John Calvin Commentary Acts 19:23

"And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way." — Acts 19:23 (ASV)

Tumult about that way. Concerning this word way, readers should understand this much: it is here understood as what the Latins call sect; the Greek philosophers call it heresies or heresy. But because in the Church of God, where the unity of faith ought to reign, there is nothing more odious or detestable than for each person to choose, at their pleasure, what they will follow, I think that Luke avoided that name which was, for good reasons, infamous among the godly, and that following the Hebrew phrase, he put way instead of ordinance. And concerning the essence of the matter, we see how wonderfully the Lord tested His servant.

He hoped when he prepared for his journey that the Church would be quiet after his departure; and, behold, an uproar suddenly arose where he least feared it. But in Demetrius it appears what a hurtful plague covetousness is. For one man, for his own gain’s sake, is not afraid to trouble a whole city with sedition.

And the craftsmen, who were like firebrands kindled by him and spread the fire everywhere, teach us how easy it is to cause filthy men, whose belly is their God, to commit all manner of wickedness; especially if they live only by ill-gotten gains, and the hope of gain is taken from them.

Moreover, in this story we see a vivid image of our own time. Demetrius and his band raised a tumult because, if the superstition by which they were accustomed to get gains is taken away, their craft will fall to the ground. Therefore they fight as if for their lives, lest Demetrius go without his rich prey, and the rest lack their daily livelihood.

What zeal does today spur on the Pope, the horned bishops, the monks, and all the rabble of the Popish clergy? Indeed, what fury drives them so fiercely to resist the gospel?

They boast that they strive for the Catholic faith; nor did Demetrius lack an honest pretext, pretending to worship Diana. But the matter itself plainly declares that they fight not so much for the altars as for the hearths—that is, so they may have hot kitchens. They can easily overlook filthy blasphemies against God, as long as they lack nothing of their revenues; only they are more than courageous in maintaining such superstitions as are most suitable for their purpose.

Therefore, being taught by such examples, let us learn to choose a way of life that is agreeable to the doctrine of Christ, lest the desire for gain provoke us to enter a wicked and ungodly conflict. And as for those who, through ignorance or error, have fallen into any ungodly occupation, or are entangled in any other impure and wicked kind of life, let them, nevertheless, beware of such sacrilegious rashness.

And concerning godly teachers, let them learn by this example that they will never lack adversaries, until the whole world, through denial of itself, offers peace—which we know will never come to pass. Because Paul’s doctrine takes away the gains of Demetrius and the rest of the silversmiths, they leap out furiously to destroy it; will not those whom the gospel opposes do the same?

But there is no one who does not have occasion to fight. For all the affections of the flesh are enemies to God. So it must be that however many lusts of the flesh reign in the world, there are as many armed enemies to resist Christ.

It will, indeed, often happen that God will bridle the wicked, lest they raise some tumult or break out into open rage. Yet, whoever is not tamed and brought low to bear Christ’s yoke will always hate His gospel. So faithful and godly teachers must be convinced that they will always have to deal with a great number of enemies.

Demetrius’s covetousness is manifest. Nevertheless, we must also know this: he was Satan’s bellows, who, seeking by all means to overthrow Paul’s doctrine, found this fit instrument.

Now, since we know that Satan is a deadly enemy to Christ and the truth, do we think that he will ever lack ministers who will rage through his prompting and persuasion—either with open rage, or seek to bring about the overthrow of the gospel by secret practices, or spew out the poison of their hatred, or at least show some token of enmity by fretting and murmuring?