Unfortunately, modern Americans are no strangers to mob violence. Over the last year, many of our largest cities have been engulfed by unrest for various reasons. And in many parts of the world, mobs continue to attack Christians, trying to prevent us from spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Why is that?

Well, Demetrius and the other silversmiths made quite a good living selling expensive trinkets to those who came to worship the goddess Artemis in Ephesus. And they knew that Paul had been very effective in convincing people that “gods made with hands are not gods” (19:26). They thus correctly concluded that the worship of Jesus excludes the worship of anyone or anything else. And that’s because Jesus does in fact claim to be the only true God.

And make no mistake – the same sort of desire to prop up false gods continues motivate much of the opposition to the Christian faith today. Oh, modern Americans don’t bow down to statues so much anymore. But those who are devoted to political power or money, to drugs or booze, to self-expression or sex are no more interested in having the Bible call the objects of their worship into question than were those ancient devotees of Artemis. And they are just as willing to whip up ignorant mobs, either in person or on social media, to “cancel” anyone who dares to challenge the things in which they place their faith.

So while the attacks on Christ and His teachings continue, we shouldn’t be shocked by them. After all, why should we receive any better treatment than Jesus Himself received?

Acts 19:23-41 (ESV)

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.
24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen.
25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth.
26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.
27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.
30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.
31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater.
32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.
34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.
37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.”
41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.