What happened to Paul and his companions in Ephesus clearly shows what Roman—or, more precisely, Hellenistic—paganism was in Gospel times, and exactly what the world could set against Christians and Christianity...
What happened to Paul and his companions in Ephesus clearly shows what Roman—or, more precisely, Hellenistic—paganism was in Gospel times, and exactly what the world could set against Christians and Christianity. Ephesus was indeed a major religious center of the Hellenistic world. It housed an ancient and revered sanctuary, the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus, considered in antiquity one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As commonly happens, a business grew up around the temple and in connection with it, catering to tourists and pilgrims. One branch of this business was making statuettes of Artemis in all sizes, from large, life-size figures for decorating Roman villas to tiny ones that could be used as amulets.
Demetrius, mentioned in the account, apparently decided that the apostles' preaching could threaten this established business and called on his fellow craftsmen to protest against the newly arrived preachers. Similar things happened elsewhere, where opponents of Paul and his companions tried to present themselves as zealous defenders of old Roman traditions, while actually having their own commercial interests foremost in mind. What is interesting about the situation in Ephesus is that no one even tries to conceal anything, at least from their own circle: addressing his fellow craftsmen and urging them to protest, Demetrius explicitly says that Paul's preaching threatens their trade first, and the worship of Artemis only second.
Even second place, however, is enough to stir up the crowd. Yet these “defenders of traditional religion” can find no arguments, merely proclaiming, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”—something, strictly speaking, no one had disputed. Such was the world in which Paul and the other apostles had to preach. In essence, it had long ceased to be either traditionalist, as it once had been, or genuinely religious, even in the pagan sense. Hellenistic civilization had long left no room for traditionalism, while religion in the Hellenistic world was essentially a private matter for those who practiced it.
Of course, official state cults formally existed, but the gods associated with them had long become, in essence, mere symbols of the empire, of Rome's power and its emperors. Insulting, for example, Capitoline Jupiter or his symbol, the famous Roman eagle, was punishable by death not because it was blasphemy, but because it was an insult to Roman authority. The cult of Artemis of Ephesus, however, was not a state cult in the empire, although her sanctuary was widely revered.
In such cases, private or corporate interests could come to the fore, but not those of the state. The authorities would then try to let the matter quietly subside, as happened in Ephesus. The Kingdom entering the world faced opposition not only from earthly power, but also from earthly interests and profits—what Jesus in the Gospel collectively calls “mammon.” Mammon's power certainly looks less impressive than Caesar's. Yet it enslaves souls no less effectively, and sometimes even more so; the story in Ephesus is a clear example.
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19:24 Silver shrines - Silver models of that famous temple, which were bought not only by the citizens, but by strangers from all parts. The artificers - The other silversmiths.
19:25 The workmen - Employed by him and them.
19:26 Saying, that they are not gods which are made with hands - This manifestly shows, that the contrary opinion did then generally prevail, namely, that there was a real Divinity in their sacred images. Though some of the later heathens spoke of them just as the Romanists do now.
19:27 There is danger, not only that this our craft [trade] should come into disgrace, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised - No wonder a discourse should make so deep an impression, which was edged both by interest and superstition. The great goddess was one of the standing titles of Diana. Her majesty destroyed - Miserable majesty, which was capable of being thus destroyed! Whom all Asia and the world - That is, the Roman empire, worshippeth - Although under a greatvariety of titles and characters. But the multitude of those that err does not turn error into truth.
19:29 They rushed with one accord - Demetrius and his company, into the theatre - Where criminals were wont to be thrown to the wild beasts, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus - When they could not find Paul. Probably they hoped to oblige them to fight with the wild beasts, as some think St. Paul had done before.
19:30 When Paul would have gone in to the people - Being above all fear, to plead the cause of his companions, and prove they are not gods which are made with hands.
19:31 The principal officers of Asia - The Asian priests, who presided over the public games, which they were then celebrating in honour of Diana.
19:32 The greater part did not know for what they were come together - Which is commonly the case in such an assembly.
19:33 And they thrust forward - Namely, the artificers and workmen, Alexander - Probably some well - known Christian whom they saw in the crowd: the Jews pushing him on - To expose him to the more danger. And Alexander waving with his hand - In token of desiring silence, would have made a defence - For himself and his brethren.
19:34 But when they knew that he was a Jew - And consequently an enemy to their worship of images; they prevented him, by crying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
19:35 The register - Probably the chief governor of the public games.The image which fell down from Jupiter - They believed that very image of Diana, which stood in her temple, fell down from Jupiter in heaven. Perhaps he designed to insinuate, as if falling down from Jupiter, it was not made with hands, and so was not that sort of idols which Paul had said were no gods.
19:37 Nor blasphemers of your goddess - They simply declared the one God, and the vanity of idols in general.
19:38 There are proconsuls - One in every province. There was one at Ephesus.
19:39 In a lawful assembly - In such a regular assembly as has authority to judge of religious and political affairs.
19:40 This concourse - He wisely calls it by an inoffensive name.