I wonder if Paul did not get a little carried away with his big plans. It is good to have a big vision. Paul was undaunted despite physical danger. In the meantime though there was a lot of opposition. Paul's brash personality got him into a lot of trouble. Greek democracy could border on mob rule. Here we have an example. The silversmiths, rather than try to find something that Paul had really done wrong, which was fairly unlikely, tried to stir up patriotic sentiment to get him killed or at least thrown out of the city.
Back in chapter 15 we find that God had somehow kept him out of the province of Asia. But now he is in Asia preaching and making disciples. You can expect a backlash when you are successful. There are always unintended consequences.
I was reading that the temple of Diana (Artemis) in Ephesus was considered one of the seven wonders of the Roman world. It must have been truly spectacular. And the Ephesians had every right to be proud.
This was like a protest riot. The crowd chanted slogans. (But two hours? Wow!) Most of them had no idea why they were even assembled. Most of them had little faith in a statue made from human hands. Artemis was a concept not really a god, not like we think of God. She was not transcendent.
We are not sure if Paul ever made it to Spain, his other big idea. We know he got to Jerusalem, found more opposition and got to Rome, but not the way he hoped. e came as a prisoner. Still Paul used every opportunity to serve God, to preach and proclaim. And God confirmed his words with Holy Spirit power. Luke's history ends before Paul's death. Perhaps his history was written right as it was happening and the rest of Paul's life was in the future. Some say he did make it to Spain after being released from prison.
As the Roman world became more and more a Christian world it did cause many outward changes. What silversmiths created was only a small one. They would find other ways to make money. The silversmiths were prophetic in this, as pagan worship passed away the temple would go out of use. The building would be adapted to another role or the stones be taken down and used to build other buildings. Basilicas became churches.
Acts 19:21-41 ^ Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." ^ And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. ^ About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. ^ For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; ^ these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. ^ You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. ^ Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence." ^ When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ^ The 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. ^ And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. ^ Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. ^ So then,some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. ^ Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. ^ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" ^ After quieting the crowd, the town clerk *said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? ^ So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. ^ For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. ^ So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. ^ But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. ^ For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering." ^ After saying this he dismissed the assembly.
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