The Riot of the Silversmiths at Ephesus
Paul spends over two years at Ephesus, lecturing daily in the hall of Tyrannus, and Acts says all the residents of the province heard the word. Converts burn their books of magic, and the value is totted up at fifty thousand drachmas.
The backlash is commercial. Demetrius, a silversmith who makes shrines of Artemis, calls a meeting of the trade and makes the argument in the right order — first that the business is in danger, then that the goddess's temple may be discredited. The city fills with confusion; two of Paul's companions are seized and dragged into the theatre, and Paul is prevented by the disciples from going in.
Most of the crowd, Luke notes, did not know why they were there, and simply shouted Great is Artemis of the Ephesians for about two hours. The city clerk finally disperses them by pointing out they are risking a charge of rioting.
Where in scripture
[1] While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. [2] He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” [3] He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” [4] Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. [7] They were about twelve men in all. …
Acts 19:1–41 — opening verses
[30] Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? [31] I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. [32] If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
1 Corinthians 15:30–32
[8] For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. [9] Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, [10] who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver; on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us; [11] you also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift given to us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on your behalf.
2 Corinthians 1:8–11
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
