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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 19:30 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:30 refers to an incident in Ephesus where the Apostle Paul wanted to address an agitated crowd that had gathered at the theater, protesting against the spread of Christianity because it was affecting the idol worshipping business, particularly the trade of silver shrines of the goddess Artemis.

The people were worked up into a frenzy by a silversmith named Demetrius who argued that the spread of Christianity was threatening their trade and the reverence of their local goddess.

Paul wanted to confront the mob to either defend his teachings or calm the crowd, but the disciples and other local officials advised against it, fearing for his safety.

This verse illustrates Paul's courage and commitment to his missionary work, but also the protective concern of his followers.

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Historical Context

This event took place during Paul's third missionary journey around the year 57 AD.

Ephesus was a major city in the Roman province of Asia, now modern-day Turkey.

The city was well-known for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the practice of the cult of Artemis was central to the city's social and economic life.

People from all over the Mediterranean world came to Ephesus to worship at the temple.

The craftsmen who made silver shrines and artefacts dedicated to Artemis were economically threatened by Paul's effective preaching, which turned people away from idolatry to the worship of the one true God as part of the Christian faith.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse showcases the spiritual conflict between Christianity and paganism.

The verse highlights the challenges that early Christians faced in sharing the Gospel in a predominantly polytheistic and idol-worshipping society. It brings into focus the opposition that the message of Christ can incur when it conflicts with established cultural and economic structures.

Moreover, it illustrates an act of discipleship, where followers of Christ are willing to intervene to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their leaders, demonstrating a form of practical love and concern within the Christian community.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse include the notion that wisdom and discernment are necessary when facing opposition.

While courage and zeal are admirable traits, the verse suggests that there are times when restraint is the wiser course of action, especially when faced with a violent or potentially harmful situation.

Additionally, this verse serves as an encouragement to Christians to stand firm in their beliefs even when facing societal pressures. It also teaches the importance of lending support and protection to those who are at the forefront of proclaiming the truth.

Cross-References

Acts 19:28-29: 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...

Acts 19:32: Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused.
Acts 20:24: But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus...
2 Timothy 3:12: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Language Study

The key phrase in the Greek text of Acts 19:30 is "ουκ ειασαν," where "ουκ" (ouk) meaning "not," and "ειασαν" (eiasan), which is the third-person plural aorist active indicative of "εάω" (eaō), meaning "to allow" or "to permit." Hence, "the disciples suffered him not" can be translated as "the disciples did not permit him" or "the disciples did not allow him," underscoring the determination of the disciples to prevent Paul from risking his safety by confronting the mob.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural and religious context of the time, the clash between the burgeoning Christian movement and the well-established pagan cults frequently led to social and economic upheaval.

It is comparable to other periods in history where new religious ideologies confronted established orders, such as the Protestant Reformation's challenge to the Catholic Church or the introduction of Buddhism challenging Hindu orthodoxy in ancient India.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community does not typically provide perspectives on scriptural events such as those described in Acts 19:30.

However, from an anthropological and sociological standpoint, the verse can be analyzed to understand the dynamics of how new religious movements interact with existing cultural and economic systems and the potential for conflict and social change that such interactions can generate.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 19:30 tend to emphasize the perilous situation Paul was facing and the reason for the disciples' intervention.

John Calvin notes the prudence in avoiding unnecessary danger, while Matthew Henry comments on the "tumult" being "so great and so outrageous" that it was not safe for Paul to venture among them.

Adam Clarke highlights the affection and respect the disciples had for Paul, protecting him from potential harm.

These commentaries collectively acknowledge the risk and rationality in the disciples preventing Paul from engaging with the mob directly.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:30 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 19:30 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?