Read Part One HERE
A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XIX - VII
"As I, silversmith Demetrius, began to share with other workers my concerns about Paul.... I could see that they began to understand why I was so upset about this man being in our city Ephesus... My main concern was, of course, the fact that I had been losing much of my business these last few months... Because many people were no longer worshipping our goddess Artemis... They had begun to worship this Man Jesus about whom Paul was preaching... No doubt, the other silversmiths have lost much of their business as well for the same reason..... I am a very practical person.... So I am not too interested in spiritual matters.... As far as I am concerned, people can worship whichever god they prefer.... However, since the worship of the goddess Artemis is very profitable to me and all the other silversmiths I want people to continue worshipping her... I cannot allow her to be discredited... Not that I am too interested in the spiritual well being of people... I am simply interested in mainting my comfortable living standard... So I knew that I should stir up my colleagues to action... And I am pleased to say that I was quite successful."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will leearn how the other silversmiths reacted to Demetrius' speech.....
ATTACHMENT TO A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XIX - VII
The silversmith Demetrius had been sharing with his colleagues that Paul had led many people astray in Ephesus. Why had he said that? Because Paul had been teaching the people that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. The questions is, why was Demetrius so upset about Paul's teachings? Was he upset because he is concerned for the souls of the people in Ephesus and beyond? No, not exactly... He was upset because what Paul has said, had begun to greatly affect his business, since he and the other silversmiths are the ones who are producing these very gods Paul has said are no gods at all. Therefore, according to Paul, these statues should no longer be bought by people to be worshipped at their homes. He knew too that for the sake of the business it was absolutely necessary that the worship of Artemis continued so he must speak up for her as you can read in Acts 19:27
"There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."
We will never know how much Demetrius meant these last words, but one thing is for sure: they did have a great effect on the rest of the silversmiths who are listening to him as you can read in Acts 19:28
When they heard this, they werte furious and began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians."
The words of Demetrius caused all the other silversmiths to become very angry and they made their anger known.
Read Part Twelve HERE
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