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Acts 19:10-41

Context
19:10 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia,¹ both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.²

The Seven Sons of Sceva

19:11 God was performing extraordinary³ miracles by Paul’s hands, 19:12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body⁴ were brought⁵ to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.⁶ 19:13 But some itinerant⁷ Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name⁸ of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by⁹ evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn¹⁰ you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 19:14 (Now seven sons of a man named¹¹ Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.)¹² 19:15 But the evil spirit replied to them,¹³ “I know about Jesus¹⁴ and I am acquainted with¹⁵ Paul, but who are you?”¹⁶ 19:16 Then the man who was possessed by¹⁷ the evil spirit jumped on¹⁸ them and beat them all into submission.¹⁹ He prevailed²⁰ against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. 19:17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus,²¹ both Jews and Greeks; fear came over²² them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.²³ 19:18 Many of those who had believed came forward,²⁴ confessing and making their deeds known.²⁵ 19:19 Large numbers²⁶ of those who had practiced magic²⁷ collected their books²⁸ and burned them up in the presence of everyone.²⁹ When³⁰ the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins.³¹ 19:20 In this way the word of the Lord³² continued to grow in power³³ and to prevail.³⁴

A Riot in Ephesus

19:21 Now after all these things had taken place,³⁵ Paul resolved³⁶ to go to Jerusalem,³⁷ passing through Macedonia³⁸ and Achaia.³⁹ He said,⁴⁰ “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”⁴¹ 19:22 So after sending⁴² two of his assistants,⁴³ Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,⁴⁴ he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.⁴⁵

19:23 At⁴⁶ that time⁴⁷ a great disturbance⁴⁸ took place concerning the Way.⁴⁹ 19:24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines⁵⁰ of Artemis,⁵¹ brought a great deal⁵² of business⁵³ to the craftsmen. 19:25 He gathered⁵⁴ these⁵⁵ together, along with the workmen in similar trades,⁵⁶ and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity⁵⁷ comes from this business. 19:26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded⁵⁸ and turned away⁵⁹ a large crowd,⁶⁰ not only in Ephesus⁶¹ but in practically all of the province of Asia,⁶² by saying⁶³ that gods made by hands are not gods at all.⁶⁴ 19:27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute,⁶⁵ but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis⁶⁶ will be regarded as nothing,⁶⁷ and she whom all the province of Asia⁶⁸ and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”⁶⁹

19:28 When⁷⁰ they heard⁷¹ this they became enraged⁷² and began to shout,⁷³ “Great is Artemis⁷⁴ of the Ephesians!” 19:29 The⁷⁵ city was filled with the uproar,⁷⁶ and the crowd⁷⁷ rushed to the theater⁷⁸ together,⁷⁹ 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,⁸⁰ the disciples would not let him. 19:31 Even some of the provincial authorities⁸¹ who were his friends sent⁸² a message⁸³ to him, urging him not to venture⁸⁴ 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.⁸⁵ 19:33 Some of the crowd concluded⁸⁶ it was about⁸⁷ Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front.⁸⁸ Alexander, gesturing⁸⁹ with his hand, was wanting to make a defense⁹⁰ before the public assembly.⁹¹ 19:34 But when they recognized⁹² that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison,⁹³ “Great is Artemis⁹⁴ of the Ephesians!” for about two hours.⁹⁵ 19:35 After the city secretary⁹⁶ quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person⁹⁷ is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper⁹⁸ of the temple of the great Artemis⁹⁹ and of her image that fell from heaven?¹⁰⁰ 19:36 So because these facts¹⁰¹ are indisputable,¹⁰² you must keep quiet¹⁰³ and not do anything reckless.¹⁰⁴ 19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers¹⁰⁵ nor blasphemers of our goddess.¹⁰⁶ 19:38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint¹⁰⁷ against someone, the courts are open¹⁰⁸ and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.¹⁰⁹ 19:39 But if you want anything in addition,¹¹⁰ it will have to be settled¹¹¹ in a legal assembly.¹¹² 19:40 For¹¹³ we are in danger of being charged with rioting¹¹⁴ today, since there is no cause we can give to explain¹¹⁵ this disorderly gathering.”¹¹⁶ 19:41 After¹¹⁷ he had said¹¹⁸ this,¹¹⁹ he dismissed the assembly.¹²⁰

[19:10] ¹tn 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.

[19:10] ²sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rJhma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logo" tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:20; 1 Thess 1:8, 4:15; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.

[19:11] ³tn BDAG 1019 s.v. τυγχάνω 2.d states, “δυνάμεις οὐ τὰς τυχούσας extraordinary miracles Ac 19:11.”

[19:12] ⁴tn Or “skin” (the outer surface of the body).

[19:12] ⁵tn Or “were taken.” It might be that as word went out into the region that since the sick could not come to Paul, healing was brought to them this way. The “handkerchiefs” are probably face cloths for wiping perspiration (see BDAG 934 s.v. σουδάριον) while the “aprons” might be material worn by workmen (BDAG 923-24 s.v. σιμικίνθιον).

[19:12] ⁶tn The words “of them” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[19:13] ⁷tn Grk “some Jewish exorcists who traveled about.” The adjectival participle περιερχομένων (periercomenwn) has been translated as “itinerant.”

[19:13] ⁸tn Grk “to name the name.”

[19:13] ⁹tn Grk “who had.” Here ἔχω (ecw) is used of demon possession, a common usage according to BDAG 421 s.v. ἔχω 7.a.α.

[19:13] ¹⁰sn The expression I sternly warn you means “I charge you as under oath.”

[19:14] ¹¹tn Grk “a certain Sceva.”

[19:14] ¹²sn Within the sequence of the narrative, this amounts to a parenthetical note by the author.

[19:15] ¹³tn Grk “answered and said to them.” The expression, redundant in English, has been simplified to “replied.”

[19:15] ¹⁴tn Grk “Jesus I know about.” Here ᾿Ιησοῦν (Ihsoun) is in emphatic position in Greek, but placing the object first is not normal in contemporary English style.

[19:15] ¹⁵tn BDAG 380 s.v. ἐπίσταμαι 2 has “know, be acquainted with τινά…τὸν Παῦλον Ac 19:15.” Here the translation “be acquainted with” was used to differentiate from the previous phrase which has γινώσκω (ginwskw).

[19:15] ¹⁶sn But who are you? This account shows how the power of Paul was so distinct that parallel claims to access that power were denied. In fact, such manipulation, by those who did not know Jesus, was judged (v. 16). The indirect way in which the exorcists made the appeal shows their distance from Jesus.

[19:16] ¹⁷tn Grk “in whom the evil spirit was.”

[19:16] ¹⁸tn Grk “the man in whom the evil spirit was, jumping on them.” The participle ἐφαλόμενος (efalomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. L&N 15.239 has “ἐφαλόμενος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐπ᾿ αὐτούς ‘the man jumped on them’ Ac 19:16.”

[19:16] ¹⁹tn Grk “and beating them all into submission.” The participle κατακυριεύσας (katakurieusa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. According to W. Foerster, TDNT 3:1098, the word means “the exercise of dominion against someone, i.e., to one’s own advantage.” These exorcists were shown to be powerless in comparison to Jesus who was working through Paul.

[19:16] ²⁰tn BDAG 484 s.v. ἰσχύω 3 has “win out, prevail…κατά τινος over, against someone Ac 19:16.”

[19:17] ²¹map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.

[19:17] ²²tn Grk “fell on.” BDAG 377 s.v. ἐπιπίπτω 2 has “φόβος ἐ. ἐπί τινα fear came upon someone…Ac 19:17.”

[19:17] ²³tn Or “exalted.”

[19:18] ²⁴tn Grk “came”; the word “forward” is supplied in the translation to clarify the meaning and to conform to the contemporary English idiom.

[19:18] ²⁵tn Or “confessing and disclosing their deeds.” BDAG 59 s.v. ἀναγγέλλω 2 has “W. ἐξομολογεῖσθαι: ἀ. τὰς πράξεις αὐτο'ν make their deeds known Ac 19:18.”

[19:19] ²⁶tn BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 4.a has “many, quite a few” for ἱκανοί (Jikanoi) in this verse.

[19:19] ²⁷tn On this term see BDAG 800 s.v. περίεργος 2.

[19:19] ²⁸tn Or “scrolls.”

[19:19] ²⁹tn Or “burned them up publicly.” L&N 14.66 has “‘they brought their books together and burned them up in the presence of everyone’ Ac 19:19.”

[19:19] ³⁰tn Grk “and when.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence, the conjunction καί (kai) has not been translated here. Instead a new English sentence is begun.

[19:19] ³¹tn Or “fifty thousand silver drachmas” (about $10,000 US dollars). BDAG 128 s.v. ἀργύριον 2.c states, “ἀργυρίου μυριάδας πέντε 50,000 (Attic silver) drachmas Ac 19:19.” Another way to express the value would be in sheep: One drachma could buy one sheep. So this many drachmas could purchase a huge flock of sheep. A drachma also equals a denarius, or a day’s wage for the average worker. So this amount would be equal to 50,000 work days or in excess of 8,300 weeks of labor (the weeks are calculated at six working days because of the Jewish cultural context). The impact of Christianity on the Ephesian economy was considerable (note in regard to this the concerns expressed in 19:26-27).

[19:20] ³²sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rJhma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logo" tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10; 1 Thess 1:8, 4:15; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.

[19:20] ³³tn The imperfect verb ηὔξανεν (huxanen) has been translated as a progressive imperfect, as has the following verb ἴσχυεν (iscuen).

[19:20] ³⁴sn The word of the Lord…to prevail. Luke portrays the impact of Christianity in terms of the Lord’s transforming power in the lives of individuals.

[19:21] ³⁵tn Grk “all these things had been fulfilled.”

[19:21] ³⁶tn Grk “Paul purposed in [his] spirit” (an idiom). According to BDAG 1003 s.v. τίθημι 1.b.ε the entire idiom means “to resolve” (or “decide”): “ἔθετο ὁ Παῦλος ἐν τῷ πνεύματι w. inf. foll. Paul resolved 19:21.”

[19:21] ³⁷map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[19:21] ³⁸sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.

[19:21] ³⁹sn Achaia was the Roman province of Achaia located across the Aegean Sea from Ephesus. Its principal city was Corinth.

[19:21] ⁴⁰tn Grk “Achaia, saying.” Because of the length of the Greek sentence and the awkwardness in English of having two participial clauses following one another (“passing through…saying”), the participle εἰπών (eipwn) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun here in the translation.

[19:21] ⁴¹sn This is the first time Paul mentions Rome. He realized the message of Christianity could impact that society even at its heights.

[19:22] ⁴²tn The aorist participle ἀποστείλας (aposteila") has been taken temporally reflecting action antecedent to that of the main verb (ἐπέσχεν, epescen).

[19:22] ⁴³tn Grk “two of those who ministered to him.”

[19:22] ⁴⁴sn Macedonia was the Roman province of Macedonia in Greece.

[19:22] ⁴⁵tn 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.

[19:23] ⁴⁶tn 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.

[19:23] ⁴⁷tn 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.”

[19:23] ⁴⁸tn Grk “no little disturbance” (an idiom; see BDAG 991 s.v. τάραχος 2).

[19:23] ⁴⁹sn The Way refers to the Christian movement (Christianity).

[19:24] ⁵⁰tn 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.”

[19:24] ⁵¹sn 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.

[19:24] ⁵²tn Grk “brought not a little business” (an idiom).

[19:24] ⁵³sn 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.

[19:25] ⁵⁴tn Grk “gathering.” The participle συναθροίσας (sunaqroisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:25] ⁵⁵tn 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.

[19:25] ⁵⁶sn Workmen in similar trades. In effect, Demetrius gathered the Ephesian chamber of commerce together to hear about the threat to their prosperity.

[19:25] ⁵⁷tn Another possible meaning is “that this business is an easy way for us to earn a living.”

[19:26] ⁵⁸tn Grk “persuading.” The participle πείσας (peisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:26] ⁵⁹tn Or “misled.”

[19:26] ⁶⁰tn BDAG 472 s.v. ἱκανός 3.a has “of pers. ὄχλος a large crowd…Ac 11:24, 26; 19:26.”

[19:26] ⁶¹map For location see JP1 D2; JP2 D2; JP3 D2; JP4 D2.

[19:26] ⁶²tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 22.

[19:26] ⁶³tn The participle λέγων (legwn) has been regarded as indicating instrumentality.

[19:26] ⁶⁴tn The words “at all” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

[19:27] ⁶⁵tn Or “come under public criticism.” BDAG 101 s.v. ἀπελεγμός has “come into disrepute Ac 19:27.”

[19:27] ⁶⁶sn 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.

[19:27] ⁶⁷tn BDAG 597 s.v. λογίζομαι 1.b has “εἰς οὐθὲν λογισθῆναι be looked upon as nothing…Ac 19:27.”

[19:27] ⁶⁸tn Grk “Asia”; see the note on this word in v. 22.

[19:27] ⁶⁹tn 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.”

[19:28] ⁷⁰tn 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.

[19:28] ⁷¹tn Grk “And hearing.” The participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") has been taken temporally.

[19:28] ⁷²tn 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).

[19:28] ⁷³tn 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.

[19:28] ⁷⁴sn 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.

[19:29] ⁷⁵tn 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.

[19:29] ⁷⁶tn 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.”

[19:29] ⁷⁷tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:29] ⁷⁸sn 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.

[19:29] ⁷⁹tn Grk “to the theater with one accord.”

[19:30] ⁸⁰tn 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.”

[19:31] ⁸¹tn Grk “Asiarchs” (high-ranking officials of the province of Asia).

[19:31] ⁸²tn Grk “sending”; the participle πέμψαντες (pemyante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:31] ⁸³tn 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.

[19:31] ⁸⁴tn 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.

[19:32] ⁸⁵tn Or “had assembled.”

[19:33] ⁸⁶tn Or “Some of the crowd gave instructions to.”

[19:33] ⁸⁷tn 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.

[19:33] ⁸⁸tn 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.”

[19:33] ⁸⁹tn Or “motioning.”

[19:33] ⁹⁰sn 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.

[19:33] ⁹¹tn 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.”

[19:34] ⁹²tn Grk “But recognizing.” The participle ἐπιγνόντες (epignonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:34] ⁹³tn Grk “[they shouted] with one voice from all of them” (an idiom).

[19:34] ⁹⁴sn 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).

[19:34] ⁹⁵sn 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.

[19:35] ⁹⁶tn Or “clerk.” The “scribe” (γραμματεύς, grammateu") was the keeper of the city’s records.

[19:35] ⁹⁷tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo").

[19:35] ⁹⁸tn See BDAG 670 s.v. νεωκόρος. The city is described as the “warden” or “guardian” of the goddess and her temple.

[19:35] ⁹⁹sn 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.

[19:35] ¹⁰⁰tn Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).

[19:36] ¹⁰¹tn Grk “these things.”

[19:36] ¹⁰²tn 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.”

[19:36] ¹⁰³tn Grk “it is necessary that you be quiet.”

[19:36] ¹⁰⁴tn 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.

[19:37] ¹⁰⁵tn Or perhaps, “desecrators of temples.”

[19:37] ¹⁰⁶sn 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.

[19:38] ¹⁰⁷tn BDAG 600 s.v. λόγος 1.a.ε has “ἔχειν πρός τινα λόγον have a complaint against someone…19:38.”

[19:38] ¹⁰⁸tn L&N 56.1 has ‘if Demetrius and his workers have an accusation against someone, the courts are open’ Ac 19:38.”

[19:38] ¹⁰⁹tn The word “there” is not in the Greek text but is implied. The official’s request is that the legal system be respected.

[19:39] ¹¹⁰tn Or “anything more than this.”

[19:39] ¹¹¹tn Or “resolved.”

[19:39] ¹¹²tn 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.

[19:40] ¹¹³tn Grk “For indeed.” The ascensive force of καί (kai) would be awkward to translate here.

[19:40] ¹¹⁴tn 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.

[19:40] ¹¹⁵tn 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.

[19:40] ¹¹⁶tn Or “commotion.” BDAG 979 s.v. συστροφή 1 gives the meaning “a tumultuous gathering of people, disorderly/seditious gathering or commotion…Ac 19:40.”

[19:41] ¹¹⁷tn 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.

[19:41] ¹¹⁸tn Grk “And saying.” The participle εἰπών (eipwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[19:41] ¹¹⁹tn Grk “these things.”

[19:41] ¹²⁰sn Verse 41 in the English text is included as part of verse 40 in the standard critical editions of the Greek NT.