Was it not a layman who first confronted Nestorius?
That's the way I heard it happened. Nestorius was speaking at the pulpit to the
assembled congregation and a layman near the front stood up and shouted, That
Is Heresy, or words to that effect, and turned to walk out of the church, and then
most of the congregation followed him outside to show their protest to Nestorius.
I have a word of caution for anyone who faces up to a bishop: don't do it alone,
if you want to have the maximum effect. If it is a gathering outside of the church
setting, ask some friends to stand in a loose circle around the bishop when you
speak to him. You might see some kind of reaction right away when a circle is
formed, and that's an indicator that the bishop is thinking of a quick exit. When
you ask the question that you want to press, the bishop will likely turn and try
to walk away. That's when your friends can pull together to face him, and repeat
the question you asked him. Then he will be pressured to respond. His reaction
will be most edifying.
The reason I suggest this is, on several occasions I have faced a heretical bishop
and as soon as he gets the idea that I am serious he turns and walks away from
me. These were different bishops.
One time, there was a line of people waiting behind me to meet the bishop, and it
was my turn: he turned and walked away, leaving the line standing there. I faced
the line of people, and announced to them that it looks like they're waiting for
nothing, because the bishop just left, going that way. The people just stared at
me. That whole thing could have been prevented if a group had been standing
behind the wayward bishop. Then his actions would be self-explanatory.