Acts 18:18-28, 19 | How To Start A Riot

People are people and have been doing the same things the same way since the beginning of time. Although the culture changes, the heart of men is consistent. That’s one of the reasons that the Bible is so relevant to every area of life.

In Acts 19, God is moving greatly, and “the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.” (vs. 20). It only took one greedy man. His name was Demetrius and his business was making silver images of the goddess Diana (Artemis) who was worshiped there in Ephesus. Demetrius started a riot, almost singlehandedly.

It began with greed: “Our prosperity depends upon this business ... Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people … there is a danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute.” (vs. 25-27)
It was fueled by confusion: “The city was filled with confusion” (vs. 29)
False accusations were made against Paul and then they dragged “Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions” into the riot, accusing them (vs. 29)
They stirred up a crowd, but “the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.” (vs. 32)
They shouted meaningless statements fueled by prejudice: “When they recognized that (Alexander who was trying to calm them) was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (vs. 34)

Satan loves to use such tactics to try to slow the work of God. We must understand the dynamics of what is happening and not let it deter us from the main task … helping people come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Father, help me understand what’s happening in my world. Show me what happens when the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of heaven collide. Let me not be worried by the enemy’s diversions and help me not to be diverted from the main task.