The Ephesian Flash Mob
We're nearing the end of Paul's three-year stay in Ephesus during his third missionary journey (Acts 20:31). God has used the apostle in amazing ways during his visit. Through powerful Bible teaching (Acts 19:8-9) and amazing miracles (Acts 19:11), the Lord had changed the way of life in this city of 300,000 plus and surrounding region (Acts 19:10, 20).
Christ's impact on Ephesus through Paul changes the local economy. Believers repent of witchcraft and burn a valuable volume of their books containing spells and incantations (Acts 19:19). As people come to faith in Jesus, they are devoting their entire lives to Him. That included their money.
Demetrius, the head of local silversmiths, union calls a meeting of the Ephesus Chamber of Commerce (Acts 19:23-27). A huge part of the Ephesian economy is based on the worship of the god Artemis. Not only is the city home to the incredible Temple of Artemis, craftsmen earn a tidy income shaping idols of the Greek god for people's homes. As Paul preaches Jesus and people repent of their idolatry, the bottom falls out of the silver idol market.
After hearing Demetrius' presentation, the local craftsmen and members of the chamber "were enraged" (v28). Literally translated, they were "filled with wrath." "Wrath" is the Greek word thumos,meaning the boiling up of passion and anger. Demetrius lights a fire under his listeners and they come to a boil.
His attentive audience quickly becomes an angry flash mob. They begin chanting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" This would be the equivalent of Americans busting out in "USA! USA! USA!" Demetrius pushes all of the right buttons concerning not only the local economy but civic pride. This meeting of the chamber of commerce is boiling over into something very, very ugly.
Suddenly the rally spills into the streets of Ephesus and "the city was filled with the confusion" (v29). The term here is sugchusis. It describes the confusion and uproar of mob violence. Things were rapidly getting out of control.
The horde grabs Gaius and Aristarchus, two members of Paul's team (v29). Luke describes them as "Macedonians" or natives of northern Greece. Later Gaius is referred to as from Derbe, a city in modern day Turkey (Acts 20:4). Later Paul writes of a man named Gaius he baptized in Corinth (1Cor 1:14) as well as being his host while on the road (Rom 16:23). This may be the same person who was originally from Derbe and settled later in Corinth.
Aristarchus is a native of Thessalonica in Macedonia (Acts 20:4). He later travels with Paul to his appearance before Caesar (Acts 27:2) and spends time at the apostle's side while in Roman custody (Col 4:10; Phm 24). Aristarchus is a faithful friend and companion of Paul's.
Chances are that these two men were part of Paul's entourage as he collected the famine relief offering for the church in Jerusalem. It would have made sense for churches along the way to send along a representative to steward their gift and assist Paul. These men would provide not only help and support but accountability.
Well, now they were being dragged by an angry mob to the Ephesian theater. This is a massive outdoor amphitheater capable of seating 25,000 people. This indicates the scope and size of the riot. It's probably the only place large enough to hold the number of people now involved. You can still visit this theater today. This may well be what Paul describes in a letter to the Corinthians. "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself" (2Cor 1:8).
Things had boiled over in Ephesus. Gaius and Aristarchus had simply accompanied Paul to help him get their churches offering to help other believers in Jerusalem. Now an angry mob drags them before an overflow crowd at the local amphitheater. While these two men may have never expected to find themselves in such a jam, they certainly know that they were not alone. Like the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace (Dan 3:25), Christ is with them the entire time.
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