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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 19:38 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:38 speaks of a resolution method for grievances or legal disputes in the city of Ephesus.

In this verse, the town clerk addresses a tumultuous crowd that has been upset by the message of the apostle Paul and the subsequent impact on their trade, especially that of the silversmiths led by Demetrius.

The craftsmen are concerned about the decline in the demand for their silver shrines of Artemis due to the spread of Christianity.

The town clerk points out that there is a legal system in place ("the law is open") and officials available ("there are deputies") to handle such matters.

He urges them to bring their case forward legally ("let them implead one another") rather than resorting to a public riot.

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Historical Context

Acts 19 describes events that took place in Ephesus, a major city of the Roman province of Asia, around the first century AD.

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

The trade of crafting silver shrines and artifacts related to the goddess was significant for the local economy.

As Christianity spread, it posed a threat to this industry, leading to opposition from local craftsmen.

The royal courts mentioned could refer to the 'proconsuls' of the province, Roman officials responsible for administering justice.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse demonstrates Christian ethics in dealing with conflicts.

It shows a preference for resolving disputes through established legal procedures rather than through civil unrest or vigilantism.

The verse also reflects the doctrine of submission to governing authorities, as articulated in Romans 13:1-5, where Christians are advised to obey the laws of the state as long as they do not conflict with the laws of God.

Practical Applications

This verse can be practically applied in daily life by encouraging individuals to use legal and peaceful channels to address grievances. It advocates for law and order over chaos and mob justice.

The verse can also be interpreted as promoting the idea of due process and the pursuit of resolution through formal, recognized means rather than taking matters into one's own hands.

Cross-References

Romans 13:1-5: "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."

1 Corinthians 6:1-6: "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?"
1 Peter 2:13-14: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."

Language Study

"Demetrius": A Greek name meaning "belonging to Demeter," the Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility.

This reflects the polytheistic culture of Ephesus.

"Craftsmen": Referring to silversmiths and other artisans in Ephesus.

In Greek, "technitai," which can mean craftsmen or skilled workers in any art.

"Law": The Greek word "agora" refers not only to the market place but could also mean a legal assembly.
"Deputies": Translated from the Greek "anthupatoi," which typically refers to "proconsuls," the Roman governors who had judicial powers.
"Implead": To bring a lawsuit or a legal charge against someone.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The reaction of the silversmiths in Ephesus is similar to various other historical instances where economic interests have clashed with emerging new religious beliefs.

In other ancient cultures, like those of Rome and Greece, artisans and merchants also depended on pagan worship for their livelihood, and the introduction of subversive beliefs often led to conflict.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not directly involve scientific elements but relates indirectly through its context of economic impact and social behavior.

Modern social science might study these aspects to understand the dynamics of how new ideological movements can impact existing economic structures and cultural practices.

Commentaries

John Gill's Exposition of the Bible emphasizes the legality of the proceedings pointed out by the city clerk, noting that there were proper and legal ways to litigate such matters, and that riot and confusion should be avoided.
Matthew Henry's commentary brings attention to the fact that the town clerk acknowledged the lawful assembly and lawful power of the Roman empire, and that these should be used appropriately, rather than resulting in chaos.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes the irony that the city clerk, who likely was a pagan, set an example of respect for law and order in contrast to the uproar caused by those defending their religious practices.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:38 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 19:38 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?