Culture of the worshippers of Diana seize Paul’s companions.

Acts 19:28-34

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” Acts 19:28

“They” refers to the trade unions of the silversmiths and other such occupations that were becoming wealthy by making shrines for Diana [also known as Artemis]. They heard that the Apostle Paul had turned many people away from Diana to serve God in the Spirit, not through things made by human hands. They feared that their trade was becoming disrespected and that the goddess Diana/Artemis was being despised and no longer revered. That is described in the previous section of Acts 19:23-27. That caused the trade unions to reaffirm their devotion to Diana by crying out, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

A description of the goddess Diana/Artemis is described in the post on the introduction to Diana/Artemis.

In today’s culture, which is global, the trade unions are every single occupation and person working in harmony with community values. The financial prosperity of the economies of cities, states, and nations are integrated with the god that gives them what to speak, do, feel, and think. The global economy benefits from the financial success of peoples and nations across the globe [as seen in the chart of the previous post on Acts 19:23-27].

When today’s financial prosperity is threatened by the values of we who live for Jesus Christ, the atheistic community culture protests with outcries similar to, “Great is the culture of the people!”, which is a translation of, “…who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:4 Click here for a post on “The Beast is Unchallengeable”.

“So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.” Acts 19:29

At hearing that the goddess Diana was in danger of being demeaned, and financial prosperity in danger of collapse, the people of Ephesus were filled with confusion. They needed to know what was going on, so they grabbed members of the Way of Jesus Christ, Paul’s companions, and forced them into the theatre. The theatre was the “Great Theatre of Ephesus, the largest public forum in Ephesus, capable of accommodating around 25,000 people. The theatre was used for public events and gatherings of all types.

In today’s world, you can envision the confusion that would arise if people in cities around the world woke up to hear through news and social media that a global recession is approaching and the god that gives them what to speak, think, feel, and do is no longer a relevant power. That will be the scenario at the coming of the Fifth Plague [Revelations 16:10-11], when the power center of the beast is destroyed. That is the power center of the global government and its global culture. They will no longer be empowered by the beast that gives them what to speak, think, do, and say. Losing that empowerment will cause much confusion to set in. Everyone will lose their uncanny knowledge, extraordinary skills, uncanny authority over others, heightened intuition, amazing physical abilities etc. On top of that, with the collapse of the power center of the beast comes the collapse of the global economy, as described in Revelations 18.

During the time when the power center of the beast is plunged into darkness, there is going to be lawlessness everywhere. People will be seeking revenge against the government that once controlled their every word and movement.

“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.” Acts 19:30-31

The “Great Theatre of Ephesus” was filled with very many angry, hostile, and confused individuals who knew they hated the Way of Jesus Christ because of their love for the goddess Diana. Paul wanted to go inside to defend his fellow Christians, Gaius and Aristarchus. The worshippers of Diana were hyped-up, especially against Paul, whom they knew by name. The last things the followers of Jesus Christ wanted was for Paul to walk into that theatre, it would have ended badly. Even some of the officials of Asia [Asia Minor is the province where Ephesus was], urged Paul not to enter that theatre.

In today’s culture, the theatre is global and consists of hostilities towards the way of Jesus Christ. The global culture loves the beast that prospers them in worldly ways while governing through their thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors. As followers of Jesus, we are warned not to enter into the theatre where atheism prevails and hatred to Christians are the norm, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:4-5

“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 19:32

Multitudes of people were called to gather at the largest theatre in Ephesus, but most of them had no idea why they were gathered. In today’s culture, most people don’t have a clue what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about, but they know that it’s mandatory to embrace the will of the atheistic community culture. When they are called to gather in protests and riots against anyone or anything that comes against the atheistic culture, they do so.

 “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

The Jewish people pushed Alexander forward to the front of the crowd, and the worshippers of Diana drew him up to the stage. The purpose was for Alexander to give his defense as to what was happening relating to the goddess Diana being disrespected and the Ephesus economy being headed towards collapse. However, when Alexander was recognized as being Jewish, the worshippers of Diana cried out, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” The people of Ephesus knew that the Jewish people considered them to be Gentiles and that they were heathens for worshipping the goddess, Diana. While that sounds like what Paul was preaching, he was preaching faith in Jesus Christ through the Spirit, and that faith in God through the laws of Judaism was not necessary.

In today’s culture, most people don’t have a clue what faith in God through Jesus Christ means and are not familiar with the idea of living in the presence of the Holy Spirit. As soon as they realize that someone is a Christian, and desires to speak about faith in Jesus Christ, the Chrisitan is immediately cut off from speaking. Then today’s culture responds by saying “Great is the god that gives what to speak, do, feel, and think”.

Jesus says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 Also, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11