If you had asked the people of Ephesus to describe God, many would have said god is Artemis, the great goddess, whose image fell to us from heaven. (Acts 19:35.)
Demetrius was a silversmith, and he made silver images and statues of the goddess “Artemis of the Ephesians.” (verses 23-24.)
One day he called together workers in related trades and said, “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul … says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.” (verses 24-27.)
The people of Ephesus had been listening to Paul’s message, about the One true God. (Exodus 20:1-6.) And “the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour” by some Ephesians. (Acts 19:17.)
But, why had the apostle Paul spoken against their man-made gods? Because he had to tell them what the True God said, and thought, about man-made images! (Deuteronomy 4:15-18. Jeremiah 10:2-5.) The people would have to choose.
The immortal God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, is insulted, and provoked to anger, when images made to look like man, or woman, or other objects are used in worship. (Romans 1:21-23.) God describes Himself as a Jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24. 5:7-10. 6:13-15.) Jealous, because He is the ONLY TRUE GOD, and will not tolerate people giving worship and praise, that is due to Him alone, to others, and to objects! (Isaiah 42:8.) “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only,” Jesus said. (Luke 4:8.)
Demetrius was very angry with Paul’s message about the Lord Jesus Christ, because it had “convinced and led astray large numbers of people”! (verse 26.) What would become of Demetrius’ business? What would become of the great goddess, if people no longer wanted the silver models of her? “She will be robbed of her divine majesty!” (verse 27.) The furious crowd started shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Soon the whole city was in an uproar.” (verse 29.)
This looked as if it was going to become very nasty for Paul, and his companions. These religious people were zealous for their idolatrous worship of the great goddess.
Some people today want to worship a goddess that they call the “queen of Heaven”, and they also resent any call to worship God only. (Jeremiah 7:16-23. 44:17,25-27.) Do you have anything that would be like the great goddess in your life? Someone, or something, that is taking the place the One True God alone should have? It is a serious thing to provoke God to jealousy! (Psalm 78:58-59. Deuteronomy 32:15-16.)
You must be willing to turn away from the worship of others, to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He alone can forgive your sins, and He will put His law within your heart, making you want to worship and obey God alone. (Hebrews 10:10-18.)
Read Acts chapter 19, verses 21-28
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