As with Jews and Judaism, it was pagans who were the greatest threat to their own religion, not Paul. We can detect the greatest fear for both was the loss of money and prestige, indicating which god they actually served. Thus, we see Luke finds paganism and first century Judaism weren't really all that different when viewed by actions and tendencies.
Paul's long sojourn in Ephesus was preceded by his visit in the Galatian churches. He hiked the back roads through the mountains instead of the longer trade routes around to the great port city and Roman capital of Asia Minor. Apollos had departed for Corinth just a short time before and left a dozen disciples still clinging to their commitment to the teachings of John the Baptist. Paul told them the rest of the gospel story. For them, it was almost a private Pentecost experience, men of Israel coming home to the final revelation of God.
Keeping his promise to the synagogue at Ephesus, Paul preached for three months. Eventually the leadership sensed the loss of control and ran Paul out, with the very large group who embraced his message. Again, the synagogue leaders resorted to using thugs from the local population to do their dirty work. Paul simply moved his ministry to the Hall of Tyrannus. The image we get is standard Mediterranean life, working from dawn to midday, then taking an extended siesta until late afternoon (11AM to 4PM). It was during this afternoon break, when businesses were closed, Paul would teach and preach. For two years his work prospered there, and the gospel spread to the whole province.
His extended ministry was characterized by a tremendous influence. The Lord granted signs and wonders, even through the work garments Paul would wear during business hours. His authority over demons in particular gained him notice from early practitioners of Kabbalism. These Jewish frauds wandered the Mediterranean selling the same religious mumbo-jumbo which had helped create the demonized crowds which taxed Jesus during His time on earth. But these men were simply out to make a buck with their imitation magic, and sought to add the name of Jesus as a talisman. When confronting a real demon, it recognized the authority of Paul and Jesus, but not that of the bin Sceva brothers. Their failure became famous, and merely added to Paul's credibility. Not just primitive Kabbalah magic, but all sorts of black magic was proven to fail before the gospel. At one rally, magicians revealed their tricks and burned their "Ephesian Letters" -- the magic scrolls for which that city was a famous market. Indeed, the market value of those books was easily fifty thousand days' wages for a skilled worker, more than such a man could earn in two lifetimes.
In preparation for moving on, hoping to pass through Macedonia and Achaia, Paul sent Timothy and Erastus, in part to organize the collection of famine relief offerings for the church in Jerusalem. Then he wanted to pass through Rome on the way to Spain. While making final preparations, things in Ephesus got out of control. It was not simply the magic trade which Paul had disrupted, but the standard pagan worship of Cybele, the ancient mother goddess of Asia Minor. The locals had simply adopted the Greek name Artemis, then the Roman Diana from the widely recognized pantheon. Her temple was quite massive and ornate, famous worldwide in that time. It housed a meteorite supposed to bear the image of their goddess. The local silversmith guild made most of their sales in replicas of both the temple and statues of the goddess. Sales dropped off as more people became Christians, obeying the Laws of Noah and having nothing to do with pagan worship.
A central element in Luke's work is correcting baseless rumors. News passing by word of mouth in that part of the world had falsely branded Paul as a troublemaker. Demetrius strummed every sensitive chord, particularly the slump in silver trade and what he termed an attack on their dignity, and more, an attack on their sacred goddess. In those days, when a mob in the city was stirred about something, demanding some action, they gathered in the outdoor theater. While a couple of Paul's companions were seized by the mob, the whole thing was utter confusion. Paul was hoping to face the crowd himself to save these friends of his, but those who knew what was going on kept him back. In particular, the current and retired Roman officials who led public worship of Caesar in the region begged Paul to stay out of it. The local Jews figured they might be tainted by whatever scandal was unfolding, and put forward Alexander as their witness, but he never got a chance to speak. Realizing Alexander was a Jew, the crowd finally figured it had to be about their goddess, for whom they proceeded to chant for two hours.
The one real authority figure they recognized, the City Clerk who reported to the Roman authorities, got them quiet. He dressed them down for having no real cause for rioting. Nobody was robbing temples, nobody was disparaging the goddess, and if they had, the courts were available. If that were not good enough, the regular orderly assembly was available often enough. Meanwhile, the city was in danger of a crack down from Roman troops if they didn't disperse quickly.
As Jesus had warned, the truth of God is polarizing. It makes no profit, and tends to reduce sinful commerce. Luke points out the moral bankruptcy of those most active in resisting Paul's message. This is how it had always been, and has not changed since. Anything which reflects God's ways will surely be the target of those who seek only worldly power and wealth. What a man does, not what he says, will indicate where his loyalty resides.
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By Ed Hurst
05 September 2009
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)