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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Acts 19:38-40

ACTS—NOTE ON Acts 19:38 the courts are open. Courts conducted by the Roman proconsul to settle disputes as well as the scheduled meetings of the town assembly. there are proconsuls. A “proconsul” was the head of government in a Roman province (see Acts 13:7; Acts 18:12). The town clerk’s reasoning shows the Christian gospel was not contrary to Roman law and did not disrupt public order.

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See also Acts 19:38-40 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 38. _IF DEMETRIUS - HAVE A MATTER AGAINST ANY MAN_] If it be any breach of law, in reference to Demetrius and the artists, _the_ _law is open_, αγοραιοι αγονται; these are the terms of law, pub...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    HAVE A MATTER AGAINST ANY MAN - Have a complaint of injury; if injustice has been done them by anyone. THE LAW IS OPEN - See the margin. Ἀγόραιοι Agoraioi ἄγονται agontai, that is, ἡμέραι hēmer...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 19 _ 1. The second visit of Paul to Ephesus. The twelve disciples of John (Acts 19:1)._ 2. The Apostle's continued labors. The separation of the disciples. The Province Asia evangelized (Act...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    TUMULT AT EPHESUS. A change of religion (for the Way, _cf. Acts 9:2_) bears hardly on certain trades. In ch. 16 the Gospel interfered with the trade of soothsaying; here the art of the silversmith suf...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    IN EPHESUS (Acts 19:1-7) Acts 19:1-41 is mainly concerned with Paul's work in Ephesus. He stayed longer there than anywhere else, almost three years. (i) Ephesus (G2181) was the market of Asia Minor....

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    It happened that at this time there was a great disturbance about The Way. A certain man called Demetrius, who was a silversmith and who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought very considerable profi...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WHEREFORE IF. If (App-118. a) indeed then. MATTER. charge. Literally WORD. Greek. _logos._ App-121. Figure of speech _Idioma._ App-6. AGAINST. Greek. _pros._ App-104. ANY MAN. Greek. _tis._ App-12...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Wherefore if … have a matter against any man_ i.e. have any charge which they wish to bring. For the concerns in which they are interested will be such as the legal tribunals can attend to. _the law...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἜΧΟΥΣΙΝ ΠΡΌΣ ΤΙΝΑ ΛΌΓΟΝ, _have a matter against any man_, i.e. have any charge which they wish to bring. For the concerns in which the shrine-makers are interested must be such as the legal tribunals...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    HEATHEN OUTBREAK AGAINST ST PAUL AND HIS TEACHING...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _A TOWN CLERK USED COMMON SENSE ACTS 19:35-41:_ Finally, a town official that had some common sense begged the mob to "be quiet, and to do nothing rashly." He suggested that if Demetrius and his worke...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΧΟΥΣΙ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΈΧ (G2192) иметь. Ind. в _conj._ 1 типа, в котором говорящий предполагает реальность условия, ΛΌΓΟΣ (G3056) предмет, дело, ΑΓΟΡΑΊΟΣ (G60) рыночный день. В Риме каждый во...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THE LAW IS OPEN, &C.— _"The courts are held,_ in which they may have justice done them, if they have a charge of any private injury to offer; _and there are the proconsuls,_ (Celer and AElius, then jo...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS Special Study PAUL'S POWER TO GIVE CHARISMATIC POWER (Acts 19:1-41) A. There is much ambiguous, scripturally-imprecise and confusing exegesis of Acts 19:1-7 being done today. 1....

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 35...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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. WHEREFORE IF DEMETRIUS, AND THE C...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    38 After showing them that the men they had led to the theater were not guilty of any overt act against the temple or goddess he reminds them that there are legal means of redress for any wrong which...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    EPHESUS 1-41. Paul at Ephesus. Opposition of the manufacturers of idols. St. Paul, leaving Antioch in S. Galatia (see Acts 18:23), approached Ephesus not by the usual level route leading through Colos...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE LAW, etc.] rather, 'the courts are open,' or, 'court days are kept.' DEPUTIES] rather, 'proconsuls,' the correct title of the Roman governor in a senatorial province like Asia. There was, of cour...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 19 PAUL IN EPHESUS, 19:1-10 V1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul was travelling. He travelled through the *province on the higher road. He arr...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    THE LAW IS OPEN. — Literally, _the court,_ or _forum, days are going on._ The words may either indicate that the proconsul was then actually sitting to hold trials in the _agora_ or _forum,_ or may be...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    λόγον ἔχουσιν : no exact equivalent elsewhere in N.T., but Grimm (so Kypke) compares Matthew 5:32 (see also Colossians 3:13). ἀγοραῖοι ἄγονται : “the courts are open,” R.V., perhaps best to understand...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE LAWLESSNESS OF SELFISH GREED Acts 19:30 The theater of Ephesus still stands, and the writer of these words has spoken in its mighty enclosure, from the very spot where this town clerk-the model o...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The result of the work of Apollos was manifest when Paul reached Ephesus. There he found a company of sincere disciples to Jesus as He had been revealed by John. To them Paul declared the truth in its...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    The Riot in Ephesus While Timothy and Erastus were away, a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made shrines of Diana, or Artemis, began to stir people up against Christianity. He called together th...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a (o) matter against any man, the (p) law is open, and there are (q) deputies: let them implead one another. (o) Have anything to ac...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    _“If indeed Demetrius and the artificers along with him have an allegation against anyone, there are court-days and lawyers; let them implead one another.”_ Having thus warned and reasoned the case wi...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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. (22) So he sent...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    We now enter on the missionary journeys, as they are called, of the apostle Paul. The work, under the Spirit, opens to the glory of the Lord. Not merely are Gentiles met in grace and brought into the...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    From Verse 24 of Chapter 18 to Verse 7 of Chapter 19 we have a kind of summary of the progress made by the doctrine of Christ, and of the power that accompanied it. Apollos knew only of the teaching o...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHEREFORE IF DEMETRIUS, AND THE CRAFTSMEN WHICH ARE WITH HIM,.... Who were the ringleaders and encouragers of this tumult: HAVE A MATTER AGAINST ANY MAN; any accusation, or charge, any crime to accus...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 38,39. As the town clerk here...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And when the town-clerk_ Greek, ο γραμματευς, _the scribe;_ probably the proconsul's secretary, to whom the direction of the affairs of the city was committed; _had appeased the people_ So far as to...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    A MATTER; just cause of complaint. DEPTUIES; proconsuls, who presided over the administration of justice. IMPLEAD ONE ANOTHER; argue their cases in court. Sometimes men of standing and influence are...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The end of the riot:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Paul returned to Ephesus, as he had promised. Of course there was an assembly there already, as chapter 18:27 intimates; but he found certain disciples who, at his questioning, tell him they had not e...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    THEREFORE, IF DEMETRIUS AND HIS FELLOW CRAFTSMEN HAVE A CASE AGAINST ANYONE, THE COURTS ARE OPEN AND THERE ARE PROCONSULS. LET THEM BRING CHARGES AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. 1. If there is a valid legal cla...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    THE LAW IS OPEN: Or, the Court days are kept...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    32-41 The Jews came forward in this tumult. Those who are thus careful to distinguish themselves from the servants of Christ now, and are afraid of being taken for them, shall have their doom accordi...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE LAW IS OPEN; which is fittest to determine all questions and controversies; for men would be partial to their own cause, and every one challenge to be in the right. DEPUTIES; who, under the Roman...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 19:38 Therefore G3303 G3767 if G1487 Demetrius G1216 and G2532 fellow G4862 G846 craftsmen G5079 have...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen who are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.” If Demetrius and his craftsmen...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    A STIRRING IN EPHESUS ON ACCOUNT OF THE NAME OF ARTEMIS (19:23-41). In considering what follows we should note two things about its context: · Firstly that it introduces the final section of Acts (Ac...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 19:38. IF DEMETRIUS AND... HAVE A MATTER AGAINST ANY MAN, THE LAW IS OPEN. It was clear that these men with whom Demetrius and his fellow-craftsmen were so incensed had committed no crime of whic...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    HAVE A MATTER AGAINST ANY ONE (εχουσιν προς τινα λογον). For this use of εχω λογον with προς see Matthew 5:32; Colossians 3:13. The town-clerk names Demetrius and the craftsmen (τεχνιτα) as the par...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Paul at Ephesus. Disciples of John the Baptist become Christians. Paul in the synagogue and in the school of Tyrannus. Paul's miracles. Uproar of the silversmiths. CHARACTERS: Jesus, Holy S...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 19:1. _Paul came to Ephesus,_ a city of Ionia, built by the Amezones. Its temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the world; but Pompey plundered it of all its riches. This city is now in...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AT LAST THE CITY CLERK. He ranked next to the mayor, and was sometimes "acting mayor." He is able to calm them and reason with them. OF THE SACRED ATONE. Meteorites were believed to be supernatural, a...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _A certain man named Demetrius._ PAUL AND DEMETRIUS The application of these words to present day life is a task that might be assigned to a child. Demetrius never dies; his word is to be heard in ev...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Some therefore cried one thing, and some another._ THE EXCITEMENT AT EPHESUS I. What produced it. 1. Self-interest endangered. 2. Superstitious feelings aroused. 3. The unpopularity of the gospe...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 19:23. THE WAY.—See on Acts 9:2. Acts 19:24. DEMETRIUS.—The name has been found in an inscription, exhumed in Ephesus and supposed (Hicks) to belong to A.D. 50–60, recording a...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 19:1 _Country _for _coasts, _A.V.; _found _for _finding, _A.V. and T.R. THE UPPER COUNTRY (τὰ ἀνωτερικὰ μέρη); the inland districts of Galatia and Phrygia, through which St. Paul...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth [watering what Paul had planted], Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and there he found certain disciples [that no dou...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 6:1; Acts 18:14; Acts 19:24; Deuteronomy 17:8...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    The law is open [α γ ο ρ α ι ο ι α γ ο ν τ α ι] Lit., the court - days are being kept. Rev., the courts are open. Compare ch. 17 5. Deputies [α ν θ υ π α τ ο ι] Proconsuls, by whom Asia, as a senator...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    There are proconsuls — One in every province. There was one at Ephesus....

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