Reading for August 11th

 Read Acts 19.21--41. In verse 21: the themes of resolve in the Spirit and necessity for the journey ( "I must also see Rome") disclose divine direction (Lk 9.51-62; 13.31-35). In verse 22: On Timothy, see 16.1. Erastus is mentioned in Rom 16.23 and 2 Tim 4.20. In verse 24: Artemis was the famed hunter goddess, called Diana in Latin. In verse 26: Paul's prophetic speech against idols made with hands (17.24) endangered whole guilds of workers. In verse 28: Artemis of the Ephesians was a title that reflected special patronage for the city. In verse 29: A theater in Ephesus seating 25, 000 has been excavated. In verses 31-33: The officials of the province of Asia and the Jewish spokesman Alexander cannot protect Paul from the mob. In verse 35: The town clerk restores order with a recitation of the public piety of the Artemis cult. The statue that fell from heaven may have been a meteorite that was thought to be an image of the goddess. Even its coinage marked Ephesus as the temple keeper. In verse 37: Temple robbers were especially hated in antiquity because the temples marked the cultural integrity of the cities and often served as banks. Comments or Questions..