Acts Chapter 19 Verses 18-20

Acts 19:18 “And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” 

“And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.”  Even in the midst of all the oppositions and persecutions, we see the gospel being received by many who believed and confessed that they were sinners saved by the grace of God through the atoning blood of Christ.  They showed their deeds which resulted from their belief and actions in pressing into the gospel kingdom on earth.  There are many detractors who say that believing in grace leads to licentiousness, when in fact the very opposite is true.  “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”  It is generally believed that this “curious art” was pornography.  Note that the value of the books that were burned before all men was counted to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.  Thus, we see that believing in the true gospel of the grace of Christ led these people to repent of their pornography and turn from those practices and showed their repentance by burning the curious books.  Godly sorrow worketh repentance. 

“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”  God was richly blessing these people who believed and made great changes in their lives to live more godly lives. 

Verses 21-22

Acts 19:21 “After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.”

From the above we can deduce that Paul had a burden from the Spirit to go both to Jerusalem and then to Rome.  Also realizing that labor was still needed in Macedonia, Paul sent Timothy and Erastus who had ministered unto him. 

Often times ministers of the gospel have a burden or desire for several things at one time and how to accomplish what they feel as a desire given them of the spirit can sometimes be a question in their mind.  Here we see that Paul had a desire to go to Jerusalem and then he knew that there was a need for labor in Macedonia and at the same time he felt a burden that he needed to continue to help the brethren in Asia for a season.

Verses 23-27 

Acts 19:23 “And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; 25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. 26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at 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: 27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; 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.”  

“And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;” Making silver shrines for the pagan goddess Diana was a source of much income to Demetrius and the preaching of Paul was proving to be a financial loss as Paul persuaded people that it was wrong to worship idols, but that they should worship the true and living God that he preached.  Persecution against the gospel of the grace of Christ and the Lord’s church can come from many sources.  In this case persecution was about to arise because of a loss of revenue by merchantmen.   

“Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at 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:” To gather opposition to the preaching of the gospel of the grace of Christ, Demetrius called together the workmen of like occupation and convinced them that they were in danger of losing their source of wealth because of the preaching of Paul.  The craftsmen’s source of wealth came from making shrines to the goddess Diana, so they were easy to persuade to move against Paul and against those who believed as Paul did. 

“So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; 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.”  Apparently the worship of Diana was very prevalent throughout Asia and the craftsmen would lose their wealth if people stopped worshipping Diana.  Of course, Diana was just an imaginary pagan goddess.  

Verses 28-34

Acts 19:28 “And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. 29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. 30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. 31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. 32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. 33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. 34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”

From the above it is certain that the craftsmen had stirred up the city and caused the city to be filled with confusion.  It is also of note that the disciples strongly urged Paul not to go into the theatre.  That would have stirred up the people even more and would have been very dangerous for Paul to have gone into such a confused crowd that could have very easily turned into wrath.  When confusion reigns then it is best to stay away if you can.  Confusion was reigning in the theatre. 

Verses 35-41

Acts 19:35 “And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. 37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. 38 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. 39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. 41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.” 

The townclerk seemed to be the only one in the theatre who had any wisdom.  He quieted the crowd down and then told them that if the craftsmen had any matter against any man that it should be determined in a lawful assembly.  He also pointed out that the ones to whom they were demonstrating against had not robbed their churches nor blasphemed their goddess.  He also knew that the Romans would not be pleased with their uproar.  He used wisdom in quieting the assembly.  Sometimes the laws of the land are a help to the true worshippers of God.