Trials and Victories of Paul
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in the Jewish quarters, with the object of securing Paul. In their insane
rage they were ready to tear him in pieces. But the apostle was not
to be found. His brethren, receiving an intimation of the danger, had
hurried him from the place. Angels of God were sent to guard the
faithful apostle. His time to die a martyr’s death had not yet come.
Failing to find the object of their wrath, the mob seized two of
his companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, and with them hurried on to
the theater. Paul’s place of concealment was not far distant, and he
soon learned of the peril of his beloved brethren. His courage was in
keeping with the occasion. He was ever ready to press to the front
in the battle for his Master. Forgetful of his own safety, he desired
to go at once to the theater, to address the rioters. But his friends
refused to permit him thus to sacrifice himself. Gaius and Aristarchus
were not the prey that the people sought; no serious harm to them was
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apprehended. But should the apostle’s pale, care-worn face be seen, it
would arouse at once the worst passions of the mob, and there would
not be the least human possibility of saving his life.
Paul was still eager to defend the truth before the multitude; but he
was at last deterred by a message of warning from the theater. Several
of the most honorable and influential among the magistrates sent him
an earnest request not to venture into a situation of so great peril. This
proof of the regard in which Paul was held by the leading men of Asia
was no mean tribute to the sterling integrity of his character.
The tumult at the theater was continually increasing. “Some cried
one thing, and some another; and the more part knew not wherefore
they had come together.” From the fact that Paul and some of his com-
panions were of Hebrew extraction, the Jews felt that odium was cast
upon them, and that their own safety might be endangered. Wishing it
to be understood that they had no sympathy with the Christians, they
thrust forward one of their own number to set the matter before the
people. The speaker chosen was Alexander, one of the craftsmen, a
coppersmith, to whom Paul afterward referred as having done him
much evil. Alexander was a man of considerable ability, and he bent
all his energies to direct the wrath of the people exclusively against
Paul and his companions. But the crowd were in no mood to make
nice distinctions. Seeing that Alexander was a Jew, they thrust him
aside, the uproar continually increasing as all with one voice cried out,
“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” This cry continued for two hours.
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