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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 19:29 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:29 describes a scene of chaos in the ancient city of Ephesus, where a mob has seized two of the Apostle Paul's companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, both from Macedonia.

This occurs during a riot caused by local craftsmen who are angered by Paul's successful preaching against idolatry, which they see as a threat to their trade in making silver shrines for the goddess Artemis.

The mob's confusion and unified rush to the theater reflects the disorder that the city is thrown into because of the clash between the new Christian message and the established pagan religious practices.

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Historical Context

During the first century A.D., Ephesus was a significant city in the Roman province of Asia, known for its grand Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The historical context of Acts 19:29 is part of Paul's third missionary journey, in which he spent considerable time in Ephesus, preaching the Gospel and converting many to Christianity.

The silver shrine-making industry was essential to the city's economy and the craftsmen's livelihoods, which would be jeopardized by the decline of Artemis worship brought on by Christianity's monotheism.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse demonstrates the conflict between early Christianity and existing pagan traditions. The unrest in Ephesus can be seen as a manifestation of the spiritual battle between the message of the Gospel and the forces of idolatry.

Additionally, it illuminates the theme of suffering in the Christian journey, as Paul's companions face persecution for their beliefs. The incident stresses the idea that evangelism can be divisive and often entails adversity.

Practical Applications

The scenario in Acts 19:29 might encourage modern Christians to stand firm in their beliefs, even in the face of opposition or societal chaos. It teaches the importance of solidarity among believers when facing persecution.

The verse can also serve as a reminder that the spread of the Gospel may disrupt the status quo and that such disruptions can lead to both positive change and conflict.

Cross-References

Acts 17:5-6: But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Acts 19:24-28: 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. ...

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

Language Study

Key Greek words in the original text include:

"sugchunno" (συγχύννω): often translated as "confused" or "filled with confusion," suggesting a state of turmoil or disorder.
"suarpazo" (συαρπάζω): meaning "they rushed" or "they seized," indicating the sudden and violent movement of the crowd.
"homon" (ὁμοῦ): translated as "with one accord" or "together," highlighting the unity of the mob in its actions.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The events of Acts 19:29 can be compared to other instances in ancient history where religious shifts led to social and economic upheaval.

For instance, the Roman switch from paganism to Christianity over several centuries involved comparable clashes and conflicts.

Comparatively, ancient myths from various cultures, such as those in Greek or Roman religions, often depict the gods as demanding loyalty and punishing those who abandon them, which is reflected in the artisans' defense of Artemis.

Scientific Perspectives

The intersection of Acts 19:29 with modern scientific understandings might focus on the psychological and sociological aspects of mob behavior and the impact of significant societal change on communities.

Studies in group psychology can shed light on how beliefs and economic interests can drive collective action, sometimes leading to irrational or destructive behavior, as depicted in the Ephesus riot.

Commentaries

Commentators like Matthew Henry observe that the passage underlines the influence of interest upon the minds of men, noting that the craftsmen are more concerned about their income from selling shrines than the truth of the Gospel.

John Gill mentions the consternation and tumult of the city, remarking on the unreasonable and raging behavior of the populace.

Furthermore, contemporary scholars might analyze the story as an illustration of the early church's struggle to proclaim a new faith amidst a deeply entrenched pagan society, considering the economic, social, and religious implications of the Christian message in a polytheistic world.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:29 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 19:29 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?