Daily Thought

Once again in this passage we see that where the word of God grows mightily, v. 20, the enemy is also active. Here the opposition is not primarily religious nor theological, but financial. The phrases ‘no small gain’, v. 24, and ‘wealth’, v. 25, show how much was at stake for Demetrius and his colleagues. Yet, in verse 19, there had been many in Ephesus who had been prepared to burn books of great monetary value because they had gained something far greater - they had found Christ. What a contrast! How tragic that these men could not see it!

The words of Demetrius bear tremendous testimony to the effect of the gospel in that area. Already Luke has commented on this in verse 10 of this chapter, but now Demetrius also acknowledges that the gospel has spread ‘almost throughout all Asia’, and that ‘much people’ has been ‘turned away’, v. 26. First and foremost, this would have a disastrous effect on his livelihood, but he also fears that the great temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, would fall into disuse, v. 27. What a contrast with the God of heaven, whose magnificence does not depend on the size or prosperity of His temples, nor upon the number of His followers!

His impassioned speech to his colleagues leads to confusion in the whole city. An impromptu and illegal assembly is formed in the theatre and eventually the slogan taken up first by Demetrius’ companions is taken up mindlessly by the whole crowd - ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians’, ESV. Here we have a classic example of crowd mentality. It is senseless, purposeless, and unreasonable. Most of them did not even know why they were there, yet they had joined in anyway. The advice that Paul received from his friends not to venture into the theatre was good. As the preacher of old said, there is ‘a time to keep silence,’ Eccles. 3. 7. There is a great need for wisdom at such times.

Despite the efforts of Demetrius and his friends the temple of Artemis now lies in ruins. Her magnificence has been destroyed. She is no longer an object of worship. In contrast the gospel is still being preached, souls are still being saved and lives transformed by the power of the risen Christ.