Psalms 13; Psalms 14; Psalms 15; Acts 19:21-41

1 Long enough, God - you've ignored me long enough. I've looked at the back of your head

2 Long enough I've carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.

3 Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye,

4 So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face.

5 I've thrown myself headlong into your arms - I'm celebrating your rescue.

6 I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers.

1 Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone." Their words are poison gas, fouling the air; they poison Rivers and skies; thistles are their cash crop.

2 God sticks his head out of heaven. He looks around. He's looking for someone not stupid - one man, even, God-expectant, just one God-ready woman.

3 He comes up empty. A string of zeros. Useless, unshepherded Sheep, taking turns pretending to be Shepherd. The ninety and nine follow their fellow.

4 Don't they know anything, all these impostors? Don't they know they can't get away with this - Treating people like a fast-food meal over which they're too busy to pray?

5 Night is coming for them, and nightmares, for God takes the side of victims.

6 Do you think you can mess with the dreams of the poor? You can't, for God makes their dreams come true.

7 Is there anyone around to save Israel? Yes. God is around; God turns life around. Turned-around Jacob skips rope, turned-around Israel sings laughter.

1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list?

2 "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth.

3 "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor;

4 despise the despicable. "Keep your word even when it costs you,

5 make an honest living, never take a bribe. "You'll never get blacklisted if you live like this."

21 After all this had come to a head, Paul decided it was time to move on to Macedonia and Achaia provinces, and from there to Jerusalem. "Then," he said, "I'm off to Rome. I've got to see Rome!"

22 He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, on to Macedonia while he stayed for a while and wrapped things up in Asia.

23 But before he got away, a huge ruckus occurred over what was now being referred to as "the Way."

24 A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business.

25 He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, "Men, you well know that we have a good thing going here -

26 and you've seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we're doing by telling people that there's no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of people are going along with him, not only here in Ephesus but all through Asia province.

27 "Not only is our little business in danger of falling apart, but the temple of our famous goddess Artemis will certainly end up a pile of rubble as her glorious reputation fades to nothing. And this is no mere local matter - the whole world worships our Artemis!"

28 That set them off in a frenzy. They ran into the street yelling, "Great Artemis of the Ephesians!

29 Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" They put the whole city in an uproar, stampeding into the stadium, and grabbing two of Paul's associates on the way, the Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus.

30 Paul wanted to go in, too, but the disciples wouldn't let him.

31 Prominent religious leaders in the city who had become friendly to Paul concurred: "By no means go near that mob!"

32 Some were yelling one thing, some another. Most of them had no idea what was going on or why they were there.

33 As the Jews pushed Alexander to the front to try to gain control, different factions clamored to get him on their side. But he brushed them off and quieted the mob with an impressive sweep of his arms.

34 But the moment he opened his mouth and they knew he was a Jew, they shouted him down: "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" - on and on and on, for over two hours.

35 Finally, the town clerk got the mob quieted down and said, "Fellow citizens, is there anyone anywhere who doesn't know that our dear city Ephesus is protector of glorious Artemis and her sacred stone image that fell straight out of heaven?

36 Since this is beyond contradiction, you had better get hold of yourselves. This is conduct unworthy of Artemis.

37 These men you've dragged in here have done nothing to harm either our temple or our goddess.

38 "So if Demetrius and his guild of artisans have a complaint, they can take it to court and make all the accusations they want.

39 If anything else is bothering you, bring it to the regularly scheduled town meeting and let it be settled there.

40 There is no excuse for what's happened today. We're putting our city in serious danger. Rome, remember, does not look kindly on rioters."

41 With that, he sent them home.