WEDNESDAY October 11, 2023
In the Midst of Mass Confusion
And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
Acts 19:30-32
Paul was warned by Christians close to him not to go into the amphitheater. These hostile people would tear him apart! But Paul did not care; he saw this situation as another opportunity to tell those opposing Christianity about Jesus Christ.
Besides, many people who had gotten caught up in the massive crowds that carried them away into the theater did not even know why they were there. People remained in the midst of mass confusion, thinking, What on earth is going on?
In an attempt to quiet the crowd, Alexander was brought up to address them and make his defense. As he was Jewish, which suggests he was a member of a local synagogue, but not a believer in Christ, it only served to aggravate the situation. It added fuel to the fire! Perhaps God did not allow him to speak, knowing that he would have most likely caused even more persecution against the Church. Whatever the case, chaos broke loose:
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:33-34).
Imagine, without stopping, for two long hours, the people in Ephesus cried out, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” In life-threatening circumstances such as these, only God could intervene, in such a chaotic scene, to help those who belonged to Him.
God is faithful, and that trumps all our problems, tears, tragedies, and the very prospect of death itself.
~David Jeremiah~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
