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?”
The town clerk’s calm reason falls far short of God’s truth. Fallen man must have a fallen goddess to worship. In their darkened, heathen fantasy, the Ephesians chose one who fell down from heaven (JND) rather than accepting the glorious truth that God in the person of the Son willingly came down from heaven. The eternal Son, in the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men, tasted death. Thus every knee should bow and every tongue confess “Jesus Christ [as] Lord to the glory of God the Father. ” What joy to willingly bow before Him now!
36-37. “Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.”
In the midst of such heathen darkness, there is a bright testimony rendered to the actions of those who preached the gospel. It was clear to all that Paul and his company had taken nothing from them, nor had they used the gospel as a means of insulting their heathen superstitions.
Some false religions teach their adherents to destroy the lives and take the possessions of those who refuse to accept their message. The true gospel of the grace of God saves lives and gives blessing. Let us be very careful of the spirit in which we proclaim the “good news from a far country.”
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 [accuse] one another. ”
When the blessed Saviour was accused, He answered nothing (Mark 15:33And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. (Mark 15:3)). Sweet and needed spirit for believers! “When He was reviled, [He] reviled not again.” Many governments are proud of their judicial system which gives opposing parties equal opportunity to defend themselves. We need not defend ourselves, for our God is the “Judge of all the earth,” and He has promised to do right. “He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:77Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)).
39-41. “But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. 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. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.”
What a stark contrast between the fruit of man’s idolatry and the fruit of true Christianity. One produces an uproar; the other, peace with God. Do we experience an uproar in life or do we experience peace and quietness in happy fellowship with Him?
Chapter 20
1. “And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.”
When all of the world’s riot, unrest and confusion are a thing of the past, we still have our unchanging God and His unchanging Word as our refuge. May we be to each other what Paul was to the believers in Ephesus a provider of peace and love in the midst of trial and persecution.
2. “And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.”
Paul returned to Macedonia where previously at Philippi he and Silas had been so brutally treated. But the Apostle was as diligent in His preaching as the enemy was active in his opposition. Are we daily and diligently reading, embracing and speaking to others of the precious truths that are ours in Christ?
3. “And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.”
The Apostle did not flaunt his faith. Knowing that a “treacherous plot” (JND) had been set in motion by the Jews, rather than sailing to Syria as he had intended, he returned through Macedonia. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself” (Prov. 22:33A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. (Proverbs 22:3)). Knowing that God is over all and we may trust Him fully for our safety does not mean we are to willingly place ourselves in harm’s way.
4. “And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.”
Though we do not get doctrine from the meaning of names, they do have important significance. Those seven who accompanied Paul are mentioned by name, and the meanings of their names certainly suggest the character and joys of those who associate themselves with Paul (for us, morally, identification with Paul’s doctrine). Thus, we will find in his company fathers (Sopater), rulers (Aristarchus; see Heb. 13:7,177Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (Hebrews 13:7)
17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)), humility (Secundus), rejoicing (Gaius), honoring God (Timothy), happiness (Tychichus) and nourishment (Trophimus). Why would we ever seek for fellowship in this world when these blessings are so freely available?
5-6. “These going before tarried for us at Troas. And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.”
We are not told why the seven went ahead of Paul, but the Word assures us that they did not continue to travel apart from his company. They waited at Troas until all could be together to remember the Lord Jesus in His death. Let us diligently seek, as far as possible, to walk together, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the [uniting] bond of peace.”
Today the assembly of God, as to its public expression, is sadly divided, not gathered together as a public testimony of unity and oneness. Yet, even the two or three may still enjoy the precious privilege of being gathered together by the Holy Spirit to remember Him, thereby giving expression to the one body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ed.