"After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, 'Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemus and of the image which fell down from heaven?  So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash.  For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.  So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another, but if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.  For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.'  After saying this he dismissed the assembly."

This town clerk is doing a great job of keeping the law in place at Ephesus.  He knows how to do his job.  He is also removing the possibility of charges against his city being filed from the Roman government.  Ephesus had religious freedom because they were peaceful about it.

Here is the irony of the Christian faith.  It is normally anything but peaceful.  Faith in God causes riots in our souls.  Faith in God is more a sword than a plowshare.  Faith in God moves us to passion, not contentment.

Paul is found in the middle of this quandary, as we often are.  Do I resist the passion of Christ in order to keep everyone content?

In the next verses, we will find out what Paul does.  But what about you?  Is a peaceful lifestyle your idol? 

There is nothing wrong with peace, but peace does have a price.