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August ii, 1909.
Sunda;
PAUL'S THIRD M
(THE RIOl
Acts H
Lesson for
GOLDEN TEXT.?"He sa
for thee, for my strength
2 Cor. 12:9.
DAILY HC
M.?Acts 19: 23-31.
W.?Isa. 44: 9-19.
F.?1 Cor. 16: 1-9.
SSHORTE
Q. 69. What is forbidden
A. The sixth eommandnit
our own life, or the life of
ever tendeth thereunto.
TOPIC/
Opposition to the Gospel?
By men in a bad business
Who stirred up the who
Paul's courage, vs. 3(
The town clerk's j
LESSON
Paul had sent Timothy and
self purposed to go there i
in Ephesus on account of t
cause of the great and eff
16: 8-9.
Ephesus was the seat ol
was the great temple of thj
and fame was considered <
The people of Ephesus had
ment and all the cities of A:
It was the center of Ephes
were concentrated tneir a<
stition.
It was the custom amon
models of this temple and ii
them on journeys or militar
hold gods. These were mai
can imagine a very extensh
numbers of workmen were
who came to Ephesus wou
memorials.
It was probably the mor
when the riot took place,
from all over the world ha
games of that month. The
in the shrines but found the
consequently there arose n
which the Apostle was leao
Demetrius, a leading sil)
shrines, called together his
men who profited by the pi
addressed to them an inflan
Paul and the Christians th
pealed to their interests, t?
an idol made of silver or
true god. Demetrius and h
for Paul's doctrine provided
The powers of evil are willl
oa Ion tr a a th
till y UUVU1UV ov *vr?o
This is the secret of the acc
and ministers that they me
cern them. It is an objec
effects in the hearts and lh
To make his appeal more
THE PRESBYTERIAN C
y School
ISSIONARY JOURNEY,
r IN EPHESUS.)
J: 23-30, 35-41.
August 22, 1909.
id unto me, My grace is sufficient
is made perfect in weakness'.'?
)ME READINGS.
T.?Acts 19: 32-20: 1.
Th.-r-Ps. 115.
S?Eph. 2: 11-22.
-Eph. 6:10-20.
R CATECHISM.
.'n the sixth commandment?
;nt forbiddeth the taking away of
our neighbor unjustly, or whatsokL
OUTLINE.
i, vs. 23-27.
ile city, vs. 28, 29.
)-34.
jrudent speech, vs. 35-41.
I COMMENTS.
I Erastus into Macedonia and himifter
Pentecost; but he remained
he many adversaries and also beectual
door open to him. 1 Cor.
the worship of Diana and here
it goddess which for magnificence
jne of the wonders of the world.
I given lavishly for its embellishsia
had contributed to its building,
sian pride- and devotion and in it
lmiration, enthusiasm and super
g the visitors to Ephesus to buy
mages of the goddess to take with
y expeditions or for use as housede
of wood or gold or silver. We
>re trade in these shrines and that
s engaged in their making. Few
Id go away without one of these
ith of May, the month of Diana,
Great numbers of worshippers
.d gathered here to celebrate the
craftsmen expected a large trade
s sale of them greatly diminished;
o small stir about that "way" in
ling the people.
rersmlth and manufacturer of
fellow craftsmen and other work esence
of the Diana worship and
imatory speech. He attributed to
e danger to their trade. He ap>lUnc
tham that Paul taneht that
gold by man* hand was not a
Is fellows would have cared little
1 it had not touched their purses,
ng that the Church should preach
ey do not feel the practice of it.
:usatlon'against so many churches
ddle with things that do not con:tion
to a religion that produces
res of its disciples,
disinterested, he appeals to their
)F THE SOUTH.
fanaticism and their enthusiasm f
of their magnificent temple which j
world. ,
This appeal fired the mob and t.
of "Great is Diana of the Ephesians
by other citizens and the strangers
an uproar. A general rush was mad
of assembly. On the way they caut
who had accompanied Paul from
fellow workers. Paul, with his ac
rush to their help when he heard
diRrinlpQ liaorl fill fliotr ^ u'
danger. Certain influential friends
men of the province, added their t
disciples and he consented to remai
In the theatre was a scene of cc
thing, and some another. The larg
they had come together, but had 1
gator of the riot and in their excil
kind of mischief.
The Jews, who were probably a
implicated in the accusation againi
exander forward that he mi|ht mi
that they had no connection with \
was probably "Alexander the coppei
Apostle warns Timothy at a later
On account of his trade, the Jews
influence with the silversmiths. B
recognized him as a Jew, of that se
in Diana, they refused to hear him,
the cry "Great is Diana of the Ep
continued for the space of two ho
They could not keep this cry ai
and the "town clerk" finally quieted
was a magistrate of great authority,
papers, a keeper of the archives, th<
senate and assembly, he was preser
ited in the Temple and all letters
dressed to him. Hence he was bei
and his face was familiar to all tin
mere likely to have influence with
He first allays their fanatical pasi
the whole world knew that Ephesr
of the great goddess and that no
fact.
He then called their attention t<
Christians who had conducted them
ner during their stay in the city, i
their temple or said anything that
ings. Paul had spent none of hi
against the existing condition in E
energies in teaching the people the
was the most effective way in whi
idolatry. ,
The town clerk was not deceived i
rius but accuses them ot using the i
mob to further their own interests
proper course for Demotrius to t
against the Christians, was to take
to the deputies. The court was 1
was the reasonable course to pursu
that they could not do Justice in si
ters should be determined in a law
He also reminded them that suet
the attention of the Roman author!
be called to account for disturbing t
The mob, now informed as to th
turbance, were quieted and the to
and they left the theatre to go to th
It appears that Paul by his judb
for himself and his cause friends a
pnd WAfllthv pitl?ona r%t /?ltv or*
friendship by protecting him from
After the uproar had ceased at
Paul thought it best not to delay hi
already determined upon. He call
In their meeting place and after an
departed to go into Macedonia.
15
or the gorgeous worship
ittracted all Asia and the
hey broke out in the cry
The cry was taken up
and soon the city was in
e to the theatre, the place
;ht Gaius and Aristarchus
Macedonia and were his
cuoiumt'u uravery, would
of their danger, but th^
;ep him from the place of
of Paul, Asiarchs or chief
jntreaties to those of the
In away from the theatre,
tnfusion. Some cried one
er part did not know why
ilindly followed the iustitement
were ripe for any
fraid that they would be
st the Christians, put Alake
a defense or explain
the church of Paul. This
rsmith" against whom the
period. (2 Tim. 4: 14.)
j thought he would have
ut when the Ephesians
jet which also disbelieved
but drowned his voice in
iliesians", which cry they
urs.
id excitement indefinitely
[ the people. This official
He had to do with State
e public reader before the
it when money was depossent
to Ephesus were ad;ore
the public very often
i citizens and no one was
them.
sions by telling them that
is was the temple keeper
one had questioned this
) the characters of these
selves in an orderly manand
who had not entered
would outrage th^r feels
energy in fulminating
phesus, but had used his
religion of Jesus, and that
ch he could combat their
is to the motive of Demetreligious
fanaticism of the
. He points out that the
ake if he had a matter
it to court or to appeal it
then in session and this
le. He further points out
ich a mob, but such matful
assembly.
l an uproar would attract
[ties and that they would
the public peace.
ie true nature of the dlswn
clerk dismissed them
elr work or to the games.
Mahq Yk<*A
vvuuuvvuau gaiucu
mong the most influential
1 these men proved their
danger.
id the danger was past,
s departure which he had
ed his disciples together
i affectionate farewell, he
T. M. Hunter.