Living in the Image of God M05S16
A city clerk in Ephesus diffused a riot instigated by craftsmen that feared that the Gospel message threatened their business. The account provides an understanding of the principles of Christian mediation: for resolving single-party or multi-party disputes. First, mediation needs to be motivated by a desire to make peace among the disputants. Second, the mediator should be acceptable to all disputants. Third, the mediator needs to understand the facts and circumstances of the dispute and be able to explain them respectfully, sincerely, without emotion, and clearly—in sufficient detail to convey understanding. Overall, the mediator should convey a clear purpose: to guide the disputants to understand the dispute and choose a path to resolution based on the understanding.
This study is the first in a two-part bible study series on the principles of Christian mediation, seeking to understand the role of a mediator in resolving single-party or multi-party disputes. The first study in the series discusses the example of a city clerk in Ephesus that diffused a riot instigated by fear of potential impact of the Gospel on business interests.
The events occurred during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. People engaged in the business of manufacturing, distributing, and maintaining shrines of their goddess Artemis feared that the Gospel message was a threat to their business. They instigated a city-wide uproar against the Gospel and caused a large crowd to gather at the city theatre in a protest that threatened to develop into a riot. A city clerk rose and addressed the crowd. He explained the facts and circumstances to convince them that there was no justification for a riot. Further, he explained they could run afoul of the city anti-riot laws if they continued with the commotion. The people dispersed peacefully.
The study discusses several principles regarding Christian mediation. First, mediation should be motivated by a desire to make peace among the disputants. Second, the mediator needs to be acceptable to all disputants. Third, the mediator needs to understand the facts and circumstances of the dispute and be able to explain the facts and circumstances respectfully, sincerely, without emotion, and clearly—in sufficient detail to convey understanding. Overall, the mediator needs to lead the disputants to understand the dispute and find a path to resolution based on the understanding.
Riot in Ephesus
The events that almost led to a riot in Ephesus occurred during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. The events began with a silversmith named Demetrius. He was engaged in a business of manufacturing and selling silver shrines of their goddess Artemis: “A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there” [Acts 19:24].
He gathered craftsmen and other workers engaged in businesses related to the shrines and convinced them that the Gospel message by Paul was a threat to their business [Acts 19:25–26]: “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. 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.’”
The gathering developed into an uproar that slowly spread into the city. They moved the gathering to the city theatre and a larger crowd gathered there. The crowd was disorderly and most did not know why they were there [Acts 19:28–32]: “When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’ 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. The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there.”
City Clerk Diffuses Riot
A city clerk rose and quieted the crowd. He explained the facts and circumstances regarding the gathering. He advised the crowd that the gathering was unnecessary and could be illegal. The crowd accepted his speech and dispersed peacefully.
The city clerk mediated the dispute successfully. The dispute was an example of a single-party dispute, an internal misunderstanding instigated by craftsmen that feared that Paul’s Gospel message was a threat to their business. The city clerk presented a clear understanding of the facts and circumstances to convince the crowd that there was no need for a riot.
He began by explaining to the crowd that Ephesians did not need to defend their goddess Artemis [Acts 19:35–36]: “…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? Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash.” Further, he explained that the two men they arrested had done nothing wrong. Also, he reminded the crowd that Demetrius and the craftsmen could press their case through the courts if they had a legitimate case [Acts 19:38]: “If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.”
He concluded by informing the crowd that the gathering could be illegal and in violation of a city ordinance against rioting [Acts 19:39–40]: “If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 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.”
The people dispersed peacefully after hearing from the city clerk. The interactions convey several principles of mediation, as discussed next.
Principles of Christian Mediation
The events at the Ephesus city theater convey several principles regarding mediation. First, mediation needs to be motivated by a desire to make peace among the disputants. Second, the mediator needs to be acceptable to all disputants. Third, the mediator needs to understand the facts and circumstances of the dispute and be able to explain the facts and circumstances clearly, respectfully, and sincerely. Overall, the mediator needs to lead the disputants to understand the dispute and find a path to resolution based on the understanding.
Motivation for Mediation
Mediation needs to be motivated by a desire to make peace among the disputants, based on commitment to the individual responsibility for peace: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” [Matthew 5:9]. The mediator should guide the disputants to recognize and honor their individual responsibility for peace, which requires each person to commit to doing their part to find a path to peace: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” [Romans 12:18].
Paul Not Accepted as Mediator
A mediator needs to be acceptable to all disputants. In the Ephesus riot, Paul was not accepted as mediator. Some of the people could consider him biased, because it was his Gospel message that they feared could harm their business [Acts 19:30–31]: “Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.”
He was not accepted as mediator because some people among the crowd had instigated the riot to address their fear that his Gospel message threatened their business. Therefore, people were concerned that his presence in the gathering could lead to greater disorder.
Alexander Not Accepted as Mediator
A potential mediator presented by Jews was not accepted by the crowd because he was a Jew [Acts 19:33–34]: “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. But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!’” Alexander was rejected as mediator, because some in the crowd would not accept a Jew as mediator, and their opinion prevailed.
City Clerk Accepted as Mediator
The city clerk was accepted as mediator for several reasons. First, he was generally known and associated with having a legitimate interest in local public affairs. Second, he was not personally involved in the dispute. Therefore, several people among the crowd could identify with him. Third, he was expected to understand the city laws and procedures because he was a public official.
Therefore, when the city clerk began to speak, the crowd became quiet and listened. His acceptance meant he could proceed into the mediation effort. However, his success in the mediation depended on knowing the facts and circumstances of the dispute and explaining them clearly, respectfully, and sincerely; enough to convey understanding and persuade the people that there was no need for a riot.
Understand the Dispute
The mediator needs to understand the facts and circumstances of the dispute. The city clerk understood that the instigators of the gathering were trying to make a case that there was a need to protect the reputation of their goddess Artemis. Therefore, he argued there was no need for such protection.
Further, he understood that the two people they arrested did not commit any crime. Therefore, he warned that the two people arrested by the crowd had not done any wrong. He understood that the uproar was instigated by craftsmen that feared that the Gospel message was a threat to their business. Therefore, he argued that Demetrius and the craftsmen could have a business interest in defending Artemis but there was well-established legal process for them to press such a case [Acts 19:38]: “If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.” Also, he was aware of a city ordinance against rioting and warned that the crowd could be in violation of the city anti-riot law.
Explain Facts and Circumstances
The city clerk explained the facts and circumstances regarding the dispute respectfully, sincerely, without emotion, and clearly—in sufficient detail to convey understanding. Also, his presentation conveys a message that he has no personal interest in any outcome of the mediation. His only purpose was to help the people understand why they were there and guide them to act based on the understanding.
Summary of What We Learned
A city clerk in Ephesus diffused a riot instigated by craftsmen that feared that the Gospel message threatened their business. The account provides an understanding of the principles of Christian mediation: for resolving single-party or multi-party disputes.
First, mediation needs to be motivated by a desire to make peace among the disputants. Second, the mediator should be acceptable to all disputants. Third, the mediator needs to understand the facts and circumstances of the dispute and be able to explain them respectfully, sincerely, without emotion, and clearly—in sufficient detail to convey understanding. Overall, the mediator should convey a clear purpose: to guide the disputants to understand the dispute and choose a path to resolution based on the understanding.