Acts 19:23-41 | Living for Christ in a Confused WorldSample

Into the Fray

Several years ago, at a preaching conference, the speaker put on the screen a picture of the theater in Ephesus – a colossal colosseum capable of seating over 25,000. Imagine, for a moment, the scene in Acts 19 playing out there. (We’ve supplied a picture below.) The people are furious, shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The whole city is in an uproar. People are being seized. Mass confusion. Some shouting one thing, some another. Most people are unsure what’s going on, but are caught up in the riot. Any attempt to bring reason into the situation just escalates the situation.

Too often, the confusion of this world becomes angry, violent, reactionary, and unwilling to listen.

Here was the question at that conference. Would you want to go into that?

Paul did.

Here’s what Acts says, “Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater” (Acts 19:30, NIV).

He wanted to go in.

What sparks an attitude like that?

From what we can discern in Acts and Paul’s letters, a desire that others would come to see the truth that brings clarity and life in Jesus Christ and his gospel. Paul knew what it was like to be lost in spiritual confusion. He experienced it personally, having anchored his life in distorted beliefs. He saw what Jesus did for him. He knew what Jesus could do for others.

The speaker at that conference went so far as to say (tongue-in-cheek) that seminary faculty should show that picture of Ephesus on the first day anyone attends a seminary, and simply ask, “Does that inspire you?”

“No?”

“Go home.”

Living for Christ in a confused world should produce a zeal and desire that people would come to see Christ, be saved, and leave a life of confusion. Paul was ready to step into a riot for the sake of the gospel. He wasn’t angry at the mob. His heart was for them.

For the silversmiths, it was safety first. For Paul, it was safety last. William Barclay asks: Have we learned the lesson of being so definite in our witness that people feel a threat to their vested interest while being so innocent in actual behavior that there’s nothing to be accused of?

Perhaps there are two lessons to be learned. The first is to live with courage for Christ no matter the cost. But the second is to practice discernment. Paul was ready to rush right in, but the disciples knew it wasn't the right moment. In a world of conflict and confusion, how do you determine when it’s best to speak and when to be silent? How do you check your own fears and desires against what’s best for bringing people closer to the kingdom of God?