The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty-One

"Idols Cause Confusion"

Acts 19:23-41 (NLT) About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows:
   “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!”
   At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.
   Inside, the people were all shouting, someone thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
   At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.
   “If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.

Artemis

Who is Artemis? Why was she so revered? Here's little FYI on this idol:

Temple of Artemis

The Anatolian "Great Mother" was identified by Greek settlers with the Greek Artemis--virgin huntress, goddess of wild animals, wild nature, chastity and childbirth. It is difficult to discern which of her three roles--mother goddess, fertility goddess or nature goddess--was primary in the minds of first-century devotees. Details of her statue, however, do reveal the powers attributed to her. The multiple bulbous objects on her chest have been variously interpreted: are they "breasts, bee eggs, ostrich eggs, steer testicles, grapes, nuts, acorns"? They point to her role as a goddess of fertility. The dreadful animals on her skirt show she has the power over them and is able to deliver from fear, since she is the supreme "ghost goddess." The signs of the zodiac around her neck show she can mediate between her followers and the cruel fate that dogs them. Indeed, she possesses authority and power superior to astrological fate. In sum, Artemis had unsurpassed cosmic power. She was called Savior, Lord, Queen of the Cosmos and heavenly goddess. Each year in March or April, Ephesus hosted the monthlong festival Artemisa, a time of carnival and religious celebration. Pilgrims flocked from all over the Empire to participate in the impressive ceremonies to Artemis, including offerings at her sacred grove, to enjoy athletics, plays and concerts, and to partake of great banquets and revelry. (John Wesley)

Artemis was a part of the culture of Ephesus. The ministry of Paul and the budding Church were a great threat not only to the set belief patterns of the people, but also to the economy. In the eyes of some Ephesians, this new religion, was a threat. It is no different a threat than the threat to society now. There is no other "faith" that stirs up people opposed to its message.

The Christian message is about repentance and conversion. Repentance means to "turn away from" and conversion means to "take on a different set of beliefs." Demetrius, the silversmith who made his living from creating idols of Artemis, saw the way people were being changed and this made him angry. He was so caught up in making a living that he didn't hear the true message that Paul was preaching about Jesus.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT) For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Some people don't see the need to be rescued. Satan wants this rescue effort completely stopped and he uses anything to accomplish it. In the passage today he used two major things: the pocket book and confusion. It's no different from the tactics he uses today. We have walking and talking idols in our world. The entertainment industry is full of them. Confusion is rampant and truth or the idea of truth is distorted in so many ways. The riot in Ephesus is but a glimpse into the anger and frustration of the evil one.

Isaiah 44:9-20 (NLT) How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god—an idol that cannot help him one bit? All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame.
   The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him hungry and weak. It makes him thirsty and faint. Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood and draws a pattern on it. He works with chisel and plane and carves it into a human figure. He gives it human beauty and puts it in a little shrine. He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak; he plants the pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain. Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread. Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship! He makes an idol and bows down in front of it! He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep himself warm. He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.” Then he takes what’s left and makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. “Rescue me!” he says. “You are my god!”
   Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”

Can we look at the idol you are holding in our hands and call it a lie? This is what Christ Jesus asks us to do. Are there things in your life that you don't won't to let go of? Are there ideals that you don't want to say are not ideals at all? The simple message of the Good News is this: Jesus Christ is God come down to earth in the flesh of man, who paid the death penalty of sin for mankind. He did this to make a way, the only way, to a relationship with God. What "stick of wood" can do that for you? NONE.

Jesus came to shake up the world not placate its practice of idol worship. He demands that the idols we have in our lives be destroyed. He refutes other religions and ideals as lies of the evil one. There is no room for acceptance of "other beliefs" there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus.

Matthew 10:38-39 (Message) "If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me."

Jesus asks us to let go of the things, the people, the ideals that keep us from being fully devoted to Him. Its time we all review what we value. Is Jesus first? Is He foremost in your life? Is there something or someone holding you back from enjoying a complete relationship with God? Its time. It IS time. Lay everything down and embrace the True Savior ~ Jesus.