738
THE KING’ S BUSINESS
that this doctrine would have a bad effect on his business and the business o f his associates. Demetrius was just like many today who wish the preacher to square his preaching not with the W ord o f God, but with financial considerations. Demetrius was just like the people who oppose prohi bition, not because the prohibition o f the sale and manufacture o f intoxicating liquors would not be helpful to a great many people who are now being destroyed, but because they are interested in raising grapes for the manufacture o f wine, or in distilleries and saloons and do not wish their business injured and their income reduced. The first and chief danger was injury to business, and that was the real motive that led Demetrius to take the action he did. But he saw also another danger, viz., that poor Diana and her religion were imperiled (v. 27). It is doubtful if Deme trius' really cared' much for Diana, but he knew that an appeal to religious prejudices would carry many with him whose co-oper ation he greatly desired. There are many today who become very enthusiastic relig ionists if they can coin money out o f it or get an office out o f it. His statement that all Asia and the world worshipped Diana was hardly consistent with his professed apprehension concerning her, nor was it exactly true. Some were enraged because they saw their business going to pieces, others because they saw their religion going to pieces, so-there was a concert o f action to re-establish business and religion at the same ^time. In unison they opened their mouths and yelled, “ Great is Diana o f the Ephesians!” They thought if they could shout it loud enough they could prove their point. This way o f proving a point has not gone out o f use even in our day. If men want to promote something that is false, they get up a long procession and carry banners, and scream, and think in this way if they can only get enough men in the procession and have big enough ban ners and yell loud enough, their point is carried. The crowd that can yell the loud est are quite sure they have proved their
point and carried the day. But somehow or other Diana o f the Ephesians lost her hold on men from that day on, though they screamed for two straight hours. The trou ble is points proven in that way do not stay proven. vs. 30, 31. “And when Paul would have entered (was minded to enter) in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain /add, also) o f the chief ("add, offi cers) o f 'A sia , being (which were) his ffiends, sent unto him, desiring .(and besought) him that he would not (not to) venture himself into the theatre." There was a rare combination o f fearless courage and humble common sense in Paul. The mad mob awakened a manly fire in Paul’s soul: he wished to go into the midst o f the riot and proclaim Jesus. He yielded, how ever, to the entreaties o f the disciples and the persuasion o f his friends who were in places o f power. The time will come when Paul will have the opportunity o f facing a maddened mob, but that will be further on, the time had not come as yet. vs. 32-34. “ Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: fo r the assembly was confused, (in confusion;) and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew (brought) A lex ander out o f the multitude, the Jew s put ting him forward. And Alexander beck oned with the hand, and would have made his defense unto the people. But when they knew (perceived) that he was a Jew , all with one voice about the space o f two hours, cried out, Great is Diana o f the Ephesians.” Mobs are always irrational, and mob law always insane. Individual men who are perfectly rational by themselves, will do the most ridiculous things when they get in a crowd. There was a perfect babel o f voices, one crying one thing and ohe another. It did not make much dif ference what they' cried as long as they yelled loud enough. There was utter con fusion, and the majority knew not why they were come together. That is the usual way it is with a mob. A Jew was put forward. It could be easily seen that he was a Jew ,'
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