God's Word Blows Up Slides, 3/2/14
- 2. Now a&er these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “A&er I have been there, I must also see Rome.” And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while. About that Fme there arose no liGle disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no liGle business to the cra&smen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.
- 3. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel.
- 4. But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, moFoning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
- 5. And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the cra&smen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
- 6. But if you seek anything further, it shall be seGled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioFng today, since there is no cause that we can give to jusFfy this commoFon.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly. Acts 19:21-‐41 (ESV)
- 7. But about that Fme, a big blowup developed in Ephesus concerning the ChrisFans. Acts 19:23 (TLB)
- 8. For the word of God is living and acFve, sharper than any two-‐edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intenFons of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
- 9. I. PREACHING GOD’S WORD CAUSES BLOWUPS!
- 10. I. PREACHING GOD’S WORD CAUSES BLOWUPS! II. BELIEVING GOD’S WORD BLOWS US UP!
- 11. I. PREACHING GOD’S WORD CAUSES BLOWUPS! II. BELIEVING GOD’S WORD BLOWS US UP! III. LIVING GOD’S WORD BRINGS PERSECUTION!