Acts 19:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

All hurried to the public square, where they usually gathered. Many shouted, not knowing themselves what the matter was. Two of Paul's companions were seized. The Greek people, who made up the chief population of the city, generally hated the Jews who lived there as enemies of the gods. Popular hatred could easily flare into riot over a slight offense, from which the Jews might suffer greatly. In the present case, many still did not know what exactly caused the people's indignation. The Jews heard only that the people were stirred up because of an insult inflicted by enemies of the gods. They at once attributed the cause of this indignation to themselves. A certain man named Alexander appeared, in order to give the people an explanation and, if necessary, to place the blame on the Christians. But the appearance of such a man, who himself belonged among the enemies of the popular religion, only produced stronger irritation. The shouting increased still more. Yet these hostile dispositions toward the apostle seem to have been cherished only by the mob. The city officials knew Paul's manner of life and action during almost three years in Ephesus. This could not fail to give them a favorable judgment of Paul. Some of the city rulers who in that year managed religious affairs in Asia Minor, the Άσιάρχαι, and supervised the public games, even showed concern for his fate. They begged him not to appear before the people during this disturbance. Finally the city clerk succeeded in calming the riotous crowd. He explained that satisfaction should be sought by lawful procedure. He said it was impossible that anyone would rise against the great goddess of Ephesus, and that responsibility for the disturbance had to be feared.

Under such circumstances, outbreaks of popular fanaticism were inevitable, and the celebrations in Ephesus were often marked by them. The same thing happened now. That year a visible decline was noticed in the reckless revelry during the Ephesian festival, and the reason for this decline was well known. Not only in Ephesus, but in all the chief cities of proconsular Asia, deep interest had been aroused by the preaching of a certain Paul. In the very capital of idolatry, as was known, he calmly preached that things made by human hands are not gods at all. Many people had been inclined to accept this preaching. Still more, under its influence, had at least begun to regard senseless rites and lamentations with indifference, and even temples and idols as well. As a consequence, in Ephesus "there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way." Paul and his preaching, the "brethren" and their assemblies, were on everyone's lips. Many murmuring curses were uttered against them by priests and priestesses, and also by hundreds of dependents who gather around every great institution. At last this poorly concealed bitterness broke out openly.

He felt and saw that many other craftsmen thought the same. Therefore he resolved to stir them up, and for this purpose he gathered them and began to inflame them. In the same way, through misunderstanding, many other riots occur, making many people miserable. This happens especially among the blind adherents of the very object over which the disturbance arises. "Again danger, again confusion," exclaims Saint John Chrysostom. "Do we see Paul's excellence? He performed a multitude of signs, and still they attacked him. So varied were the events. See how idolatry is everywhere sustained by greed. He was wealthy, and for him the loss would not have been great. Others could have suffered more, being poor and supported by daily labor. Yet they say nothing, and only he speaks." He made shrines. These were probably small likenesses of the temple. Artemis was held in great honor in Ephesus. When her temple was burned, the inhabitants were so grieved that they even forbade the name of the one responsible for the fire to be spoken. "From the description of the riot, no participation of the temple hierarchy is evident. It may rather be admitted that they cherished a favorable and sympathetic feeling toward the holy apostle. The text of Acts gives full right to regard this riot solely as the work of Demetrius and craftsmen like him. The fabrication of models of the temple of Diana was very extensive and had a regular organization. A mass of workers lived by this work. The apostle's activity in Asia, and especially in Ephesus, for almost three years had almost completely undermined the income of Demetrius's association. Material losses are the most painful blows for ordinary mortals. The manufacturers feared losing their livelihood completely, and they revolted."