The Defenders of Tradition

   The Defenders of Artemis (19:23–41): A riot breaks out in Ephesus.

A.     The lecture of Demetrius (19:23–27)

1.     Demetrius the tradesman (19:23–24): He employs many craftsmen to make silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis.

2.     Demetrius the troublemaker (19:25–27): He calls his associates together and lectures them concerning how Paul’s preaching is harming to their business.

B.     The lunacy of the crowd (19:28–34): Demetrius’s fiery speech incites mob action against Paul and his associates.

1.     The cry of the mob (19:28–31): They meet in the city amphitheater and for two hours cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

2.     The confusion of the mob (19:32–34): Many simply rush there without even knowing why.

C.     The logic of the mayor (19:35–41): This intelligent Greek official calms down the mob through four logical arguments.

1.     The divinity of the statue (19:35–36): All the world knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the image of the goddess Artemis, which he says fell down to them from heaven.

2.     The honesty of the opponents (19:37) : The apostles have neither said nor done any punishable thing.

3.     The legality of the matter (19:38–39): Demetrius should pursue any and all grievances through the court system.

4.     The (possible) penalty of the uprising (19:40–41): Unless the mob disperses, the Roman officials may well intervene.

H. L. Willmington, The Outline Bible (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999), Ac 19:40-41.