Chapter XIV. - Trials and Victories of Paul.
For upwards of three years, Ephesus was the centre of Paul's
work. A flourishing church was raised up here, and from this city the gospel
spread throughout the province of Asia, among both Jews and Gentiles. {LP 140.2}
The apostle had for some time contemplated another missionary
journey. He desired again to visit the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, and
after spending some time at Corinth, to go to Jerusalem, after which he hoped to
preach the gospel at Rome. In pursuance of his plan, he sent Timothy and Erastus
before him into Macedonia; but feeling that the cause in Ephesus still
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demanded his presence, he decided to remain till after
Pentecost. An event soon occurred, however, which hastened his departure. {LP
140.3}
The month of May was specially devoted to the worship of the
goddess of Ephesus. The universal honour in which this deity was held, the
magnificence of her temple and her worship, attracted an immense concourse of
people from all parts of the province of Asia. Throughout the entire month the
festivities were conducted with the utmost pomp and splendour. The gods were
represented by persons chosen for the purpose, who were regarded as objects of
worship, and were honoured by processions, sacrifices, and libations. Musical
contests, the feats of athletes, and the fierce combats of men and beasts, drew
admiring crowds to the vast theatres. The officers chosen to conduct this grand
celebration were the men of highest distinction in the chief cities of Asia.
They were also persons of vast wealth, for in return for the honour of their
position, they were expected to defray the entire expense of the occasion. The
whole city was a scene of brilliant display and wild revelry. Imposing
processions swept to the grand temple. The air rung with sounds of joy. The
people gave themselves up to feasting, drunkenness, and the vilest debauchery.
{LP 141.1}
This gala season was a trying occasion to the disciples who
had newly come to the faith. The company of believers who met in the school of
Tyrannus were an inharmonious note in the festive chorus. Ridicule, reproach,
and insult were freely heaped upon them. By the labours of Paul at Ephesus, the
heathen worship had received a telling blow. There was a perceptible
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falling-off in attendance at the national festival, and in
the enthusiasm of the worshippers. The influence of his teachings extended far
beyond the actual converts to the faith. Many who had not openly accepted the
new doctrines, became so far enlightened as to lose all confidence in heathen
gods. The presence of Paul in the city called special attention to this fact,
and curses loud and deep were uttered against him. {LP 141.2}
Another cause of dissatisfaction existed. It had long been
customary among heathen nations to make use of small images or shrines to
represent their favourite objects of worship. Portable statues were modelled
after the great image of Diana, and were widely circulated in the countries
along the shores of the Mediterranean. Models of the temple which enshrined the
idol were also eagerly sought. Both were regarded as objects of worship, and
were carried at the head of processions, and on journeys and military
expeditions. An extensive and profitable business had grown up at Ephesus from
the manufacture and sale of these shrines and images. {LP 142.1}
Those who were interested in this branch of industry found
their gains diminishing. All united in attributing the unwelcome change to
Paul's labours. Demetrius, a manufacturer of silver shrines, called together the
workmen of his craft, and by a violent appeal endeavoured to stir up their
indignation against Paul. He represented that their traffic was endangered, and
pointed out the great loss which they would sustain if the apostle were allowed
to turn the people away from their ancient worship. He then appealed to their
ruling superstition, saying: "Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at
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Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath
persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods which are
made with hands; so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at
naught, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised,
and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world
worshippeth." This speech acted as fire to the stubble. The excited passions of
the people were roused, and burst forth in the cry, "Great is Diana of the
Ephesians!" {LP 142.2}
A report of the speech of Demetrius was rapidly circulated.
The uproar was terrific. The whole city seemed in commotion. An immense crowd
soon collected, and a rush was made to the workshop of Aquila, in the Jewish
quarters, with the object of securing Paul. In their insane rage they were ready
to tear him in pieces. But the apostle was not to be found. His brethren,
receiving an intimation of the danger, had hurried him from the place. Angels of
God were sent to guard the faithful apostle. His time to die a martyr's death
had not yet come. {LP 143.1}
Failing to find the object of their wrath, the mob seized two
of his companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, and with them hurried on to the
theatre. Paul's place of concealment was not far distant, and he soon learned of
the peril of his beloved brethren. His courage was in keeping with the occasion.
He was ever ready to press to the front in the battle for his Master. Forgetful
of his own safety, he desired to go at once to the theatre, to address the
rioters. But his friends refused to permit him thus to sacrifice himself. Gaius
and Aristarchus were not the
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prey that the people sought; no serious harm to them was
apprehended. But should the apostle's pale, care-worn face be seen, it would
arouse at once the worst passions of the mob, and there would not be the least
human possibility of saving his life. {LP 143.2}
Paul was still eager to defend the truth before the
multitude; but he was at last deterred by a message of warning from the theatre.
Several of the most honourable and influential among the magistrates sent him an
earnest request not to venture into a situation of so great peril. This proof of
the regard in which Paul was held by the leading men of Asia was no mean tribute
to the sterling integrity of his character. {LP 144.1}
The tumult at the theatre was continually increasing. "Some
cried one thing, and some another; and the more part knew not wherefore they had
come together." From the fact that Paul and some of his companions were of
Hebrew extraction, the Jews felt that odium was cast upon them, and that their
own safety might be endangered. Wishing it to be understood that they had no
sympathy with the Christians, they thrust forward one of their own number to set
the matter before the people. The speaker chosen was Alexander, one of the
craftsmen, a coppersmith, to whom Paul afterward referred as having done him
much evil. Alexander was a man of considerable ability, and he bent all his
energies to direct the wrath of the people exclusively against Paul and his
companions. But the crowd were in no mood to make nice distinctions. Seeing that
Alexander was a Jew, they thrust him aside, the uproar continually increasing as
all with one voice cried out, "Great is
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Diana of the Ephesians!" This cry continued for two hours.
{LP 144.2}
At last there came a momentary silence, from sheer
exhaustion. Then the recorder of the city arrested the attention of the crowd,
and by virtue of his office obtained a hearing. By his prudence and good
judgment he soon succeeded in quieting the excitement. {LP 145.1}
He met the people on their own ground, and showed that there
was no cause for the present tumult. He appealed to their reason to decide
whether the strangers who had come among them could change the opinions of the
whole world regarding their ruling goddess. Said he: "Ye men of Ephesus, what
man is there that knoweth not how that the city of Ephesus is a worshipper of
the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing
then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do
nothing rashly." He bade them consider that Paul and his companions had not
profaned the temple of Diana, nor outraged the feelings of any by reviling the
goddess. {LP 145.2}
He then skilfully turned the subject, and reproved the course
of Demetrius: "Wherefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen which are with him have
a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies; let them
implead one another. But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it
shall be determined in a lawful assembly." He closed by warning them that such
an uproar, raised without apparent cause, might subject the city of Ephesus to
the censure of the Romans, thus causing a restriction of her present liberty,
and intimating that there must not be a repetition of the scene. Having by this
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speech completely tranquillised the disturbed elements, the
recorder dismissed the assembly. {LP 145.3}
The words of Demetrius reveal the real cause of the tumult at
Ephesus, and also the cause of much of the persecution which followed the
apostles in their work of promulgating the truth. "This, our craft, is in
danger." With Demetrius and his fellows, the profitable business of image-making
was endangered by the teaching and spread of the gospel. The income of pagan
priests and artisans was at stake; and for this reason they instituted the most
bitter opposition to the apostle, and refused to receive or investigate the new
religion, which would have made them wise unto salvation. {LP 146.1}
Paul's labours in Ephesus were at length concluded. He felt
that the excitement which prevailed was unfavourable to the preaching of the
gospel. His heart was filled with gratitude to God that his life had been
preserved, and that Christianity had not been brought into disrepute by the
tumult at Ephesus. The decision of the recorder and of others holding honourable
offices in the city, had set Paul before the people as one innocent of any
unlawful act. This was another triumph of Christianity over error and
superstition. God had raised up a great magistrate to vindicate his apostle, and
hold the tumultuous mob in check. {LP 146.2}
Paul parted from his children in the faith with an
affectionate farewell. He set out on his journey to Macedonia, designing on the
way thither to visit Troas. He was accompanied by Tychicus and Trophimus, both
Ephesians, who remained his faithful companions and fellow-labourers to the
close of his life.
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{LP 146.3}
Paul's ministry in Ephesus had been a season of incessant
labour. of many trials, and deep anguish. He taught the people in public and
from house to house, instructing and warning them with many tears. He was
continually opposed by the unbelieving Jews, who lost no opportunity to stir up
the popular feeling against him. Again and again he was attacked by the mob, and
subjected to insult and abuse. By every means which they could employ, the
enemies of truth sought to destroy the effects of his labour for the salvation
of men. {LP 147.1}
And while thus battling against opposition, and with untiring
zeal pushing forward the gospel work and guarding the interests of a church yet
young in the faith, Paul was bearing upon his soul the burden of all the
churches. Nor was he released even from the tax of physical labour. Here, as at
Corinth, he worked with his own hands to supply his necessities. In weariness
and painfulness from unceasing toil and constant danger, enfeebled by disease,
and at times depressed in spirits, he steadfastly pursued his work. {LP 147.2}
The news which he received, of apostasy in churches of his
own planting, caused him deep anguish. He greatly feared that his efforts in
their behalf would prove to have been in vain. Many a sleepless night was spent
in prayer and earnest thought, as he learned of the new and varied methods
employed to counteract his work. As he had opportunity, he wrote to the
churches, giving reproof, counsel, admonition, and encouragement, as their state
demanded. In his epistles the apostle does not dwell on his own trials, yet
there are occasional glimpses of his labours and sufferings
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in the cause of Christ. Stripes and imprisonment, cold and
hunger and thirst, perils by land and sea, in the city and in the wilderness,
from his own countrymen, from the heathen, and from false brethren,--all these
he endured for the truth's sake. He was defamed, reviled, "made the offscouring
of all things," "perplexed, persecuted, troubled on every side," "in jeopardy
every hour," "alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake." {LP 147.3}
Amid the constant storm of opposition, the clamour of
enemies, and the desertion of friends, the intrepid apostle at times almost lost
heart. But he looked back to Calvary, and with new ardour pressed on to spread
the knowledge of the Crucified. He was but treading the blood-stained path which
Christ had trodden before him. He sought no discharge from the warfare till he
should lay off his armour at the feet of his Redeemer. {LP 148.1}
Eighteen centuries have passed since the apostle rested from
his labours; yet the history of his toils and sacrifices for Christ's sake are
among the most precious treasures of the church. That history was recorded by
the Holy Spirit, that the followers of Christ in every age might thereby be
incited to greater zeal and faithfulness in the cause of their Master. {LP
148.2}
How does this hero of faith tower above the self-indulgent,
ease-loving men who are today crowding the ranks of the ministry. When subjected
to the ordinary difficulties and trials of life, many feel that their lot is
hard. But what have they done or suffered for the cause of Christ? How does
their record appear when compared with that of this great apostle? What burden
of soul have they felt for the salvation of sinners?
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They know little of self-denial or sacrifice. They are
indebted to the grace of Christ for all the excellences of character which they
possess, for every blessing which they enjoy. All that they are, and all that
they have, is the purchase of the blood of Christ. As the servants of Christ
encounter opposition and persecution, they should not permit their faith to grow
dim or their courage to fail. With Christ as a helper, they can resist every
foe, and overcome every difficulty. The same obligation rests upon them which
impelled the apostle to his unwearied labours. Only those who emulate his
fidelity, will share with him the crown of life. {LP 148.3}