Acts 19:31

And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends The Greek is one word, literally "Asiarchs." These were officers in the various cities of proconsular Asia, who were appointed to preside over the games and religious festivals. The Rev. Ver.is "And certain also of the chief officers of Asia, being his friends." In Ephesus, these officers would be men of some importance, for in addition to the other games over which they would preside, the whole month of May was sacred to Artemis, being called Artemision, and was given up to festivals in honour of the city's idol. We read of an Asiarch at Smyrna in the narrative of the martyrdom of Polycarp (Euseb. H. E. iv. 15).

It would seem, from the fact that some of these prominent officials were friends to St Paul, that though presiding over the games and festivals for the satisfaction of the populace, they had no great care for Artemis or her worship.

sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre The original says more than "desiring." The Greek word is of frequent occurrence in the Gospels and is generally rendered "beseech," which the Rev. Ver.has given here: sent unto him and besought him. The fuller rendering marks better the personal interest these officers had in the Apostle's safety, and we gather from the narrative that they knew where he was, though the mob had not found him.