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The temple of Diana was also a treasury, in which a large portion of the wealth of
Western Asia was stored up. Guhl, a German writer, says that the Ephesian Temple was,
in the ancient world, rather what the Bank of England is to-day. The emphasis on
"riches" of grace and glory in the epistle to the Ephesians gathers fuller interest in the
light of this fact.
During the month of May a great fair was held, and Ephesus would swarm with
people from all parts of Asia.
Pliny, the Roman, writing half a century after the time of Paul's visit to Ephesus,
speaks of the utter neglect into which heathen institutions had fallen in the neighbouring
province of Bithynia, as a direct consequence of Christian teaching--and this in spite of
the fact that the Christians were a persecuted sect.
Paul's teaching concerning the vanity of idolatry was apparently well known, for
Demetrius says:
"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"
(Acts 19: 26).
When personal interest, superstition, and racial pride combine, little more is required,
and the words of Demetrius act like a spark on tow. In verse 29 we read:
"The whole city was filled with confusion; and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus,
men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the
theatre" (Acts 19: 29).
In the narrative here, there are several items of interest that confirm the accuracy of
the inspired writer. It is, for instance, assumed that there was a theatre at Ephesus, and
that it was large enough to hold a great concourse of people. Moreover, it is further
assumed that it was natural for the people to go there, both as a confused multitude, and
as a legal assembly. The ruins of the theatre testify to its original grandeur. Fellows
estimates its capacity at 30,000, while Wood suggests 25,000. In any case, it was
evidently a vast structure. We also read of "certain chief men of Asia" sending to the
Apostle "desiring him not to adventure himself into the theatre". The original here is
asiarchs, and this word is actually found on inscriptions and coins. Another point that is
vouched for by archæology is the reference to the silver shrines of Diana, which are said
to have been made by Demetrius (Acts 19: 24). Lewin gives an illustration of an
Aedicula, or miniature shrine, of Cybele, and mention is made of similar shrines by many
ancient writers.
The "town-clerk", also, is a familiar figure in the annals of the time: The original
word is grammateus (Acts 19: 35), which might perhaps better be translated "recorder".
"He had to do with state-papers; he was keeper of the archives; he read what was of
public moment before the senate and assembly; he was present when money was
deposited in the Temple; and when letters were sent to the people of Ephesus, they were
officially addressed to him" (Conybeare and Howson).