14:19 But Jews came from Antioch 11 and Iconium, 12 and after winning 13 the crowds over, they stoned 14 Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead.
16:22 The crowd joined the attack 27 against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes 28 off Paul and Silas 29 and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 30 16:23 After they had beaten them severely, 31 they threw them into prison and commanded 32 the jailer to guard them securely. 16:24 Receiving such orders, he threw them in the inner cell 33 and fastened their feet in the stocks. 34
19:23 At 35 that time 36 a great disturbance 37 took place concerning the Way. 38 19:24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines 39 of Artemis, 40 brought a great deal 41 of business 42 to the craftsmen. 19:25 He gathered 43 these 44 together, along with the workmen in similar trades, 45 and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity 46 comes from this business. 19:26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded 47 and turned away 48 a large crowd, 49 not only in Ephesus 50 but in practically all of the province of Asia, 51 by saying 52 that gods made by hands are not gods at all. 53 19:27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, 54 but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis 55 will be regarded as nothing, 56 and she whom all the province of Asia 57 and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.” 58
19:28 When 59 they heard 60 this they became enraged 61 and began to shout, 62 “Great is Artemis 63 of the Ephesians!” 19:29 The 64 city was filled with the uproar, 65 and the crowd 66 rushed to the theater 67 together, 68 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, 69 the disciples would not let him. 19:31 Even some of the provincial authorities 70 who were his friends sent 71 a message 72 to him, urging him not to venture 73 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. 74 19:33 Some of the crowd concluded 75 it was about 76 Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. 77 Alexander, gesturing 78 with his hand, was wanting to make a defense 79 before the public assembly. 80 19:34 But when they recognized 81 that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, 82 “Great is Artemis 83 of the Ephesians!” for about two hours. 84 19:35 After the city secretary 85 quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person 86 is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper 87 of the temple of the great Artemis 88 and of her image that fell from heaven? 89 19:36 So because these facts 90 are indisputable, 91 you must keep quiet 92 and not do anything reckless. 93 19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers 94 nor blasphemers of our goddess. 95 19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint 96 against someone, the courts are open 97 and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there. 98 19:39 But if you want anything in addition, 99 it will have to be settled 100 in a legal assembly. 101 19:40 For 102 we are in danger of being charged with rioting 103 today, since there is no cause we can give to explain 104 this disorderly gathering.” 105 19:41 After 106 he had said 107 this, 108 he dismissed the assembly. 109
19:1 While 110 Apollos was in Corinth, 111 Paul went through the inland 112 regions 113 and came to Ephesus. 114 He 115 found some disciples there 116
1:1 From Paul, 117 an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
1 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1., where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).
2 tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia, made up of about one-third of the west and southwest end of modern Asia Minor. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.
3 tn Grk “we ourselves had the sentence of death within ourselves.” Here ἀπόκριμα (apokrima) is being used figuratively; no actual official verdict had been given, but in light of all the difficulties that Paul and his colleagues had suffered, it seemed to them as though such an official verdict had been rendered against them (L&N 56.26).
4 tn Or “might not put confidence in ourselves.”
5 tn Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative clause “who delivered us…” was made a separate sentence in the translation.
6 tn Grk “deliver us, on whom we have set our hope.”
7 tc Several important witnesses, especially Alexandrian (Ì46 B D* 0121 0243 1739 1881 pc Did), lack ὅτι ({oti, “that”) here, while others, most notably Western (D1 F G 104 630 1505 pc ar b syh Or Ambst), lack ἔτι (eti, “yet”). Most
8 tn Grk “So there came about an attempt” 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.
9 tn On this verb see BDAG 1022 s.v. ὑβρίζω.
10 tn The direct object “them” is repeated after both verbs in the translation for stylistic reasons, although it occurs only after λιθοβολῆσαι (liqobolhsai) in the Greek text.
11 sn Antioch was a city in Pisidia about 90 mi (145 km) west northwest of Lystra.
12 sn Iconium was a city in Lycaonia about 18 mi (30 km) north of Lystra. Note how Jews from other cities were chasing Paul (2 Cor 11:4-6; Gal 2:4-5; Acts 9:16).
13 tn The participle πείσαντες (peisante") is taken temporally (BDAG 791 s.v. πείθω 1.c).
14 tn Grk “stoning Paul they dragged him.” The participle λιθάσαντες (liqasante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
15 tn Or “masters.”
16 tn On this use of ἐργασία (ergasia), see BDAG 390 s.v. 4. It is often the case that destructive practices and commerce are closely tied together.
17 tn Grk “was gone, seizing.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενοι (epilabomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
18 tn On the term ἕλκω ({elkw) see BDAG 318 s.v. 1.
19 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.
20 tn Grk “having brought them.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενοι (epilabomenoi) has been taken temporally. It is also possible in English to translate this participle as a finite verb: “they brought them before the magistrates and said.”
21 tn BDAG 309 s.v. ἐκταράσσω has “agitate, cause trouble to, throw into confusion” for the meaning of this verb.
22 tn Grk “being Jews, and they are proclaiming.” The participle ὑπάρχοντες (Juparconte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
23 tn Grk “proclaiming,” but in relation to customs, “advocating” is a closer approximation to the meaning.
24 tn Or “acknowledge.”
25 sn Customs that are not lawful for us to accept or practice. Ironically, the charges are similar to those made against Jesus in Luke 23:2, where Jews argued he was “twisting” their customs. The charge has three elements: (1) a racial element (Jewish); (2) a social element (unlawful); and (3) a traditional element (not their customs).
26 tn Grk “we being Romans.” The participle οὖσιν (ousin) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.
27 tn L&N 39.50 has “the crowd joined the attack against them” for συνεπέστη (sunepesth) in this verse.
28 tn Grk “tearing the clothes off them, the magistrates ordered.” The participle περιρήξαντες (perirhxante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Although it may be possible to understand the aorist active participle περιρήξαντες in a causative sense (“the magistrates caused the clothes to be torn off Paul and Silas”) in the mob scene that was taking place, it is also possible that the magistrates themselves actively participated. This act was done to prepare them for a public flogging (2 Cor 11:25; 1 Thess 2:2).
29 tn Grk “off them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
30 tn The infinitive ῥαβδίζειν (rJabdizein) means “to beat with rods or sticks” (as opposed to fists or clubs, BDAG 902 s.v. ῥαβδίζω).
31 tn Grk “Having inflicted many blows on them.” The participle ἐπιθέντες (epiqente") has been taken temporally. BDAG 384 s.v. ἐπιτίθημι 1.a.β has “inflict blows upon someone” for this expression, but in this context it is simpler to translate in English as “they had beaten them severely.”
32 tn Grk “commanding.” The participle παραγγείλαντες (parangeilante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
33 tn Or “prison.”
34 tn L&N 6.21 has “stocks” for εἰς τὸ ξύλον (ei" to xulon) here, as does BDAG 685 s.v. ξύλον 2.b. However, it is also possible (as mentioned in L&N 18.12) that this does not mean “stocks” but a block of wood (a log or wooden column) in the prison to which prisoners’ feet were chained or tied. Such a possibility is suggested by v. 26, where the “bonds” (“chains”?) of the prisoners loosened.
35 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.
36 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.”
37 tn Grk “no little disturbance” (an idiom; see BDAG 991 s.v. τάραχος 2).
38 sn The Way refers to the Christian movement (Christianity).
39 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.”
40 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.
41 tn Grk “brought not a little business” (an idiom).
42 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.
43 tn Grk “gathering.” The participle συναθροίσας (sunaqroisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
44 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.
45 sn Workmen in similar trades. In effect, Demetrius gathered the Ephesian chamber of commerce together to hear about the threat to their prosperity.
46 tn Another possible meaning is “that this business is an easy way for us to earn a living.”
47 tn Grk “persuading.” The participle πείσας (peisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
48 tn Or “misled.”
49 tn BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 3.a has “of pers. ὄχλος a large crowd…Ac 11:24, 26; 19:26.”
50 map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.
51 tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 22.
52 tn The participle λέγων (legwn) has been regarded as indicating instrumentality.
53 tn The words “at all” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
54 tn Or “come under public criticism.” BDAG 101 s.v. ἀπελεγμός has “come into disrepute Ac 19:27.”
55 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.
56 tn BDAG 597 s.v. λογίζομαι 1.b has “εἰς οὐθὲν λογισθῆναι be looked upon as nothing…Ac 19:27.”
57 tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 22.
58 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.”
59 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.
60 tn Grk “And hearing.” The participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally.
61 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).
62 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.
63 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.
64 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.
65 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.”
66 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
67 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.
68 tn Grk “to the theater with one accord.”
69 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.”
70 tn Grk “Asiarchs” (high-ranking officials of the province of Asia).
71 tn Grk “sending”; the participle πέμψαντες (pemyante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
72 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.
73 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.
74 tn Or “had assembled.”
75 tn Or “Some of the crowd gave instructions to.”
76 tn The words “it was about” are not in the Greek text but are implied; ᾿Αλέξανδρον (Alexandron) is taken to be an accusative of general reference.
77 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.”
78 tn Or “motioning.”
79 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.
80 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.”
81 tn Grk “But recognizing.” The participle ἐπιγνόντες (epignonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
82 tn Grk “[they shouted] with one voice from all of them” (an idiom).
83 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).
84 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.
85 tn Or “clerk.” The “scribe” (γραμματεύς, grammateu") was the keeper of the city’s records.
86 tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo").
87 tn See BDAG 670 s.v. νεωκόρος. The city is described as the “warden” or “guardian” of the goddess and her temple.
88 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.
89 tn Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).
90 tn Grk “these things.”
91 tn The genitive absolute construction with the participle ὄντων (ontwn) 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.”
92 tn Grk “it is necessary that you be quiet.”
93 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.
94 tn Or perhaps, “desecrators of temples.”
95 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.
96 tn BDAG 600 s.v. λόγος 1.a.ε has “ἔχειν πρός τινα λόγον have a complaint against someone…19:38.”
97 tn L&N 56.1 has ‘if Demetrius and his workers have an accusation against someone, the courts are open’ Ac 19:38.”
98 tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The official’s request is that the legal system be respected.
99 tn Or “anything more than this.”
100 tn Or “resolved.”
101 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.
102 tn Grk “For indeed.” The ascensive force of καί (kai) would be awkward to translate here.
103 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.
104 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.
105 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.”
106 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.
107 tn Grk “And saying.” The participle εἰπών (eipwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
108 tn Grk “these things.”
109 sn Verse 41 in the English text is included as part of verse 40 in the standard critical editions of the Greek NT.
110 tn Grk “It happened that while.” 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.
111 map For location see JP1-C2; JP2-C2; JP3-C2; JP4-C2.
112 tn Or “interior.”
113 tn BDAG 92 s.v. ἀνωτερικός has “upper τὰ ἀ. μέρη the upper (i.e. inland) country, the interior Ac 19:1.”
114 map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.
115 tn Grk “and found.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the sequencing with the following verse the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.
116 tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
117 tn Grk “Paul.” The word “from” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.