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The Replacement of Judas (Acts of the Apostles #3)

Joshua Edgren on

INTRODUCTION

The main action in the second half of this first chapter has to do with the replacement of Judas Iscariot. But along the way, we learn quite a few things about the early days of the apostolic company.

THE TEXT

“Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren . . . And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:12–26).

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

 After seeing Jesus ascend, the disciples came back to Jerusalem from Olivet (v. 12). This was a sabbath day’s journey, or about 2/3 of a mile. They came to an upper room, where all the remaining disciples were staying (v. 13). They devoted themselves there to prayer, together with the women, the Lord’s mother and brothers (v. 14). At some point, Peter stood up and addressed them, with the assembled numbering around 120 (v. 15). He said that the treachery of Judas, who guided them to Jesus, was a fulfillment of prophecy (v. 16). Judas was one of them, and was a minister with the rest (v. 17). The 30 pieces of silver had been used to purchase a field, the same field where Judas burst apart (v. 18). This become common knowledge, which resulted in that field being name Aceldama, field of blood (v. 19). The previously mentioned prophecy is then cited, from two places (v. 20). The first is from Ps. 69:25 and the second from Ps. 109:8. The task before the disciples that day was select a replacement for Judas, someone who had been with them from the baptism of John on, up to the ascension (vv. 21-22) They picked out two men who met those qualifications, Joseph and Matthias (v. 23). They then prayed to the one who knows all hearts, asking Him to demonstrate which one He chose (v. 24). This would be a man to join them in ministry, filling the office that Judas fell from by transgression, in order to go to his own place (v. 25). They then cast lots, Matthias was selected, and he was installed with the eleven (v. 26).

A BRIEF HARMONY

The gospels tell us that Judas threw the money down in the Temple before leaving to hang himself (Matt. 27:5), but this passage tells us that Judas bought a field with the money (Acts 1:18). The harmonization is that the Temple authorities bought the field with Judas’s money, and in Judas’s name. And the gospels tell us that Judas hanged himself (Matt. 27:5), and here it says he fell headlong and burst open (Acts 1:18). Which is it? Both. He hanged himself, but no one came and got him, and after some time the rope broke and he fell headlong and came apart.

THE USE OF LOTS

The Lord’s intention in selecting twelve apostles was not accidental. He was deliberately establishing the foundations of a new Israel, and Israel was composed of twelve tribes. The New Jerusalem is the Christian church, and it has twelve gates that are named for the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev. 21:12). The foundation stones of this same church are the apostles (Eph. 2:20). Not only so, but the territory of Canaan was divided up between the tribes by lot. “By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe” (Joshua 14:2).

And when Peter is exhorting elders not to be imperious, he tells them not to be lords over God’s heritage. The word for heritage is kleros—allotment. And in 2 Cor. 10:16, Paul is being very careful not to intrude into another man’s area of ministry, or territory. Paul also comments that he had a special commission to Gentiles just as Peter had to the Jews (Gal. 2:8). It appears that apostles could cross these boundaries, but they did so with care . . . because good fences make good neighbors.

In short, we shouldn’t conclude that casting lots is a great way to make decisions so much as to conclude that the early disciples were clearly echoing the ancient Israelite conquest of Canaan. They were dividing up the world, preparing for their invasion of it . . . once the Spirit was given.

CENTURIES BEFORE JUDAS WAS BORN

Jesus knew that one of the twelve was going to betray Him, and He knew who it was going to be very early in His ministry. “Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him” (John 6:64). John says this knowledge was “from the beginning,” which may account for why the Lord prayed all night before He announced His selection (Luke 6:12-13). At the Last Supper, the Lord washed the feet of Judas, and then later we are told that Jesus identified Judas by giving him a piece of bread after dipping it (John 13:26). Centuries before, David had prophesied that one who had shared bread with the Christ would be the one who betrayed him (Ps. 41:9), and Jesus pointed to this prophecy that evening (John 13:18). And the fact that Judas would create a vacancy by his betrayal was written long before he was born.

Psalm 69 is a clear Messianic psalm, and is quoted in the New Testament in five different places. “Those who hate me without a cause” (v. 4) is quoted in John 15:25 and applied to those who had seen the Lord’s miracles and hated Him anyway. “Zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” is quoted in John 2:17 in the description of the Lord’s first cleansing of the Temple. The second part of that same verse—“the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me” is quoted in Rom. 15:3, where Paul applies it to Christ who lived out an example for us to follow. “Let their table becomes a snare before them . . .” (vv. 22-23) is quoted in Rom. 11:9 and applied by Paul to reprobate Israel. And then the verse that Peter quotes in our passage comes next—“let their habitation be desolate,” talking about the void that Judas left.

The next psalm quoted is one of the fiercest imprecatory psalms in the Bible (Ps. 109), and Peter quotes it without embarrassment. “Let another take his office.” The Greek in Acts 1 is episkopas—his bishopric. Prior to this, Judas had cast out demons, and had healed the sick. His treachery did not unwind those blessings, and did not cause the office itself to disappear.

Nothing is clearer than that God has the ability to wield sinful and wicked actions in a way that results in His own greater glory. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23). “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done” (Acts 4:27–28).

There is no way for the Christ to be appointed to die for you without having other elements of the story appointed also.

 

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Shepherds of the Sheep (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #37) (KC)

Joshua Edgren on

INTRODUCTION

Since the beginning, the church has been led by qualified men called “elders.” This was the case in Ephesus and in all the churches (Tit. 1:5). These men are called to shepherd the flock of God by feeding it and guarding it by the entire Word of God.

The Text: “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons…” (Acts 20:17-38)

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

Paul called the Ephesian elders together for a final charge before he departed, reviewing the manner of his ministry, his intensity, diligence, and sacrifice, saying it was to be his last time (Acts 20:17-25, cf. 20:38). Therefore, Paul makes a point for the record that he has not held back any part of God’s Word from them and is therefore innocent of their blood before God, as a faithful watchman (Acts 20:26-27, cf. Ezek. 3, 33). He charges the elders to follow his example in guarding and feeding the flock of God, warning them specifically about wolves arising in their own midst (Acts 20:28-31). He commends them to God and His Word and his own example of ministry, prays with them all before parting (Acts 20:32-38).

ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD

Paul emphasizes in this final charge to the Ephesian elders his ministry of God’s Word: teaching publicly and from house to house, testifying of repentance and the gospel, preaching the kingdom of God, and the whole counsel of God, and therefore, the elders are to feed the flock, build up the saints, by the same Word of God’s grace.

This is what we mean by “All of Christ for All of Life.” We mean all of Scripture, applied all the time, everywhere. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). This means that our goal must be to study and know the whole Bible. Many modern Christians are only taught snippets and a few stories. We are not prepared for all good works because we do not know all of Scripture. What does God’s Word say about immigration, sexuality, politics, finances, or friendship? We must not be selective in our Bible study. And elders are entrusted with making sure that we are not leaving anything out: Genesis to Revelation.

FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD

The whole Bible is our food, and elders are entrusted with making sure the flock is actually eating. The center of this is Lord’s Day worship, where the elders that labor in word and doctrine teach and preach the Word openly (1 Tim. 5:17). But all elders are entrusted with checking in “house to house.” We don’t just put the food out and hope for the best; elders are shepherds under the Chief Shepherd who care for the health of the flock (1 Pet. 5:1-4).

This is how Christians are built up (Acts 20:32). If Christians have become weak and impotent, it is because we have a famine of God’s Word (Amos 8:11). This is why Scripture requires God’s people to follow “those who rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God… for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief” (Heb. 13:7, 17). There is an exhortation here in both directions: elders must speak the word, set good examples, and watch over souls, and members must heed that counsel, follow those examples, and make this job a joy and not a grief.

GUARD THE CHURCH OF GOD

Elders are also required by to guard God’s flock from wolves. This is one of the reasons why elders must be men. This is a frontline, combat and security position. Those who become elders have to imitate Paul’s willingness to “not count his life dear” (Acts 20:24). Sometimes this requires literal martyrdom, but it frequently includes public hatred and persecution (Mt. 5:11-12, 2 Tim. 3:12).

This task of guarding is never “off duty” and is intense because it includes the internal temptations of elders, their own households, plus the rest of the elder board and the congregation, while continuing to preach the gospel to those outside. Elders are held to a high standard of personal holiness and household faithfulness (1 Tim. 3, Tit. 1). Paul says this was intense for him personally (Acts 20:19), and he insists that this will be the same for the Ephesian elders, some of whom will be led astray and lead others astray (Acts 20:29-30). Therefore, elders must watch and pray constantly, and the flock must watch and pray.

Church scandals are some of the most damaging events for the faith of Christians, but there ought to be some comfort in hearing these words from 2,000 years ago. How many scandals have there been since then? And look at the church of Jesus Christ. We must be faithful, and sometimes the world will accuse us of scandal, when all we did was deal with sin like the Bible says (Mt. 18, 1 Cor. 5).

APPLICATIONS

Pray for faithful elders and pastors: We live in a great famine of the Word, but it is not for lack of access to the Word. Rather, we have churches filled with men who will not tell the whole truth, who pander and flatter, tickling the ears of their hearers, prizing their own lives and reputations over the glory of Christ and the care of His church (cf. Jn. 12:43). By doing this, they are hating and abusing the flock of God, refusing to feed and guard them.

Trust in Jesus Christ not men: God has determined to care for His people through fallible men (and this is true in all governments), and this really is for our good. He knows what He is doing. But we must not follow mindlessly: we submit in the Lord. We follow them as they follow Christ because He is the Good Shepherd: He purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28, Jn. 10:28). He died for His church so that “He might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).

When John was given a glimpse of the future glory of the world, He saw the Church descending from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Rev. 21:2), and all things made new (Rev. 21:5). And faithful elders are central to this project.

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The Comfort of Christ (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #36) (KC)

Joshua Edgren on

INTRODUCTION

We live in a fallen world of turmoil, and we do not yet see everything under the feet of Christ, but we see Christ (Heb. 2:8-9). We do not yet see every nation discipled, every cancer cured, or death itself destroyed, but we see Jesus who has tasted death for every man, so that by Him, we may have a peace in this world that the world cannot give. We see in this text that this was a central part of Paul’s missionary work, and it continues to be a central part of the mission of the church.

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

As planned, Paul left Ephesus to go back to Macedonia and Greece, where he comforted the churches for some time before returning with seven assistants, sailing from Philippi to Troas right around Easter (Acts 20:1-6). On the following Sunday, the disciples gathered for worship, and the service went late into the night, and while Paul was preaching, a young man fell asleep and fell to his death out of the third story window of the house they were meeting in (Acts 20:7-9). When Paul came down, he embraced the young man, bringing him back to life, and the service finished with the Lord’s Supper, bringing great comfort to everyone (Acts 20:10-12). From there, Paul made his way back toward Ephesus, coming to Miletus, to take a ship to Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 20:13-16).

ENCOURAGEMENT & TEAMWORK

Following the uproar of Ephesus, Paul spends some time “comforting” the churches that have started (Acts 20:2). The root word for “comfort” is the same that Jesus uses to describe the Holy Spirit, the “Comforter,” who was promised to lead the disciples into all truth (Jn. 14:26, 15:26). Closely related is the fact that Paul is accompanied by a number of companions and disciples, at least seven of which are probably official representatives of churches Paul had planted, perhaps even delegates, bringing an offering to Jerusalem (cf. Acts 24:17). And the result of the worship service in Troas and the healing of Eutychus was “not a little comfort” (Acts 20:12). The ministry of the church is a ministry of comfort and encouragement (Acts 9:31, Rom. 15:4, 2 Cor. 1:4).

LORD’S DAY WORSHIP

At the center of this comfort is worship on the Lord’s Day, “the first day sabbath” (Acts 20:7), which is worth underlining, since it has often been translated as only “first day of the week.” But the word is actually “sabbath.” The same goes for all of the resurrection accounts: Jesus rose on the “first day sabbath” (Mt. 28:1, Mk. 16:2, Lk. 24:1, Jn. 20:1). In the Old Testament, there were various “sabbath days” that landed on different days of the week (new moon, festival days, cf. Lev. 23:39). As Phil Kayser has pointed out, in the first creation, God intended Adam and Eve to enjoy the sabbath as their first full day in the world, but they sinned and the Old Covenant condition was symbolized by a seventh day sabbath (looking forward). But Jesus restored us to the Garden in the New Covenant by His resurrection and restored that original first day sabbath.

John calls Sunday “the Lord’s Day” in Revelation 1, which is the same construction for the “Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11). In the same way that we set apart ordinary bread to “remember” Christ’s work on our behalf, so too we set aside an ordinary day to “remember” Christ’s work on our behalf, and so a “sabbath rest” remains for the people of God (Heb. 4:9). And gathering for worship and resting from your ordinary labors is a crucial part of the “comfort” of the Holy Spirit. Slaves have no days off, but we are freemen in Christ.

SLEEP & RESURRECTION

At the center of this episode is the incident with the young man, Eutychus, whose name means “good luck,” and which might indicate that he was (or had been) a slave. It was a large upper room, full of torches (likely crowded), and Eutychus may have been sitting in the window for fresh air (Acts 20:8-9). The imagery was surely not lost on the first century audience: this would have reminded early Christians of Pentecost when the fire of the Spirit filled the upper room, and perhaps it would have also had echoes of Hannukah, and earlier still, the temple itself. They gathered to “break bread,” which was an early euphemism for the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7), and after Eutychus fell and was raised by Paul’s embrace (much like Elisha, 2 Kgs. 4:34), they celebrated the Lord’s Supper, our resurrection feast (Acts 20:11).

All of this emphasizes that the Spirit of the same Christ who conquered death is with Paul and with the Church. It’s no accident that after the resurrection, even death itself is likened to a “sleep,” that believers will rise from (1 Cor. 15:20, 51, 1 Thess. 5:10). And we comfort one another with these sure promises (1 Thess. 4:18, 5:11).

APPLICATIONS

Whether we wake or sleep: The foundational comfort of a Christian is eternal security – eternal life. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life (Rom. 6:23). Sinners deserve death, but Jesus took those wages by dying in our place and taking away our sin. The power of the devil was only in his ability to wield the fear of death for the punishment of sin (Heb. 2:14-15). But death is a defanged enemy because it is no longer our punishment. Jesus has the keys of death and hades (Rev. 1:18). Death is a river that all must pass through to get to the Celestial City. But it is a river crossing that Jesus personally oversees.

Worship is the engine: We often say that worship is the engine that drives everything we do. Fundamentally, this simply means that Jesus is Lord, and therefore, everything we do must submit to Him, bow before Him. But God has also made it clear that He wants us to gather as congregations to worship together. There is something particularly powerful and comforting when God’s people renew covenant together in word and sacrament on the first day sabbath, the Lord’s Day. This doesn’t turn everything into a church service, but rather it frees us to work and enjoy everything as a gift from our Risen King.

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Many Infallible Proofs (Acts of the Apostles #2)

Joshua Edgren on

INTRODUCTION

The first verse of Acts contained the formal introduction to the book, but the following verses fill it out a bit more. These verses refer to the Lord’s resurrection appearances, and the proofs He gave His disciples that He was in fact alive. Second, He taught them about the kingdom, and told them to wait in Jerusalem until they had been given kingdom power. When that power had descended upon them, they would be ambassadors of that kingdom out to the ends of the earth. And then last, the angels promised that Christ  would at some point return in the same way that He left, meaning that He would descend from the sky.

THE TEXT

“THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

Luke begins volume two of his history by referring to volume one. The former book, also addressed to Theophilus, recorded all that Jesus started to do (v. 1), up to the point of His ascension (v. 2). Before He ascended, He delivered commandments to His chosen apostles (v. 2). Over the course of forty days, He appeared to them alive and provided many proofs of His resurrection, and taught them about the kingdom of God (v. 3). Gathering together with them, He required them to remain in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father came, which He had told them about (v. 4). John baptized with water, but in a very few days, they would be baptized by the Holy Spirit (v. 5). On one of their gatherings, they asked Him if this would be the moment when the kingdom was restored to Israel (v. 6). He replied that this was not for them to know, as the Father had it put under His authority (v. 7). But when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they would be imbued with power, and would be made witnesses of Christ—in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the far reaches of the earth (v. 8).

After saying this, while they were watching, He ascended into the sky and disappeared into a cloud (v. 9). They were staring as He went, and suddenly two men, clearly angels, clad in white, appeared next to them (v. 10). You men of Galilee, they said, why are you staring? He will return in exactly the same way that He left (v. 11).

OUR TABLE OF CONTENTS

The eighth verse provides us with a fine overview of the entire book of Acts. It almost serves as a table of contents. They would be witnesses in Jerusalem (Acts 1:4), Judea (Acts 2:14), Samaria (Acts 8:5), and the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 13:4ff). Imagine a rock thrown into a pond, and the place where the rock entered was Jerusalem. The concentric ripples going out from that place were Judea (the province where Jerusalem was), then Samaria, just to the north, and then out to the rest of the world. Infallible Proofs
What does it mean to prove something? The Lord appeared to His disciples and provided them with convincing proofs. To prove something means that what you have done is created a moral obligation to believe. A person might be stubborn, and continue to say nuh uh for a while, but if he is sinning by doing so, then this means that the thing was proven to him. The existence of proof is not dependent upon whether or not the person you are talking to is continuing to hold out. The issue is whether he is sinning by continuing to hold out.

What we are told here is that the resurrected Lord met with His disciples over the course of almost a month and a half, during which time He convinced them that He had risen from the dead bodily. The proofs therefore ruled out dreams, hallucinations, wish fulfillment, or anything else like that. He offered His wounds to Thomas (John 20:27). He asked if they had anything to eat in the fridge—ghosts don’t eat (Luke 24:42-43). He had angels add their testimony (Luke 24:23). He conducted Bible studies, showing how it had to go this way (Luke 24:27). And since that time, because the Holy Spirit was poured out in power, the resurrection of Jesus is not so much an historical fact to be proven as it is an historical proof of two other great doctrines—first, that Christ is in fact the Son of God (Rom. 1:4), and second, that He is going to judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31).

REASONING ON FIRE

When the Holy Spirit is given, as we will see in the next chapter, He comes down upon the disciples in the form of fire. They were given convincing proofs in the first verses of Acts. But it is quite striking that these proofs were insufficient. You have the proofs, Jesus said, but you must still wait in Jerusalem. So their proofs just sat there waiting, like so much tinder and kindling. Wait, Jesus said. Your syllogisms will not be worth anything unless the Spirit sets them on fire first. Some Christians just want to stack and organize the wood, and also conduct conferences, seminars, and lectures about the wood. Other Christians just want the fire—and because it is just a massive Kleenex fire, their talks devolve into mere harangues. Why not both? The Scriptures are a vast forest, with wood enough and to spare. How long will this fire burn? We are stocked with enough wood to burn until the second promise of these verses comes to pass, and Jesus Christ returns. The first promise of the Father was the outpoured Spirit. The second promise of the Father is the return of the Son. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.

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Christ & the Idols (The Continuing Adventures of Jesus #35) (KC)

Grace Sensing on

INTRODUCTION

The gospel collides with all idolatry, whether external shrines or internal obsessions. But idols can be sneaky and even warnings about idolatry can weaponized and misused to steer unthinking Christians. Is it idolatry to love your work, your family, your church, your nation, your ethnicity? The answer is “no,” so long as “love” is defined biblically, so long as your love is obedient to God. Idolatry is disobedient love. And obedient love is at war with every disobedient love. 

The Text: “After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem…” (Acts 19:21-41)

SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

When Paul determined that he would go back through Macedonia before going to Jerusalem, hoping to ultimately go to Rome, he sent Timothy and Erastus ahead of him (Acts 19:21-22). Meanwhile, Demetrius, a silversmith, raised a stir in Ephesus about Paul’s preaching and its impact on all the business related to the shrine of Diana/Artemis (Acts 19:23-28). This turned into a very confused mob, and Paul’s friends prevented him from trying to talk to them (Acts 19:29-34). After two hours of chanting, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” the town clerk admonished the crowd for not bringing charges in an orderly fashion and dismissed them (Acts 19:35-41).

CONFUSION REIGNS

This episode highlights the fundamental confusion of idolatry. Scripture says that when men serve some part of creation rather than the Creator, they become vain in their imaginations and foolish, while professing themselves to be wise (Rom. 1:21-25). And this confusion about God and idols inevitably leads to confusion about sexuality and life in general (Rom. 1:26ff), including the confusions of greed, business scams, and people pleasing. 

Notice too that riots are commonly the language of confused idolaters (Acts 19:32) – idols are deaf and blind and must be “awakened” by rage and violence (cf. 1 Kgs. 18:28), and when that chaotic churn burns down some buildings or leaves a few people dead (or more), those effects and the cathartic release can be attributed to the gods, including gods named “democracy” and “equality” and “justice.” When you see mobs and riots in the streets, you should think “idols.” Idolatry is inherently violent.

THE ECONOMY OF IDOLS

In Ephesus, as everywhere, the economy was built around the values of the city. Food, clothing, housing, other goods and services, various hobbies, and worship all create various economies of exchange in societies. If the values of a society revolve around Christ, that will create one sort of economy, but if the values revolve around idols, that will create other sorts of economies. Statist idols create statist economies. Hedonistic idols create envious economies. The worship of Artemis and her shrine permeated the economy of Ephesus and those regional markets (Acts 19:27). 

When the gospel comes, it collides with all idols simply by declaring these parts of creation are not gods (Acts 19:26). But wherever cultures are oriented to those gods and their shrines made with human hands, the gospel is certainly a danger to that part of the culture (Acts 19:27). But remember, as we saw in Corinth, idolatrous cultures are enslaving and unjust (Acts 16). The great wealth of the silversmiths was a superstitious scam. Idols “unman” the people who serve them (Ps. 115), while worshipping the living God restores the image of God and creation to its rightful glory (cf. 2 Cor. 3). The gospel comes to restore and heal human society, but it disrupts the economies and cultures of idols. Some idols must be completely destroyed and many must be demoted and reformed.  

APPLICATIONS

Many modern Christians misplace the contrast between idols and the true God. The difference between the living God and Mammon is not amount of stuff or money or power or beauty. Romans 1 says that the fundamental difference is between giving thanks and refusing to give thanks. God gives richly all things to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17), but they are meant to teach us to trust Him and thank Him. When you trust Him completely, you can give thanks in all things, whether in plenty or in want (Phil. 4:11-13). 

This is how the gospel collides with and re-orders human cultures. And the difference is in obedience to God or not. Since this gift is from God, how does He want us to use it and enjoy it? Food, clothing, housing, sports, money, work, sex? The Ten Commandments are the guard rails. Don’t serve these things or let them run your life. Don’t let them get in the way of serving God, honoring His name, keeping Sabbath, honoring parents, life, marriage, property, and the truth. Is your love for that gift causing you to disobey God? Is your favorite sport causing you to miss worship many Sundays? Do you read your Bible as much as you study your other loves? Is your desire for another house, different clothing, a spouse giving you a bad attitude? Don’t be confused (or cause confusion) about who your God is.

It has become fashionable to warn Christians about making an idol of marriage, family, and nation, but why not the church? Why so few warnings about being overly committed to church programs? But many of these warnings are misplaced, sort of like warning a prison camp about the dangers of gluttony. The real idol is often the opinions of non-Christians and liberal Christians. But love of God means an obedient love of the gifts of God. No one loves “enough,” but we can love more or less obediently. 

One commentator says that Christians “do not want to replace Artemis and become the next official religion of Ephesus, because in that case they would be under the thumb of the city and its special interests,” and there is a legitimate warning here: Erastianism (state run churches) has a poor track record. But the Reformed and American solution was not a godless state, but rather a truly Christian nation with a separate government from the churches. 

The gospel does not come to a city in order to drive out the idols only to leave the official religion empty or neutral. Some God or gods will always be the center of value and culture. Which God is it? Neutrality and secularism are simply sophisticated names of humanism, another idol of human hubris. But Christ is Lord of all, everywhere. There is no other way to have true social peace and justice, order or harmony. The clerk is quoted perhaps ironically, but every pagan city is in danger of causing riots and commotions unless or until they turn to Christ. And this is also true for every heart, every home, every church.

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