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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 19:36 mean?

Explanation

[Acts 19:36](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+19%3A36&version=KJV) states, "Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly." This verse is a call for reason and moderation in response to a situation that was causing public uproar.

The speaker in this verse is a town clerk in Ephesus who addresses a crowd stirred up by the silversmiths whose trade was threatened by the preaching of Paul and his companions.

The "things" referred to are the well-known facts about the goddess Artemis and her temple in Ephesus, which were beyond dispute among the Ephesians at the time.

The town clerk suggests that since there is no real basis for complaint, the people should remain calm and refrain from taking any impulsive or violent actions.

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Historical Context

In Acts 19, the Apostle Paul is in Ephesus, which was an important cultural and economic center in the Roman Empire, known for its magnificent Temple of Artemis.

This chapter records a conflict between the new Christian movement and local craftspeople who made religious idols, particularly Demetrius the silversmith.

Demetrius organized a protest claiming that the spread of Christianity was bad for business and a threat to the honor of Artemis.

The resulting commotion led to a near-riot situation, and the town clerk steps in to address the crowd, aiming to restore order.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse can be seen as a testament to maintaining peace and order in the face of religious tension.

It also emphasizes the principle of respecting civil authorities and the rule of law, as outlined in Romans 13.

The moderation urged by the town clerk echoes biblical wisdom which often advises against hasty decisions and actions, reflecting a trust in God's sovereignty and justice.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse extend to how individuals should handle conflict.

It suggests that even when faced with strong emotions or societal pressures, it's important to stay calm and respond thoughtfully.

This principle can be applied in personal disputes, community conflicts, or even broader social issues.

The admonition against rash actions serves as guidance for deliberative decision-making and the pursuit of peace.

Cross-References

[Proverbs 14:29](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+14%3A29&version=KJV): "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly."
[James 1:19](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A19&version=KJV): "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."
[Romans 13:1-2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13%3A1-2&version=KJV): "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.

For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key phrase "ye ought to be quiet" is translated from "eirenopoiein dei" (ειρηνοποιείν δεῖ), where "eirenopoiein" means "to make peace" or "to be peaceful".

"Dei" (δεῖ) is an impersonal verb that conveys necessity or obligation, implying a strong admonition to maintain peace.

"Nothing rashly" translates "ouden propetes" (οὐδὲν προπετές), where "ouden" means "nothing" and "propetes" conveys the sense of rashness or impulsiveness.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparison with other ancient religions can be seen in the devotion the Ephesians had for Artemis, paralleled in the fervent dedication to deities in other ancient cultures.

However, the civil response recommended in this verse is distinctive compared to how some ancient cultures might have resolved such tensions, often with violent outcomes.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not directly intersect with modern scientific understandings, but scientific methodologies do emphasize careful observation, testing, and avoidance of hasty conclusions, which is in the spirit of the call for reasoned action in this verse.

Commentaries

Commentators offer various insights into Acts 19:36:

Some, like John Gill, emphasize the prudence and wisdom of the town clerk in calming the multitude and preventing unnecessary violence or legal retribution.
Matthew Henry comments on the town clerk's skill in handling the crowd, indirectly verifying the facts about Artemis and her temple but using them to make a point about the need for lawful assembly.
F.F.

Bruce notes that the pragmatic consideration of Roman law, which forbade unauthorized assemblies, is the basis for the clerk's advice and underscores the high value placed on civil peace and order at the time.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:36 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 19:36 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?