The great goddess Diana

Acts 19:24-28 (KJV)

“For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsman; whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”

What is in your Hands?

Are you building shrines or are you sowing seed?

The Apostle Paul was sent to Ephesus to share “the way” with the city of Ephesus. He found twelve believers and set about to share “the way” with anyone who would listen. the Bible says,

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came upon them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.” Acts 19:6-7 (KJV)

The apostle Paul and those twelve believers began to minister “the way”. The Apostle Paul started ministering in a synagogue for about three months. The people would not listen so they went into the school of Tyrannus for about two years.

“And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:10-12

Notice the process; the Apostle Paul found twelve believers and he laid his hands on them and they received the gift. The Apostle Paul and the twelve believers reach all Asia with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul. People were healed of disease and delivered from demon possession.

In Acts 19:13-17, Seven sons of Sceva a chief of priest attempted to cast out a devil in Jesus name. The evil spirit in the man said, “Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you?” Why did this evil spirit challenge these men? It appears it was a faith failure because there were others who also worked miracles in the name of Jesus and were successful ( Luke 9:49 ). However, the evil spirit knew, they had no power. This evil spirit knew it could resist powerless believers and didn’t have to give up his territory.

“And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Acts 19:16 (KJV)

“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.” Acts 1:8 (KJV)

Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17-18

When this situation with the seven sons of Sceva was known many people believed. Something miraculous happen. The Bible says,

“And many believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.” Acts 19:18-19 (KJV).

The New Living Translation put the price of the value of the books at about several million dollars. It was at this point that Demetrius the silversmith started a riot.

A lot of times, what we have in our hands isn’t working because we don’t work it. A doctor practices medicine. A lawyer practices law. They aren’t perfect and may not win every case, but for certain the really committed ones don’t give up. What’s in your hands?