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Acts 19

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

And all the men were about twelve.

And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

What does Acts 19:23 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:23 describes a period of disturbance and commotion in the city of Ephesus concerning "the Way," which is an early term used to refer to the movement of Christianity.

The verse indicates that there was a significant uproar regarding this new faith, which was spreading and causing various reactions among different groups of people.

The phrase "no small stir" is a rhetorical understatement (litotes) meaning that the disturbance was actually quite large.

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Historical Context

The book of Acts, traditionally attributed to Luke the Evangelist, details the spread of Christianity after Christ's resurrection and ascension.

Acts 19:23 is set in Ephesus, an important city in the Roman province of Asia Minor, known for its temple of Artemis.

The historical context suggests that the local economy was closely connected to the worship of Artemis, with craftsmen and merchants profiting from the sale of idols and related paraphernalia.

The growth of Christianity posed a threat to this economy, as it preached against idolatry.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates the conflict between the nascent Christian movement and established pagan practices.

It highlights the transformative power of the gospel, changing the hearts and behaviors of individuals, thereby affecting society and its economic structures.

Theological interpretations can vary, with some viewing this as a lesson in the power of truth to provoke hostility, and others emphasizing the necessity of perseverance in the face of opposition for early Christians.

Practical Applications

The passage encourages modern readers to consider the impact of their beliefs on their wider community.

It demonstrates that holding to one's faith may sometimes lead to confrontation or societal upheaval.

Importantly, it can also serve as an impetus for believers to remain steadfast in their convictions and respectful in their approach, even when faced with conflict arising from differing belief systems.

Cross-References

Acts 19:26-27: Provides more context to the stir, depicting opposition by local craftsmen who made silver shrines for Artemis.
Acts 17:6: This verse similarly describes the uproar the early ministry of Paul and Silas incited in Thessalonica.
Acts 16:20: Shows another instance where Paul's teaching led to discontent because it was seen as anti-establishment.

Language Study

The key phrase in this verse is "that way," which comes from the Greek term ἡ ὁδός (hē hodos), literally meaning "the way" or "the road." In Christian literature, "The Way" is an early designation for the followers of Jesus, signifying the new path of salvation and ethics they follow.

"No small stir," translates from οὐκ ὀλίγης ταραχῆς (ouk oligēs tarachēs), which indicates a significant disturbance or commotion.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The tension between emerging Christianity and traditional Pagan religions can be compared to other instances of religious conflict in history.

For instance, similar confrontations can be seen during the Reformation or with the introduction of Buddhism to China where it challenged Confucian and Daoist norms.

These moments often mark periods of transition and reflect the struggle between old and new belief systems.

Scientific Perspectives

There is limited scope for direct scientific discourse on this verse, but it does touch on the field of sociology, particularly the study of social upheaval as a response to shifting belief systems.

The spread of Christianity, like any significant ideological change, had socioeconomic repercussions, which can be analyzed with sociological tools to understand the patterns and responses of societies to new ideas.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer varied perspectives on Acts 19:23.

Some commentaries focus on the economic implications of the Christian message in Ephesus.

Others might analyze Paul's strategy in evangelism and missionary work.

Still, others may see in this verse a broader narrative of conflict between a monotheistic worldview and polytheistic culture, underlining the social and spiritual challenges faced by early Christians.

These commentaries provide insights on how the initial Christian message disrupted the status quo, leading to the tensions highlighted in this passage.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 19:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?