Passage of the Day - January 16, 2011

Acts 19:21-30

 ²¹Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."

 ²²And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

 ²³About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.

 ²⁴For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen;

 ²⁵these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.

 ²⁶"You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all.

 ²⁷"Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence."

 ²⁸When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

 ²⁹The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia.

All wars are fought over religion and/or money.  Usually, its money.  Therefore it is no surprise that Demetrius stirred up the tradesman and the people in order to maintain their cash cow.  When the message of Christ interfered with their money, they fought tooth and nail against it?  What is our reaction to the message of Christ when it interferes with our money?

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)