Acts 19:32 states, Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. We are told that the assembly was confused, not knowing why they had come together. We often see the mob mentality today, with people caught up in the crowd but not really knowing why they are there. We can get quite a mixture working together against Christians, with humanists, agnostics, atheists, and other religions combining in their opposition to Christ. We have already been told that those who are not for Christ are against Him. There really can be no neutrality. Though Paul would have willingly been in the midst of the confusion, he listened to his friends and trusted God to be with them. We cannot be in every battle the world wages against Christians, but we can be sure God is. No matter the outcome, if we remain faithful to Him, we win. Verse thirty-three adds, And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. Though they were not the ones stirring up trouble for Paul and the other Christians, the Jews finally got involved. We are told they drew out Alexander from the multitude, the Jews putting him forth. He beckoned them with his hand and was going to make his defense. Remember, there was a lot of confusion, and the people were trying to figure out why they were there. In the midst of confusion and uproar today, someone may be put forth to give an answer as to what is going on, but they may find that when people realize who they are and what they represent they are no longer willing to listen. Verse thirty-four continues, But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. This is what happened when the crowd realized Alexander was a Jew. Whatever Alexander was going to say, most likely against Paul, the worshippers of Diana knew the Jews opposed all idolatry, so they didn't give him a chance to talk. For two hours they cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” Even when people are unified in their opposition to Christianity, they do not always listen to each other's religious beliefs. Verse thirty-five states, And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Then a town clerk appeased the people. Since his claim was the image fell from heaven, it was not made by man. When we hear of religion based on books or images or anything else that fell from heaven, we can be sure it is false. Verse thirty-six adds, Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. The clerk told them that since these things could not be spoken against, they shouldn't do anything rash. If the city of Ephesus did worship Diana, and she was a real goddess, then nothing could be said against her that would change that fact. Since God is indeed the only real God, no matter what people may say about Him will ever change that fact. Verse thirty-seven continues, For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. They had nothing to accuse Gaius and Aristarchus of. They had not robbed churches or blasphemed Diana. If people make accusations against us today, we should do our best to ensure that they are false accusations. Verse thirty-eight says, Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. He told them that if Demetrius and the craftsmen had a problem, let them take it up with the courts. This is still good advice today, even if we sometimes question certain courts. Verse thirty-nine adds, But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. He also said if they had any other complaints, it would be settled in lawful assembly. They could not take the law into their own hands, and yet people still try to do this today. Verse forty continues, For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. He said they could find themselves answering for the uproar. Since they were the ones who were making false accusations, they might have to answer to the higher authorities. It is too bad that people today are not held accountable for causing uproars by making false claims. Verse forty-one concludes, And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. Then he dismissed the assembly. The people may have been proclaiming the greatness of Diana, but they were more concerned with the power of the government. As Christians, we must always put what God teaches above what the government teaches if there is a conflict with the two.
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