²⁸When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.

Passages like this present a challenge for finding uplifting devotional thoughts. There is much in Scripture that addresses the negative, but there is much background value in studying such passages. With a little reflection, we can find very encouraging ministry to our souls. For example, we see here a snapshot of the trials and opposition that these men of God (Paul and his traveling partners) faced—yet they were not deterred from preaching the Word faithfully. The phrases that describe the situation are “filled with rage” and “crying out.” Whereas the Athenians at least entertained the merits of the gospel message by inviting Paul to explain it further, the Ephesians shouted it down.

Further, Demetrius stirred up the working class to create confusion, a common riot technique that avoids dealing with the issues in a logical, cogent way. Often that happens with evangelism: people react irrationally and invoke bullying techniques to overwhelm the gospel proclaimers. In this case, they “rushed” en masse, physically “dragging” into the theater two of Paul’s traveling partners, who were likely prominent locals who had become leaders of the fledgling Christian community. This was as much an economic revolt as it was a religious reaction. What was at stake was the income of craftsmen and tradesmen, those who profited from the lucrative business of selling religious shrines and related products to people making pilgrimages to Ephesus.

In a culture where honor is highly valued, the mob was acting on the perceived slight to their goddess. The worship of Artemis was no small enterprise, being evidenced throughout the ancient Roman world. Some scholars count thirty-three archeological sites around the Mediterranean basin that testify to the widespread worship of Artemis. As scholar Craig Keener notes, “The cult spread deliberately, through ‘missionary’ merchants devoted to promoting their goddess’ distinctive cult” (Acts: An Exegetical Commentary).

In time, the worship of Artemis, the mother goddess, was replaced by the continuously growing Christian community. The church at Ephesus became a leading center for Christianity in subsequent centuries. All this, despite the fierce opposition to the gospel preaching. Yes, the church of God will prevail (Matt. 16:18, John 6:33).

All praise to You, Lord, for Your church continues to prevail after two thousand years!