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THE THREE ELEMENTS OF DIANA WORSHIP

1. The Priesthood

These men are eunuchs. They are castrated to keep them from participating in the worship of
Diana. They can keep their minds focused on the stories and tell of the exploits of Jupiter,
Bacchus, and other gods.

2. The Virgins

These girls handle the rituals of the temple. The forms of worship outside sex are conducted by
the virgins.

3. The Dancers

These women dance to arouse the men and at the end of their dance, give themselves to the
nearest man for sex.

PEOPLE FILLED WITH WRATH AND CONFUSION

Act 19:28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, "Great is
Diana of the Ephesians!"

This anger and emotion will spread from these few men into the crowds in the street.
Demetrius knows exactly what he is doing. He will work the people up into a senseless rage so
Paul is either killed or driven out of the city.

Act 19:29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one
accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's travel companions.

Apparently, Demetrius leads the crowd to the house of Aquila and Priscilla where Paul is
staying. They protect Paul and will not allow the crowd to have him (Romans 16:2-3). Instead,
the crowd grabs two from Paul’s team to flush him out, and it almost works. Paul makes
mention of fighting with “beasts at Ephesus” (1 Corinthians 15: 32), and this may be what he
was referring to.

Gaius is mentioned in Romans 16:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:14. Aristarchus is mentioned in
several places (Acts 20:4; 27:2; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24). When they take the two men
into the amphitheater, the mob has reached fever pitch. A mob always has an organizer behind
it who uses the mob as a weapon. The people are always the pawns. They react quickly and
then forget why they are rioting (verse 32).

PAUL DESIRES AN AUDIENCE WITH THE MOB

Act 19:30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.