6.12(수) “복음을 전할 때 만나는 소동" (사도행전 19:21-41)
찬송가 502장

19:21 Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
19:22 And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
19:23 And about that time there arose no small disturbance concerning the Way.
19:24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen;
19:25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar [trades,] and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business.
19:26 "And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods [at all.]
19:27 "And not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship should even be dethroned from her magnificence."
19:28 And when they heard [this] and were filled with rage, they [began] crying out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
19:29 And the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia.
19:30 And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him.
19:31 And also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater.
19:32 So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know for what cause they had come together.
19:33 And some of the crowd concluded [it was] Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
19:34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a [single] outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
19:35 And after quieting the multitude, the town clerk *said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, and of the [image] which fell down from heaven?
19:36 "Since then these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash.
19:37 "For you have brought these men [here] who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
19:38 "So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are [available]; let them bring charges against one another.
19:39 "But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
19:40 "For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's affair, since there is no [real] cause [for it]; and in this connection we shall be unable to account for this disorderly gathering."
19:41 And after saying this he dismissed the assembly.

바울이 에베소에서 2년 동안 복음과 말씀을 가르쳤을 때, 신앙의 부흥이 일어났습니다.
그러나 복음을 전하다가 항상 좋은 일만 있었던 것은 아닙니다. 에베소에 거주하는 우상 제작자들이 들고 일어나서 바울 사역에 큰 위기가 찾아왔습니다.

수많은 성난 군중들이 극장에 모여서 반대집회를 개최하였습니다. 바울은 순교도 각오한 사람이었기에 그 집회 안으로 들어가서 연설하려고 했습니다.
그러나 다른 제자들과 바울을 아끼는 몇몇 고관들이 바울을 말렸습니다.

그런데 바울이 들어가지 않기를 잘했습니다. 왜냐하면 그 군중들은 대화가 통하지 않는 사람들이었기 때문입니다. 왜 화가 났는지, 왜 집회가 열렸는지조차 모르고 그저 군중 심리에 휩쓸린 사람들이 대부분이었습니다.
또 그들은 돈벌이에만 온통 정신이 팔린 사람들입니다.
이런 사람들은 부딪히지 말고 피하는 것이 지혜입니다.

결국 바울이 아니라 시청 서기관이 나서서 군중들을 설득했고 불법 집회를 해산시켰습니다.
때로는 하나님에 대한 용기와 열정이 있어도 내가 잠시 빠지는 것도 필요합니다.

(기도)
1. 하나님의 일에 순종할 때, 항상 좋은 일만 만나지 않고 어려운 일을 겪는다고 해도 불평하지 않게 하옵소서!
2. 감정이 격하고 마음의 문이 닫힌 사람을 만날 때, 정면으로 부딪히지 않고 피하는 지혜와 온유함이 있게 하옵소서!

(평세 기도)
1. 호스팅하는 10개 목장과 15 가정이 기쁨과 성령충만으로 섬길 수 있게 하옵소서!
2. 세미나 강의, 간증, 목장탐방 시간에 성령님의 은혜가 충만케 하옵소서!
3. 참가자들의 항공편과 미국 입국 심사에 문제가 생기지 않고 정시에 다 도착할 수 있게 하옵소서!