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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 19:41 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:41 presents the conclusion of a dramatic scene in the ancient city of Ephesus, where a silversmith named Demetrius had stirred up a large crowd against the Apostle Paul and his companions.

The verse signifies the dismissal of an assembly or gathering by the town clerk after he had quieted the crowd and reasoned with them.

On a literal level, the clerk has managed to calm the mob and is now sending them away, signifying a return to order after a period of unrest.

On a deeper level, it reflects the triumph of reason and civic responsibility over mob mentality and the potential for violence that such unrest can cause.

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Historical Context

In the historical and cultural context of Acts 19, Ephesus was a major city in the Roman Empire known for its grand temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis, also called Diana.

The city was a bustling center of trade and religion.

Paul's preaching of the Gospel in Ephesus was perceived as a threat by some, particularly those whose livelihoods depended on the trade of silver shrines and other religious artifacts associated with the worship of Artemis.

The assembly mentioned in Acts 19:41 would have been a gathering in the city's theater, which could hold tens of thousands of people.

The term "assembly" could refer to either an informal gathering of people or a legally convened group. In this context, it seems to have been an unofficial gathering that could have led to legal consequences since the Roman Empire prohibited unauthorized assemblies as they could lead to riots.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates the early struggles of the Christian message against established pagan beliefs and the socioeconomic structures that supported them.

The dismissal of the crowd without further action against Paul signifies God’s providential care for His messengers.

Theologically, it also suggests the notion of civil peace and public order being consistent with Christian teaching, as chaos and disorder are calmed without the need for divine intervention.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Acts 19:41 can be seen in how individuals and leaders deal with crowd dynamics and public unrest. It promotes a call for peaceful discourse and the de-escalation of potentially volatile situations.

Additionally, believers are encouraged to trust in God's oversight in difficult circumstances and to appreciate the role of civil authorities in maintaining peace.

Cross-References

Acts 19:23-40: Provides context to Acts 19:41, describing the disturbance caused by Demetrius and the speech of the town clerk.
Romans 13:1-2: Encourages obedience to governing authorities as they are established by God.
Proverbs 15:1: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

Language Study

A key word in the original Greek text of this verse is "ἐκλύω" (eklyo), translated as "dismissed" in the verse.

The word means to loosen or relax, in a figurative sense, to dissolve or break up. Its usage in this context signifies the dispersal of the assembly, emphasizing the peaceful resolution of the situation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The cultural tension evident in Acts 19:41 could be compared to other ancient myths and religious interpretations where new philosophical or religious ideals clash with traditional beliefs.

For instance, the Greek myths often depict conflicts between gods, representing different aspects of life and belief systems.

The resistance to Christianity in Ephesus can similarly be seen as a clash between old and new worldviews.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the verse touches upon areas of sociology and psychology, particularly the behavior of crowds and the diffusion of tension.

The town clerk’s ability to quell the crowd with reason rather than force can be analyzed in terms of social influence and the mechanisms by which leaders can effectively manage group behavior.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Acts 19:41 generally focus on the resolution of the conflict without violence, often praising the wisdom of the town clerk for his handling of the situation.

Biblical scholars may point out the clerk's understanding of Roman law and his concern for the city's welfare, and how the peaceful end to the assembly allowed Paul and his companions to continue their ministry.

Some commentaries might also discuss the role of divine providence in protecting Paul during this tumultuous event.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:41 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 19:41 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?