[QT 1] Demetrius, who was the leader of the silversmith's shop in Ephesus, suffered a fatal blow to the sales of the silver statue of Artemis due to the gospel. So, by packaging his own greed with patriotism and religious loyalty, he incited the masses and caused riots. It was not at all important for many people to believe in Jesus and change and live like a human being. He tried to drive Paul out of Ephesus only to keep his livelihood and live a comfortable life. Artemis was just a cause, and the original mind was in ‘money’. All of them are decorated with plausible cause, but they are idolaters who have become slaves of 'money'. It is the same as those who talk about the hope of heaven but pray only for the blessings (money) of this earth. I must be vigilant and careful not to use the Lord and faith for personal gain even though I may suffer losses for the Lord and faith.
[QT 2] Even after leaving the church in Ephesus, Paul decided to go to Rome because of his passion to preach the gospel. The reason was that he could not forget the grace of Jesus who did not judge and saved Paul himself, who had persecuted numerous saints including Stephen in the past. Even though it was a difficult journey, Paul wanted to go all the way to Rome, to receive write off and forgive the debt as a debtor to everyone for the gospel. As a debtor when he thought of the grace of the Lord, Paul was full of desire to abandon his self-centered life and live a life of paying the Lord's debt. The biggest reason why I am caught up in self-centered thoughts and regard sacrifice and dedication as a burden is that I take God's grace too lightly. With true gratitude for God's grace, I will devote myself to the work of paying off and forgiving the debt of the gospel, that is, to spread the gospel with sacrifice and dedication. I pray for the help of the Holy Spirit.
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