Have you given much thought whether you would stick to the truth, obey and follow the truth, even if it resulted in a decrease in your income or cost you in some other way? When that is the consequence of following truth, then the whole observing universe can find out whether or not you really love the truth.
During the three years the apostle Paul ministered in Ephesus, a large church was developed. From that city the gospel spread to seven other cities in Asia. The apostle at that time thought it was time to make another missionary journey to visit the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, the area we call Greece today. His hope also was to preach the gospel in Rome. The church at Ephesus still demanded his presence; so he decided to remain there for a time. However, an event soon happened that hastened his departure. It was customary in Ephesus to devote the entire month of May to the worship of the great heathen goddess Diana. Universal honor had been given to this deity. The magnificence of her temple and her worship attracted an immense number of people from all over.
Festivities were conducted with great pomp and splendor and the heathen gods were represented by persons chosen for this purpose. These people were then regarded as objects for worship and were honored by processions and various religious rituals. There were musical contests and feats of athletes. Fierce combats were held of men and beasts for entertainment. Paul says, “If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:32)! Admiring crowds came to take part in the festivities which were held in the vast theaters. Certain men were chosen to conduct the grand celebrations. These were very wealthy men of the highest distinction in Asia and they were expected to defray the entire expense of the occasion. It was time when the whole city of Ephesus became a place of brilliant display and wild revelry. Imposing processions swept to the grand temple and the people gave themselves up to feasting and drunkenness and the vile practices that have always accompanied the worship of pagan idols.
This was a time of great trial to the people who had newly become Christians; they did not engage in the heathen festivities. They took seriously the first commandment that says, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3) and the second commandment that forbids the use of idols or images in worship (verses 4–6). So, the company of believers were an inharmonious note in all of the festivities that were going on and became the target of ridicule, reproach, and the victims of insult. Fully in accord with Scriptural instruction, Paul had taught against the use of any kinds of idols.
In 1 John, the 5th chapter, the apostle John says, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (verse 21). In other words, don’t have anything to do with idols. This message caused a perceptible falling off in attendance at the national festival and a decrease in the enthusiasm of the worshipers. The influence of Paul’s teachings had extended far beyond the actual number of people who had become Christians. There were many who had not openly accepted Christian doctrines but who were so far enlightened as to lose all confidence in the heathen gods.
Paul’s presence in the city called special attention to this fact, resulting in loud and bitter curses being uttered against him. There was yet another cause of dissatisfaction. It had been long customary among heathen nations to manufacture small images, or shrines, to represent their favorite objects of worship. Portable statues had been modeled after the image of Diana and they were widely circulated in the countries along the shores of the Mediterranean. There were also models of the temple enshrining an idol inside. These were all regarded as objects of worship and carried at the head of the processions, on journeys, and on military expeditions. Those people who were involved in this kind of industry found their profits diminishing and united in attributing the unwelcome change to Paul’s labors.
Acts 19:23–28 says, “About that time there arose a great commotion about the Way [that is, about the way of Christianity]. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: ‘Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.’ Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians!’ ”
The report of this speech was rapidly circulated and the uproar was terrible and the whole city seemed to be in commotion. An immense crowd gathered and a rush was made to the workshop of Aquilla to find Paul. The mob was so insanely angry that they were ready to tear him to pieces. Paul’s life would not have been spared unless the Lord had worked a direct miracle to deliver him from their hands. By the time the mob arrived, some of the Christians had already hurried Paul out of that place. The Bible says that, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him” (Psalm 34:7), and angels guarded the faithful apostle away from the trouble. It was not yet his time to die a martyr’s death, as the Lord had more work for Paul.
When they failed to find Paul, the angry crowd seized two of his acquaintances. “The whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions” (Acts 19:29). Paul’s place of concealment was not a long way away. He soon learned of his brothers’ peril and forgetful of his own safety, he wanted to go at once to the theater and give an answer. However, the other Christians realized that Paul was the focal point of their rage and if he should appear, it would arouse the worst passions of the mob. Then there would not be the least human possibility of saving his life. Verse 30 says, “When Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.”
Paul’s desire was to defend the truth, but several of the most honorable and influential among the magistrates of the city sent him an earnest warning not to come into a situation that was so dangerous. This was proof of the regard in which Paul was held by the leading men of Asia, and it was no small tribute to his sterling integrity. Notice verse 31: “Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.” The tumult in this theater was continually increasing. It says, “Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together” (verse 32).
Because Paul and his companions were of Hebrew extraction, the Jews did not want the situation blamed on them; so they tried to make it known that they didn’t have any part of the Christians. The Bible says, “They drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians’ ” (verses 33, 34)! There wasn’t anything that could be done; they weren’t in any mood to make nice distinctions. They saw that he was a Jew, they thrust him aside, and they yelled for two hours.
At last, as a result of sheer exhaustion, there came a momentary silence and the recorder of the city, by virtue of his office, used this opportunity to arrest their attention and to obtain a hearing. This man, by his prudence and good judgment, soon succeeded in quieting the excitement. It says, “And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: ‘Men of Ephesus, what man is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.’ And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly” (verses 35–41).
The clerk showed that there was no cause for what the mob was doing and appealed to their reason to decide whether the strangers who had come among them could change the opinions of the world regarding their ruling goddess. He skillfully turned the subject from blasphemy against their goddess to suggesting that the courts were the place for any other differences to be settled. He closed with a warning that such an uproar without an apparent cause might subject the city of Ephesians to the censure of the Romans, thus causing a restriction of the liberty which they then enjoyed. He intimated that there must not be a repetition of a scene like this. So, having by this speech tranquilized the disturbed elements, he dismissed the assembly.
Now when we read the story, the words of Demetrius reveal the real cause of the tumult at Ephesus and the cause of much of the persecution that existed in the apostle’s day, and which still exists today.
The reason had to do with the fact that the apostles were telling the truth. Demetrius said, “Not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship” (verse 27). So, what was the problem? The problem was they were in a very profitable business of image making, and this business was endangered by the large number of people who were accepting the gospel. The income, not only of the artisans, but of pagan priests, was at stake. For this reason they instituted the most bitter opposition to the apostle and refused to receive or investigate the new religion which would have made them wise unto salvation.
Because of this uproar, Paul decided to leave (Acts 20:1). In the apostle’s day there were many people who had heard about the gospel but refused to receive it because it would have caused a decrease in their income. They would not have been able to have the large income from the practice of sin that they presently enjoyed; it would decrease. Income was more important to these people than following the truth so, they rejected the truth. That has continually happened right down through the ages.
In 2 Peter, the 2nd chapter, the apostle talks about this problem occurring not just in the past, but how it would occur in the future. He says, “These, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing [beguiling] unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet” (verses 12–16).
“These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (verse 17). Whom is he talking about? O, he’s talking about people who love the wages of unrighteousness. They believe that the devil pays very well. They are living in sin and participating with others in sin and getting paid very well for it. There are still practices of sin today by which people earn high pay; they love the wages of unrighteousness. O, friend, how much money does it take to dissuade you from following the truth? For some people it’s not very much. They love and receive the wages of unrighteousness, but they will also receive the end result of unrighteousness. Jesus said, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Mark 8:36, 37 KJV)? O, friend, do you love the truth? You cannot be saved if you do not love the truth.
The antichrist will deceive the world. The Bible says, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).
How is it with you, today, friend? Do you love the truth enough to stick to it, obey it, and follow its principles, even if it results in a decrease in your income? There are people today whose incomes will be severely cut if they choose to follow the truth, because they are obtaining their income from the pleasures and ways of sin. Balaam sought riches from a dishonorable source as did Judas. Their love of worldly riches cost them their souls.
Choose the course of righteousness regardless of the cost. Waste no more time in worldly pursuits, but say to the Lord, “Lord, I’m willing to forsake everything and follow You and obey the truth.”
Jesus said that the truth, obeyed, would sanctify His followers (see John 17); the apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:22). What is your experience today, friend? Do you love the truth? Are you willing to follow the truth even if it results in financial cost?
(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)
Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.