How does Acts 19:28 connect to the First Commandment in Exodus 20:3? Acts 19:28—A City in an Uproar “When they heard this, they were enraged and began shouting, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’” • The craftsmen in Ephesus felt their income threatened by Paul’s preaching that “gods made by hands are not gods at all” (v. 26). • Their furious chant—repeated for two hours (v. 34)—publicly exalted Artemis as supreme. • The scene exposes hearts fiercely loyal to a created idol, willing to riot to defend it. Exodus 20:3—God’s Exclusive Claim “You shall have no other gods before Me.” • Spoken at Sinai, this First Commandment establishes a non-negotiable: exclusive worship belongs to the LORD alone. • “Before Me” literally means “in My presence,” banning every rival deity from God’s sight. Where the Two Meet • Exodus 20:3 demands sole allegiance; Acts 19:28 showcases allegiance transferred to Artemis. • The First Commandment forbids honoring any other “gods”; the Ephesians loudly honor one. • God’s command is timeless; Acts proves how quickly cultures violate it. • The riot illustrates what happens when idols grip economics, identity, and community influence. • Paul’s message confronted the very command the crowd broke, provoking hostility. Themes that Bridge the Centuries • Exclusive Worship – Deuteronomy 6:4-5: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One… love the LORD your God with all your heart…” – Isaiah 42:8: “I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not give My glory to another.” • False Security of Idols – Psalm 115:4-8 contrasts lifeless idols with the living God. – 1 Corinthians 8:4 affirms “an idol is nothing in the world.” • Conflict Inevitable – John 15:18-19 shows the world’s opposition to truth. – Acts 19 demonstrates that preaching God’s exclusivity threatens entrenched idolatry. Living Out the Connection Today • Identify modern “Artemises” that rival God in hearts—career, entertainment, technology, relationships. • Measure loyalty by time, affection, and obedience, remembering Jesus’ call: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” (Matthew 22:37). • Flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14) and pursue wholehearted devotion, trusting God to meet needs rather than any false security. • Proclaim Christ with Paul’s courage, understanding that exclusive truth often stirs opposition yet rescues souls from the futility of idols (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 96:5 — “For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.” • 1 John 5:21 — “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” • Revelation 2:4-5 — the risen Christ warns the Ephesian church to renew first love, proving the battle against idolatry endures. |
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