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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 19:40 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:40 discusses the aftermath of a disturbance in the ancient city of Ephesus, where Paul the Apostle had been preaching.

The "uproar" that is mentioned refers to a riot that had occurred because the local silversmiths were concerned that Paul's message about Jesus Christ was bad for their business.

These silversmiths made a profit by selling silver shrines of the goddess Artemis, who was widely worshipped in Ephesus.

As Christianity spread, and people became converts, the demand for these idols started to decline, threatening their livelihood.

The city official is speaking in this verse, seeking to calm the crowd and bring order.

He is essentially saying that they might get in trouble with the Roman authorities ('be called in question') for the chaos ('this day's uproar') because there was no justifiable reason ('no cause') for this gathering ('concourse').

He's advocating for a lawful handling of any grievances they may have.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts was written in the 1st century AD and details the spread of the Christian faith after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The city of Ephesus was an important cultural and economic hub in the Roman province of Asia, and it housed the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Due to its significance, any form of social unrest within the city would attract the attention of Roman authorities who maintained order through a vast network of provincial governments.

Ephesus was also marked by a multicultural environment, which included a large Jewish community, and the burgeoning presence of Christian believers, who were expanding under the missionary efforts of Paul and his companions.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse highlights the tension between early Christianity and the existing religious and economic structures.

The Christian message presented a direct challenge to idol worship, which had implications not only for religious belief but also for the economy and social order.

In addition, it emphasizes the Christian doctrine that faith in Jesus eliminates the need for material idols, which was revolutionary for that time.

Furthermore, the verse can be interpreted as a call for Christians to respect civil order when expressing their faith, as the city official seeks legality and peace rather than chaos.

Practical Applications

The practical takeaway from Acts 19:40 could include the idea of responsible citizenship.

Christians can engage with society peacefully and lawfully even when spreading their faith.

This verse can also inspire believers to consider the impacts of their faith on others and to seek to prevent unnecessary offense or disorder in the practice of evangelism.

Additionally, it teaches the importance of knowing how to defend one’s actions and beliefs in a manner that is respectful of public order and societal norms.

Cross-References

Acts 16:19-21: "And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers," indicating the economic motivations behind opposition to Paul's preaching.
Acts 17:5-6: "But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar," similarly detailing disturbances caused by the preaching of the gospel.
Romans 13:1-3: "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," encouraging lawfulness and peacefulness.

Language Study

"Called in question" (Greek: εγκαλεω - enkaleō) signifies being accused or held to account by a legal authority.
"Uproar" (Greek: στάσις - stasis) literally means a standing, foundation, or, in the given context, sedition or insurrection.
"Account" (Greek: λόγος - logos) in this context means a spoken word, speech, or in a forensic sense, a plea or reasoned statement.
"Concourse" (Greek: συνθροιγης - synthroigēs) refers to a gathering or throng; this term is used to describe the assembly of people gathered due to the commotion.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ephesus' clash between the burgeoning Christian movement and the entrenched worship of Artemis can be likened to other religious upheavals in ancient times.

For instance, the spread of monotheism in various polytheistic cultures often led to social and economic disruptions.

Similar occurrences are seen in the shift from paganism to Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, where established cults and their associated trades were threatened by the new religion.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific study of social dynamics is relevant to understanding the verse in Acts 19:40. Mob psychology, the study of how individual behavior is influenced by large group dynamics, can be employed to better grasp the 'uproar' mentioned in the passage.

Additionally, modern economic theory can provide insights into how shifts in religious beliefs can impact local economies, as seen with the silversmiths of Ephesus.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentaries often emphasize the legal and social aspects of Acts 19:40.

For example, the New Bible Commentary highlights the town clerk's diplomatic efforts to disperse the crowd and prevent Roman intervention, which could result in severe repercussions for the city of Ephesus.

Commentaries such as the Matthew Henry Commentary note that the clerk's speech reflects a common desire for peaceful resolution and respect for lawful proceedings within the societal framework of the Roman Empire.

These expert insights reveal the complexities faced by early Christians in balancing the spreading of the gospel with existing socio-economic and legal structures.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:40 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 19:40 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?