ACTS xix. 21-41.

21. AFTER these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit," resolved in his mind," when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, where he had planted considerable churches, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. To the latter place he intended to go to preach the gospel, but he was brought thither in a manner which he little expected.

22. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

The object of Paul's intended journey into Greece, was to make a collection for the poor Christians at Jerusalem, or rather in Judæa, and these persons were sent by him, that the collection might be ready when he came. Timothy was peculiarly proper for this errand, because he had accompanied the apostle when he planted these churches. Erastus was chamberlain of Corinth.*

23. And the same time there arose no small stir, "no small disturbance," about that way, "that doctrine."

24. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, "models in silver of the temple of Diana," brought no small gain unto the craftsmen, "to the workmen."

25. Whom he called together with the work men of like occupation, "with all employed in the business,” and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26. Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying, that they be no gods which are made with hands:

* Doddridge.

27. So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, or, "of being abandoned," but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth, "reverenceth."

23. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

It will give us some idea of the grandeur and magnificence of this temple, when we are told that it was two hundred and twenty years in building, that it was erected at the common charge of all Proconsular Asia, and that when Erostatus was condemned to death for setting it on fire, he acknowledged that he did it to perpetuate his memory by destroying so magnificent an edifice. Small models of this temple, made of silver, were, it seems in great request, and purchased as objects of curiosity and devotion. The manufacture of them afforded a lucrative employment to Demetrius and a number of other persons. The decline of their employment, in consequence of the apostle's preaching, is a proof of the prevalence of Christianity. Diana was not only the goddess of hunting amongst the heathens, but was known also under several other characters and titles.

29. And the whole city was filled with confusion, and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

The theatre was a large building, erected in the open air, without any covering, for the exhibition of public games, and so large as to contain frequently thirty thousand persons. This building, when not so employed, might be used for other purposes, as on the present occasion. Aristarchus, who is here called the fellowtraveller of Paul, we find, was afterwards his fellow-prisoner, Col. iv. 10. The design of forcing these men into the theatre was probably to try them. Paul, hearing of the danger of his friends, wished to employ his influence to rescue them, but is discouraged from the attempt by the prudence of the disciples.

30. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31. And certain of the chief of Asia, who were his friends, sent unto him, desiring that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

These chiefs of Asia are supposed to be magistrates of that country, as the Greek term seems to imply, who might have the further office of presiding over the games celebrated in honour of

Diana. Being acquainted with Paul, and perhaps converts to the Christian religion, they are anxious to preserve him from the danger to which he would be exposed, by trusting himself to such a tumultuous assembly.

32. Some, therefore, cried one thing, and some another; for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not wherefore they were come together.

33. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward: and Alexander beckoned with the hand, "waved his hand, to obtain silence," and would have made his defence unto the people, "for the people."

As he is said to have been a Jew, his object must have been to defend not the conduct of Paul, (to whom a Jew could be no friend,) but the zeal of the people, in assembling in this tumultuous manner, and to show that Paul excited disturbances wherever he went, and that they had no connexion with him, and ought not, therefore, to be thought ill of on his account.

34. But when they knew that he was a Jew, and, therefore, an enemy of their goddess as well as Paul, all, with one voice, about the space of two hours, cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

35. And when the town-clerk, "recorder," had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper, "a guardian," of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

This was the story forged by the Ephesian priests; a similar one had been framed respecting the Palladium, or image of Minerva.

36. Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37. For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of churches, "of temples," nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

It seems he did not think the charge brought by Demetrius against Paul, as asserting that those were no gods which were made with hands, a reflection upon Diana, because her image was

supposed to come down from heaven, and, therefore, could not be made with hands.

38. Wherefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against any man, the law is open, "court days are kept," and there are deputies, "Roman proconsuls," who are judges, let them implead one another, "accuse one another."

39. But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, if it be a question relating to the public religion, and not of a civil nature, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly:

40. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, "this day's rising," there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this

concourse.

41. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

REFLECTIONS.

1. We have here a memorable and instructive example of a pretended zeal for religion being employed to conceal selfish fears, and to advance private interests. The cry of Demetrius and his companions was, 'Great is Diana of the Ephesians; her temple will be despised; her magnificence will be destroyed:' thus pretending to be concerned for the honour of their goddess, and alarmed for the security of her worship. But the real motive for their clamour is a fear of losing their usual profits, "this, our craft, by which we get our wealth, is in danger of being set at naught." Since the time of Demetrius a like clamour has often been raised, and from similar motives. The supporters of national superstition, when alarmed at the progress of truth and liberty, have cried out, The church is in danger, religion will be trampled under foot; when they only mean that the profits of their profession are likely to fall, the splendour of their equipage, the luxuries of their tables, the revenues by which they were fed and clothed. Politicians and statesmen have likewise exclaimed, Religion and morality are in danger; let the friends of both unite for their defence, when religion and morality were no part of their concern, when they were violating every principle of both, in pursuit of some ambitious project, and have put this cry into the mouths of the ignorant multitude, in order to conceal their evil designs. Let not the world any longer be deceived by such gross artifices; they have been practised and exposed two thousand years ago.

2. The good sense which appears in the observations of the town-clerk or recorder of Ephesus, may serve to quiet the fears of those who are really alarmed about the security of their religion. If it be of divine origin, as you profess to believe, it cannot be overturned or destroyed: it is founded upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Adopt not rash and hasty measures for its defence. If individuals have violated the principles of justice, under pretence of promoting the interest of religion, the courts are open, let them be brought to a fair trial, that they may be condemned and punished; but excite not against them the violence of an angry multitude, before their cause has been heard.

3. We see from this story what powerful impediments Christianity had to contend with; not merely the errors of a senseless superstition, and the charms of a religion which allowed to its votaries the free indulgence of their grossest passions, but the zeal of men who considered their wealth and even their subsistence as necessarily connected with the popular opinion; with the zeal of priests, and augurs, and craftsmen without number, who obtained their support by the heathen worship. A religion which, by its own intrinsic force, without the aid of civil power, could in so short a time triumph over such obstacles, must surely be accompanied with the irresistible evidence of a divine original.

SECTION XXXIII.

Paul leaves Ephesus, and travels through Macedonia and Greece. He returns to Asia, and at Troas raises Eutychus from the dead.

ACTS xx. 1-16.

1. AND after the uproar had ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, "saluted them," in taking leave, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

Although the tumult at Ephesus had been appeased, without any act of violence, he did not choose to expose the Christians in that city to fresh odium and danger, by continuing any longer amongst them.

2. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.

3. And there abode three months:

The principal object of Paul's journey was to establish the disciples in the Christian profession, to confirm the faith of the

« ZurückWeiter »