SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/24/2018
10:15 PM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-2 “The Calming of the Riot”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts
19:35-41
Message of the verses: “35 After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said,
"Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the
city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the
image which fell down from heaven? 36 “So, since these are undeniable facts,
you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. 37 “For you have brought these
men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38
“So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint
against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let
them bring charges against one another. 39 “But if you want anything beyond
this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. 40 "For indeed we are in danger of being
accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real
cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this
disorderly gathering." 41 After saying this he dismissed the assembly.”
We learned in our last SD that the first thing that the
town clerk (mayor) was to talk about the idol, although he did not call this
god and idol. He now moves on to a more
serious issue: “37 “For you have brought
these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our
goddess.” This town clerk could have
told lies about these Christians, but he says that they have done nothing
wrong, which of course is against what Demetrius claimed of them.
The next thing that he does is to criticize Demetrius and
the craftsmen for starting this riot. ““38
So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint
against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let
them bring charges against one another. 39 “But if you want anything beyond
this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.” Now I said yesterday that this town clerk
(mayor) was looking out for his own job and for himself, for if the riot would
continue he would be in danger of losing his job. With that said he concludes his speech with a
sobering warning: “40 "For indeed we are in danger of being
accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real
cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this
disorderly gathering."” As I said I
think in a selfish way he was looking out for himself and his job. After this comment we read verse 41 “After
saying this he dismissed the assembly.””
John MacArthur concludes his commentary with the following: “The Ephesian believers weathered the storm
of persecution unleashed by Demetrius’s speech and the resulting riot. Indeed, the church at Ephesus would play a
prominent role in church history for several centuries. So again in Acts, God caused the wrath of men
to praise Him (Ps. 76:10).” “10 For the
wrath of man shall praise You (Psalm 76:10a).”
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
question: “Peter” (Acts 8:9).
Today’s Bible question: “Simon the sorcerer bewitched the people of
what city?”
Answer in our next SD.
6/24/2018 10:30 PM
No comments:
Post a Comment