PrevActs 19:31Next

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 19:31 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:31, found in the New Testament of the Bible, describes an incident that occurred during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus.

At the time, Paul was facing opposition because of his preaching against idolatry, which had impacted the businesses of local craftsmen who made silver shrines for the goddess Artemis (Diana).

This led to a riot, and a large crowd gathered in the theater.

The "chief of Asia" mentioned in the verse refers to Asiarchs, prominent officials in charge of religious festivals and games in the Roman province of Asia.

They were influential figures in Ephesus and its surroundings.

Despite not being converts, some of these Asiarchs were friends of Paul and were concerned for his safety, so they sent a message to him, urging him not to go into the theater where the angry mob was gathering.

This act of concern highlights that Paul had gained respect across different societal levels, even amongst non-believers.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 19:31 takes place against the backdrop of the city of Ephesus during the first century AD, which was a major city in the Roman province of Asia (located in what is modern-day Turkey).

Ephesus was known for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Worship of Artemis was a significant element of Ephesian culture.

The incident referred to in the verse is connected to the uproar caused by the decline in the sale of silver shrines dedicated to Artemis, as people were turning from idolatry due to Paul's missionary work.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates God's providence and protection over Paul.

Despite facing dangers and hostilities, Paul received help from unexpected sources, which some could interpret as divine intervention.

The interaction between Paul and the Asiarchs can also indicate an example of how Christian witness can earn the respect of outsiders, which is a recurring theme in Acts.

Practical Applications

The practical application from Acts 19:31 serves as an example of prudent decision-making in moments of conflict or potential danger.

Believers can derive the lesson that sometimes it is wise to heed the advice and concern of others for their safety, even if it means not facing opposition directly.

Friends, even those with differing beliefs, can provide valuable counsel and support in difficult times.

Cross-References

Acts 19:28-32: The context of the riot in Ephesus and the gathering in the theater.
Acts 20:3-4: Another instance showing support for Paul from friends in different regions.
Proverbs 27:12: "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished."

Language Study

In Acts 19:31, key Greek terms include:

"Asia" (Ἀσίας): Refers to the Roman province of Asia, not the entire continent.
"Theatre" (θεάτρου): Refers to the large arena or theater typical in Greek city-states, which was a place for public gatherings and entertainment.
"Chief" (ἀσιάρχαι): Asiarchs, a title for high-ranking officials in charge of religious and festival activities.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient world, it was common for political and religious spheres to intersect.

Civic leaders often held religious titles and responsibilities, as was the case with the Asiarchs in Ephesus.

The intertwining of commerce, politics, and religion in Acts 19 is comparable to other ancient societies where religious leaders or institutions exerted influence on the economic practices.

Scientific Perspectives

While there isn't a direct scientific perspective to this verse, the study of ancient structures like theaters assists in understanding the social dynamics of the time.

Archaeological discoveries can buttress the historicity of events described in Acts, adding to the historical and cultural understanding of biblical narratives.

Commentaries

Commentaries typically emphasize several dimensions of Acts 19:31.

They may highlight the way Paul's message transcended social and religious boundaries, creating relationships with various community leaders.

They also discuss how this incident reflects the socio-economic impact of the Gospel message and acknowledge Paul's wisdom in handling potentially life-threatening situations.

Some might also speculate about the nature of Paul's friendship with these Asiarchs and their motives for protecting him.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:31 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 19:31 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?