Acts 19:23–41

19:23 At80 that time81 a great disturbance82 took place concerning the Way.83 19:24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines84 of Artemis,85 brought a great deal86 of business87 to the craftsmen. 19:25 He gathered88 these89 together, along with the workmen in similar trades,90 and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity91 comes from this business. 19:26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded92 and turned away93 a large crowd,94 not only in Ephesus95 but in practically all of the province of Asia,96 by saying97 that gods made by hands are not gods at all.98 19:27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute,99 but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis100 will be regarded as nothing,101 and she whom all the province of Asia102 and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”103

19:28 When104 they heard105 this they became enraged106 and began to shout,107 “Great is Artemis108 of the Ephesians!” 19:29 The109 city was filled with the uproar,110 and the crowd111 rushed to the theater112 together,113 dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions. 19:30 But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly,114 the disciples would not let him. 19:31 Even some of the provincial authorities115 who were his friends sent116 a message117 to him, urging him not to venture118 into the theater. 19:32 So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.119 19:33 Some of the crowd concluded120 it was about121 Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front.122 Alexander, gesturing123 with his hand, was wanting to make a defense124 before the public assembly.125 19:34 But when they recognized126 that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison,127 “Great is Artemis128 of the Ephesians!” for about two hours.129 19:35 After the city secretary130 quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person131 is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper132 of the temple of the great Artemis133 and of her image that fell from heaven?134 19:36 So because these facts135 are indisputable,136 you must keep quiet137 and not do anything reckless.138 19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers139 nor blasphemers of our goddess.140 19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint141 against someone, the courts are open142 and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.143 19:39 But if you want anything in addition,144 it will have to be settled145 in a legal assembly.146 19:40 For147 we are in danger of being charged with rioting148 today, since there is no cause we can give to explain149 this disorderly gathering.”150 19:41 After151 he had said152 this,153 he dismissed the assembly.154

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80	tn Grk “There happened at that time.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Instead the verb “took place” has been supplied in the translation.
81	tn BDAG 512 s.v. κατά B.2.a, “in definite indications of time … Of the past: κ. ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρόν at that time, then … Ac 12:1; 19:23.”
82	tn Grk “no little disturbance” (an idiom; see BDAG 991 s.v. τάραχος 2).
83	sn The Way refers to the Christian movement (Christianity).
84	tn BDAG 665 s.v. ναός 1.a states, “Specif. of temples: of replicas of the temple of Artemis at Ephesus 19:24 … but here, near ἱερόν vs. 27 … ναός can be understood in the more restricted sense shrine, where the image of the goddess stood.”
85	sn Artemis was the name of a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
86	tn Grk “brought not a little business” (an idiom).
87	sn A great deal of business. The charge that Christianity brought economic and/or social upheaval was made a number of times in Acts: 16:20–21; 17:6–7; 18:13.
88	tn Grk “gathering.” The participle συναθροίσας (sunathroisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
89	tn Grk “whom”; because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been replaced with a pronoun (“these”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.
90	sn Workmen in similar trades. In effect, Demetrius gathered the Ephesian chamber of commerce together to hear about the threat to their prosperity.
91	tn Another possible meaning is “that this business is an easy way for us to earn a living.”
92	tn Grk “persuading.” The participle πείσας (peisas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
93	tn Or “misled.”
94	tn BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 3.a has “of pers. ὄχλος a large crowd … Ac 11:24, 26; 19:26.”
95	map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.
96	tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 22.
97	tn The participle λέγων (legōn) has been regarded as indicating instrumentality.
98	tn The words “at all” are not in the Greek text but are implied. sn Gods made by hands are not gods at all. Paul preached against paganism’s idolatry. Here is a one-line summary of a speech like that in Acts 17:22–31.
99	tn Or “come under public criticism.” BDAG 101 s.v. ἀπελεγμός has “come into disrepute Ac 19:27.”
100	sn Artemis was the name of a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
101	tn BDAG 597 s.v. λογίζομαι 1.b has “εἰς οὐθὲν λογισθῆναι be looked upon as nothing … Ac 19:27.”
102	tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 22.
103	tn Or “her magnificence.” BDAG 488 s.v. καθαιρέω 2.b has “καθαιρεῖσθαι τῆς μεγαλειότητος αὐτῆς suffer the loss of her magnificence Ac 19:27”; L&N 13.38 has “ ‘and to have her greatness done away with’ Ac 19:27.” sn Suffer the loss of her greatness. It is important to appreciate that money alone was not the issue, even for the pagan Ephesians. The issue was ultimately the dishonor of their goddess to whom they were devoted in worship. The battle was a “cosmic” one between deities.
104	tn Grk “And when.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
105	tn Grk “And hearing.” The participle ἀκούσαντες (akousantes) has been taken temporally.
106	tn Grk “they became filled with rage” (an idiom). The reaction of the Ephesians here is like that of the Jews earlier, though Luke referred to “zeal” or “jealousy” in the former case (Acts 7:54).
107	tn Grk “and began shouting, saying.” The imperfect verb ἔκραζον (ekrazon) has been translated as an ingressive imperfect. The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
108	sn Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
109	tn Grk “And the.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
110	tn L&N 39.43 has “ ‘the uproar spread throughout the whole city’ (literally ‘the city was filled with uproar’) Ac 19:29.” BDAG 954 s.v. σύγχυσις has “confusion, tumult.”
111	tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
112	sn To the theater. This location made the event a public spectacle. The Grand Theater in Ephesus (still standing today) stood facing down the main thoroughfare of the city toward the docks. It had a seating capacity of 25,000.
113	tn Grk “to the theater with one accord.”
114	tn Or “enter the crowd.” According to BDAG 223 s.v. δῆμος 2, “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly … εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν δ. go into the assembly 19:30.”
115	tn Grk “Asiarchs” (high-ranking officials of the province of Asia).
116	tn Grk “sending”; the participle πέμψαντες (pempsantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
117	tn The words “a message” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
118	tn BDAG 242–43 s.v. δίδωμι 11 has “to cause (oneself) to go, go, venture somewhere (cp. our older ‘betake oneself’) … Ac 19:31.” The desire of these sympathetic authorities was surely to protect Paul’s life. The detail indicates how dangerous things had become.
119	tn Or “had assembled.”
120	tn Or “Some of the crowd gave instructions to.”
121	tn The words “it was about” are not in the Greek text but are implied; Ἀλέξανδρον (Alexandron) is taken to be an accusative of general reference.
122	tn BDAG 865 s.v. προβάλλω 1 has “to cause to come forward, put forward … τινά someone … push someone forward to speak in the theater … Ac 19:33.”
123	tn Or “motioning.”
124	sn The nature of Alexander’s defense is not clear. It appears he was going to explain, as a Jew, that the problem was not caused by Jews, but by those of “the Way.” However, he never got a chance to speak.
125	tn Or “before the crowd.” According to BDAG 223 s.v. δῆμος 2, “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly … ἀπολογεῖσθαι τῷ δ. make a defense before the assembly vs. 33.”
126	tn Grk “But recognizing.” The participle ἐπιγνόντες (epignontes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
127	tn Grk “[they shouted] with one voice from all of them” (an idiom).
128	sn Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus, 1.25 mi (2 km) northeast of the Grand Theater. Dimensions were 418 ft by 239 ft (125 m by 72 m) for the platform; the temple proper was 377 ft by 180 ft (113 m by 54 m). The roof was supported by 117 columns, each 60 ft (18 m) high by 6 ft (1.8 m) in diameter. The Emperor Justinian of Byzantium later took these columns for use in construction of the Hagia Sophia, where they still exist (in modern day Istanbul).
129	sn They all shouted … for about two hours. The extent of the tumult shows the racial and social tensions of a cosmopolitan city like Ephesus, indicating what the Christians in such locations had to face.
130	tn Or “clerk.” The “scribe” (γραμματεύς, grammateus) was the keeper of the city’s records.
131	tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos).
132	tn See BDAG 670 s.v. νεωκόρος. The city is described as the “warden” or “guardian” of the goddess and her temple.
133	sn Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
134	tn Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”). sn The expression fell from heaven adds a note of apologetic about the heavenly origin of the goddess. The city’s identity and well-being was wrapped up with this connection, in their view. Many interpreters view her image that fell from heaven as a stone meteorite regarded as a sacred object.
135	tn Grk “these things.”
136	tn The genitive absolute construction with the participle ὄντων (ontōn) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle. On the term translated “indisputable” see BDAG 68–69 s.v. ἀναντίρρητος which has “not to be contradicted, undeniable.”
137	tn Grk “it is necessary that you be quiet.”
138	tn L&N 88.98 has “pertaining to impetuous and reckless behavior—‘reckless, impetuous.’ … ‘so then, you must calm down and not do anything reckless’ Ac 19:36.” The city secretary was asking that order be restored.
139	tn Or perhaps, “desecrators of temples.”
140	sn Nor blasphemers of our goddess. There was no formal crime with which Paul could be charged. He had the right to his religion as long as he did not act physically against the temple. Since no overt act had taken place, the official wanted the community to maintain the status quo on these religious matters. The remarks suggest Paul was innocent of any civil crime.
141	tn BDAG 600 s.v. λόγος 1.a.ε has “ἔχειν πρός τινα λόγον have a complaint against someone … 19:38.”
142	tn L&N 56.1 has ‘if Demetrius and his workers have an accusation against someone, the courts are open’ Ac 19:38.”
143	tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The official’s request is that the legal system be respected.
144	tn Or “anything more than this.”
145	tn Or “resolved.”
146	tn Or “in a legal meeting of the citizens.” L&N 30.81 has “ἐν τῇ ἐννόμῳ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἐπιλυθήσεται ‘it will have to be settled in a legal meeting of the citizens’ Ac 19:39.” This meeting took place three times a year.
147	tn Grk “For indeed.” The ascensive force of καί (kai) would be awkward to translate here.
148	tn The term translated “rioting” refers to a revolt or uprising (BDAG 940 s.v. στάσις 2, 3). This would threaten Roman rule and invite Roman intervention.
149	tn Or “to account for.” Grk “since there is no cause concerning which we can give account concerning this disorderly gathering.” The complexity of the Greek relative clause (“which”) and the multiple prepositions (“concerning”) have been simplified in the translation consistent with contemporary English style.
150	tn Or “commotion.” BDAG 979 s.v. συστροφή 1 gives the meaning “a tumultuous gathering of people, disorderly/seditious gathering or commotion … Ac 19:40.”
151	tn Grk “And after.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
152	tn Grk “And saying.” The participle εἰπών (eipōn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
153	tn Grk “these things.”
154	sn Verse 41 in the English text is included as part of verse 40 in the standard critical editions of the Greek NT.

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