Acts 19:23-41 The Riot of the Silversmiths

Acts 19:23-41 The silversmiths in Ephesus riot. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, in the list compiled a few hundred years BC. Artemis of the Ephesians was not identical to the Greek goddess Artemis, the merger appearing to be the result of Greek syncretism. Statues of the Ephesian Artemis were noted for being covered with bumps which were variously interpreted, but substantially different the Greek goddess of the hunt. In the superstitious culture of the Mediterranean described above, in which the sale of religious trinkets thought to bring protection or good luck to the possessor, the manufacture of these trinkets was very lucrative. So Demetrius had correctly diagnosed that Christianity would mean that people would  turn to the one true God and away from false religions, and that this would cut into the business of selling trinkets.

          The riot that followed Demetrius' rabble-rousing rushed into the theatre. Presumably this was a Roman assembly place, not the Temple of Artemis. Perhaps Paul thought this was an opportunity to present the gospel and reason with the people. However, it did not happen this time. The mob was not likely to listen to anyone presenting that point of view, and Paul's fellow disciples, and even some of the rulers who he had befriended, recognized this and kept Paul out of harm's way.  Gaius and Aristarchus had been manhandled by the crowd, and Alexander was planning to speak to them, but he was recognized as a Jew which incited the crowd. Although Paul was advocating Christianity and had been behind the bonfire of the magic books, the Jews also rejected idolatry, and the distinction was most likely lost on the mob. Two hours of shouting 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians' must have expended some of their energy. It is oddly humorous that at this point the town clerk or scribe, likely one of the few people who could read and write and was the official secretary or administrator, quieted the crowd with a very simple speech. Oddly he defended the Christians saying they were neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers. But he was the voice of reason in a mob scene saying, we are in danger of being charged with rioting, and we can bring charges in court if needed. And so he dismissed the assembly.

          Mobs and riots are not unusual in history and seldom have they been dispersed with an appeal to calmness and the voice of reason. Typical outcomes have been:

•   The riot runs pretty much uncontained for an extended period with serious damage to lives and property, until the rioting group has expended their emotional energy

•   The riot is confronted by overwhelming organized force with the application of the power of the state, usually with considerable violence, and the crowd flees.

•   The riot is confronted by organized force that is insufficient to quell the riot, resulting in a prolonged battle with great casualties on both sides.

The amazing thing about this riot is that none of these happened. The town recorder convinced them that there was nothing worth rioting over, and somehow his words overcame their emotional fervor. Perhaps they all (rightly) feared the wrath of the Roman army.