Acts 19:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Paul wished to go and speak. He used even disturbances themselves as occasions for instruction. But the disciples did not allow him. See what care they had for him everywhere.

Earlier also they had sent him away, lest he be struck with a deadly blow (Acts 17:15). Now they restrained him, though they had heard that he still had to see Rome. He had prudently foretold this to them, so that they would not be troubled by such events.

Yet they did not want him to suffer anything.

They asked Paul not to show himself at the spectacle, before the disorderly crowd and its assault. Paul obeyed, because he was neither vain nor ambitious. Knowing his zeal, they begged him. So greatly did all the faithful love him.

The disciples did not permit Paul to thrust himself into the excited crowd. So deeply did all the believers love him. And Paul listened to them, for he was not vainglorious.

Meanwhile a strong disturbance arose in Ephesus against the Apostle. It was at the same time proof of the significant consequences of his preaching in Asia Minor.

In this city silver and gold models were made of the famous temple of Diana located there. They were sent everywhere and brought rich revenues to the city. A certain Demetrius carried on a large manufacture of such models and employed many workers.

Seeing the powerful success of the Gospel in Asia Minor, and feeling his income diminish as faith in Diana began to decline, he feared that his craft would lose its whole course. He gathered those of like mind and easily inflamed their indignation against men who threatened to destroy Diana's glory and deprive them of income.

At this time a disturbance arose in Ephesus, stirred up against him by a certain silversmith named Demetrius. His chief craft was making silver models of the famous Ephesian temple of Artemis. Therefore the cooling of the pagans toward the temple of Artemis of Ephesus, which had occurred through the apostle's preaching, threatened the complete decline of his trade. Yet the popular tumult was soon calmed, and the disorderly crowd dispersed through the persuasion of a civil official. Thus Paul, against whom this popular disturbance had been raised, remained unharmed.

Burning with vengeance against the chief cause of their losses, the rebellious artisans and craftsmen wanted to seize the Apostle Paul himself. Not finding him personally, they seized two of his fellow workers, Gaius and Aristarchus, and dragged them into the theater for the crowd's vengeance and mockery. When the apostle learned of the danger to his beloved fellow workers, he wanted to go into the theater himself, to sacrifice himself. But the city authorities restrained him, because they feared an increase of the popular disturbance.

Paul wanted to enter among the people. This showed the great boldness and strength of spirit of Christ's soldier, to go toward a crowd enraged against him. "They did not allow him": of course, fearing for his life from the rebellious crowd.

Those who were stirred up against the Apostle Paul seem not even to have known him. Therefore they seized his companions, who had come to him from Macedonia. They dragged them to a spacious place where performances were held and the largest public assemblies gathered.

Such places were usually on mountain slopes. The top of the amphitheater, more or less leveled and covered with sand, was the arena. It was visible to everyone. Therefore all actions and speeches that had to be seen and heard took place there.

The Apostle Paul wished to appear there. But the authorities who sympathized with him begged him to refrain, and the disciples did not even allow him.