19:23 那時,因為這道起的擾亂不小。
19:24 有一個銀匠,名叫底米丟,是製造亞底米神銀龕的,他使這樣手藝人生意發達。
19:25 他聚集他們和同行的工人,說:「眾位,你們知道我們是倚靠這生意發財。
19:26 這保羅不但在以弗所,也幾乎在亞細亞全地,引誘迷惑許多人,說:『人手所做的,不是神。』這是你們所看見所聽見的。
19:27 這樣,不獨我們這事業被人藐視,就是大女神亞底米的廟也要被人輕忽,連亞細亞全地和普天下所敬拜的大女神之威榮也要消滅了。」
19:28 眾人聽見,就怒氣填胸,喊著說:「大哉,以弗所人的亞底米啊!」
19:29 滿城都轟動起來。眾人拿住與保羅同行的馬其頓人該猶和亞里達古,齊心擁進戲園裡去。
19:30 保羅想要進去,到百姓那裡,門徒卻不許他去。
19:31 還有亞細亞幾位首領,是保羅的朋友,打發人來勸他,不要冒險到戲園裡去。
19:32 聚集的人紛紛亂亂,有喊叫這個的,有喊叫那個的;大半不知道是為甚麼聚集。
19:33 有人把亞歷山大從眾人中帶出來,猶太人推他往前,亞歷山大就擺手,要向百姓分訴;
19:34 只因他們認出他是猶太人,就大家同聲喊著說:「大哉!以弗所人的亞底米啊。」如此約有兩小時。
19:35 那城裡的書記安撫了眾人,就說:「以弗所人哪,誰不知道以弗所人的城是看守大亞底米的廟和從宙斯那裡落下來的像呢?
19:36 這事既是駁不倒的,你們就當安靜,不可造次。
19:37 你們把這些人帶來,他們並沒有偷竊廟中之物,也沒有謗讟我們的女神。
19:38 若是底米丟和他同行的人有控告人的事,自有放告的日子(或譯:自有公堂),也有方伯可以彼此對告。
19:39 你們若問別的事,就可以照常例聚集斷定。
19:40 今日的擾亂本是無緣無故,我們難免被查問。論到這樣聚眾,我們也說不出所以然來。」
19:41 說了這話,便叫眾人散去。
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
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從以弗所發生的暴動,讓人感覺群眾是盲目的,常常不知青紅皂白的跟隨別人搖旗吶喊,最後就弄到不可收拾的局面,以弗所發生的這件事也是如此!
教會任何的福音運動,也要有明確的目標、思想清楚的領導人,才不會落到這種下場!
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