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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 19:37 mean?

Explanation

The verse Acts 19:37 is a part of the narrative of the riot in Ephesus, where the city clerk addresses the mob that has seized Paul's companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, during the uproar created by the silversmiths.

In this verse, the city clerk is attempting to calm the crowd and defend Paul and his companions by asserting that they are not guilty of common crimes against religion.

He specifically mentions that they are not "robbers of churches" (which can also be interpreted as "temple robbers" or "sacrilege") nor blasphemers against the goddess Artemis, whom the Ephesians worshipped.

He is asserting that there are no legal grounds for the complaints brought against Paul's companions.

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Historical Context

Acts 19 takes place in the city of Ephesus, a major city of the Roman Empire, known for its devotion to the goddess Artemis and her grand temple, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The uproar against Paul and his companions was incited by silversmiths who made their living crafting silver shrines of Artemis.

These artisans were concerned that the spread of Christianity would diminish the demand for their products and challenge the reverence of Artemis, thus affecting their livelihood and the city's identity.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse highlights the early Christian mission strategy of not unnecessarily offending the religious practices of the day, so long as it did not compromise Christian faith.

It also reflects the Christian teaching against any form of theft or blasphemy.

Some theologians may view the city clerk’s defense of Paul as providential, showing God’s protection over the mission of the early church.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this verse for modern readers may be in the realm of societal engagement.

It suggests that Christians should strive to live above reproach, respecting the civil law and beliefs of others while practicing their faith. It also denotes the importance of addressing controversies or false accusations with calm and reason rather than with violence or hysteria.

Cross-References

Romans 13:7 "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."
Titus 2:7-8 "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."
1 Peter 2:12 "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term λῃστὰς ναῶν (lēstas naōn) translates as "robbers of temples" rather than "churches," which more accurately reflects the pagan context of ancient Ephesus.

The Greek word βλάσφημοι (blasphēmoi) means "blasphemers" or "revilers," which reflects a serious charge in a religiously sensitive environment.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader cultural context of the Greco-Roman world, temple robbery was considered a grave offense, often resulting in severe punishment. The Ephesian Artemis was also a syncretic figure, embodying aspects of various goddesses from different cultures.

Thus, any perceived slight against her could be seen as deeply offensive to the cultural amalgamation the Ephesians took pride in. Comparatively, most ancient religions have harsh penalties for sacrilege and blasphemy.

Scientific Perspectives

There's little direct relevance of scientific perspectives to this verse; however, an analysis of ancient economies could shed light on how religious practices were intertwined with commerce, as evidenced by the events leading up to this verse.

Archaeological studies of the Temple of Artemis give us a glimpse into its grandeur and the city's religious devotion, which the silversmiths' trade depended upon.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse often focus on the rational approach of the city clerk who seeks to de-escalate the situation using common sense and legality.

Experts note the clerk’s understanding of the legal system and public order, pointing out that the Christians were not guilty of civil unrest or religious offense under Roman law.

They may also explore the implications of these accusations for the Christian community, evidencing the tension between the nascent Christian movement and established pagan practices.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:37 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 19:37 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?