Introductory remarks:
"Paul imparts the Holy Ghost to converts in Ephesus and teaches in the synagogue. The word spreads throughout Asia. Sceva tries to cast out an evil spirit in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches and is attacked by the possessed man. Magicians burn their books and the Word of God spreads. Paul thinks to go to Rome after he visits Jerusalem. He sends Timotheus and Erastus to Macedonia. Idol makers in Ephesus seize Paul's companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, and bring them before an angry mob. The town clerk calms everyone down and they disperse" (A Survey of Acts - Brenda).
This chapter may be outlined as follows: Paul at Ephesus vv. 1-10; the sons of Sceva vv. 11-20; the riot at Ephesus vv. 21-40.
Paul at Ephesus
Verses 1, 2, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard there be any Holy Ghost."
LGT "And it came to pass, while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper parts came to Ephesus, and having found certain disciples, he said to them, Did ye receive [the] Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they [said] to him, Not even did we hear the Holy Spirit exists."
Apollos had been preaching in Corinth in Paul's absence. As Paul passed through Corinth, he happens upon some disciples of John the Baptist who had not yet been taught the doctrines of grace.
The KJV does not correctly have this phrase "have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" It should be translated; did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? Every believer is baptized immediately with the Holy Spirit upon believing; it is not something that happens subsequent to salvation; it happens the very moment one believes. Now the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not an experience that one feels, because it is a spiritual placing of the believer into union with the Lord Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, and it is not a second blessing of experiential sanctification as taught by the Pentecostal Church. The answer of these learners was that they did not yet hear that there was a Holy Spirit, does not mean that they were ignorant of His existence; it simply means that they were ignorant of any individual reception of Him; they would certainly have been taught by John of His existence. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a doctrine they had not yet been taught.
Vincent notes:
"These disciples of John the Baptist, who, like Apollos, had been instructed and baptized by the followers of the Baptist, and had joined the fellowship of the Christians. Some have thought that they had been instructed by Apollos himself; but there is no sufficient evidence of this. 'There they were, a small and distinct community about twelve in number, still preparing, after the manner of the Baptist, for the coming of the Lord. Something there was which drew the attention of the apostle immediately on his arrival. They lacked, apparently, some of the tokens of the higher life that pervaded the nascent [budding] church; they were devout, rigorous, austere [sober], but were wanting in the joy, the radiancy, the enthusiasm which were conspicuous in others' (Plumptre)."
Verse 3, "And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism."
LGT "And he said, To what then were ye baptized? And they said, To the baptism of John."
John the Baptist baptized believers unto repentance looking forward to the finished work of Christ. When they said they did not know the Holy Spirit exist proved that they did not even know John's message, for John knew that the Holy Spirit did exist when he baptized Jesus. It is very doubtful whether these disciples were even truly saved at this time. I believe that these disciples were not so much ignorant of the existence of the Holy Spirit, but the ministry of the Holy Spirit; that is, they had not heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 4, "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
LGT "And Paul said, John baptized [with] a baptism of repentance, saying to the people, that they should believe on Him coming after him, that is, on Jesus."
John the Baptist baptism was a baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. These disciples missed the whole point of John's baptism. It is doubtful that they even understood the message of this repentance; it was a change of mind regarding religion; he was trying to get the people to turn from their sins in preparation for the coming of Christ. The gospel of grace taught them that they were not under obligation to the law, but under the watch care of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were under grace not law. It will take Paul some time to develop the doctrine of grace. John's message was that the Messiah has come and that it was this Jesus across the Jordan River they would need to accept as Savior. Paul now tells them that the Jesus the Jews crucified was truly the Messiah, and now they should confess Him as their Savior. Everything in the apostolic age was public; remember, this is before the completion of the Scriptures; they went out proclaiming Christ, and they had the supernatural gifts of the Spirit to authenticate that they were apostles. Now that we have the Bible in it's completeness, there is not more need for proof; we have the Word as our proof; if men do not believe the Word of God, they will not believe miracles or any supernatural gift that we would otherwise posses. The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword.
Verse 5, "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
LGT "And having heard, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus."
These men were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus for the first time. They had now become believers; before they believed about Jesus, now they believed in Jesus. All these baptisms were symbolic and had no real effect on the salvation of the one being baptized. The Jews had all sorts of washings and they were also symbolic. The only time we will allow ourselves to become confused regarding baptism is when we tie baptism together with believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone. There is no ceremony, and there never has been a ceremony that has saved a man.
Verses 6, 7, "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve."
LGT "And Paul, having laid his hands on them, The Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were speaking with tongues and prophesying. And all the men were about twelve."
This verse is quite revealing. As soon as Paul laid his hands on these new believer, disciples, they immediately spake in tongues and prophesied; they didn't have to go to seminary and study the Word of God, they were now overpowered with the Holy Spirit, and they began immediately speaking and prophesying concerning the Word of God that was yet to be written. In each dispensation God has revealed Himself in different ways; 1) in the Garden of Eden, in the age of innocence, Christ came down in the cool of the evening walked and talked with Adam and Eve directly, teaching them about God; 2) during the age of human government when man governed himself, God spoke directly from heaven, usually in visions and dreams, God spoke to Noah and had him build an ark, when the sinfulness of man became too great, and destroyed mankind and every living creature in the flood, except for Noah's family and two of every creature; 3) and then from Abraham to Moses we had the dispensation of the patriarchs, where the father was the head of the family and spiritual leader who would lead the family in their sacrifices to God. In this dispensation God spoke directly to man; 4) then Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Law on Mount Sinai directly from God, ushering in the dispensation of the Law; 5) then we had the dispensation of Christ coming to earth and sacrificing Himself on the cross for the sin of all mankind, and putting an end to the Law, and ushering in His grace; 6) and then we have the age in which we are studying in acts, the dispensation called the apostolic age or the first church, where the Holy Spirit supernaturally gifted men to spread the Word of God before it was written; 7) and when the New Testament is completed we have the dispensation of the age of grace, this is the age in which we now are living. In each economy or dispensation man has failed. God has used these several dispensations to prove to man that he cannot make it alone and that he needs Him. The reason I have briefly discussed these several dispensations is to show that God works separately and proves His sovereignty in His dealing with mankind; but to mix these dispensation such as Law and Grace is to cause great confusion in Bible exposition. Also I point out that men are not supernaturally gifted by the Holy Spirit, but we are supernaturally gifted with the completed Word of God; praise His precious name!
Verse 8, "And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God."
LGT "And having entered into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for three months reasoning and persuading the things concerning the Kingdom of God."
The Jews expected Christ to set up His kingdom before He went to the cross, and when He didn't do as they expected, they rejected Him as their Messiah, and eventually crucified Him. Now Paul is teaching them that Jesus, whom they crucified, was the Messiah, and that He is coming back again at the end of this age, and He will set up His kingdom.
Verse 9, "But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus."
LGT "But when some were hardened and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, having departed from them, he separated the disciples from the rest, daily reasoning in the school of Tyrannus."
Some that heard Paul became hardened and continued in unbelief. Their hearts hardened in unbelief, because they were opposed to the gospel of grace. The gospel of grace will have an affect on man's heart; either 1) it will soften it and make it workable unto eternal profit, or 2) it will harden it to its eternal doom. When these unbelieving Jews began speaking evil of the Way Paul departed from them, separating his disciples from them. The gospel of grace was labeled The Way. Paul separated his disciples from the evil influence of those who would draw them away from the faith. Paul went immediately reasoning in the school of Tyrannus. Who this Tyrannus was is unknown, and we would only be speculating as to who he was. What we do know is that he owned a hall and was willing to rent it or allow it to Paul and his followers. Another thing of special note is that Paul taught in this hall daily; and as I have said over and over again, we must take in the Word of God on a daily basis or we will starve spiritually. Paul did not just preach on Sunday, he taught every single day.
Verse 10, "And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks."
LGT "And this was for two years, so that all those who inhabited Asia heard the Word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks."
How I would have loved to spend two years under the personal ministry of the apostle Paul. I have spent more than two years under his teaching through the Word of God, but have never put it into this particular perspective. The whole province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. "This gives us some concept of how the Word of God was growing in that day. Apparently from this vantage point the church in Colosse came into existence. You see, Paul wrote to the Colossians as he did to the Romans before he had visited them. Yet he was the founder of those churches. How could this be? By the simple fact that from the school of Tyrannus the gospel sounded forth - it went out everywhere. When the Corinthians wanted Paul to come over to them, he wrote to them 'For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries' (1 Cor 16:7-9). For two years the gospel sounded out so that everyone had heard it in the province of Asia. Probably the seven churches of Asia Minor came into existence through the preaching of Paul the apostle here at Ephesus. This may have been where he had his greatest ministry" (McGee).
The Sons of Sceva
Verse 11, "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul."
LGT "And God wrought works of power not common by the hands of Paul."
Not only the gospel of grace spread throughout Asia, but here in Ephesus, of which Athens was the religious center, but the fact that Paul was producing these supernatural acts from the Holy Spirit that the superstitious crowd who worshipped the goddess Diana in her temple were also impressed. "Here in Ephesus exorcists and other magicians had built an enormous vogue of false spiritualism and Paul faces unseen forces of evil. His tremendous success led some people to superstitious practices, thinking that there was power in Paul's person" (Robertson).
Verse 12, "So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out from them."
LGT "So that even to those being sick, handkerchiefs were brought from his skin or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits departed from them."
Paul worked at the tentmakers trade here in Ephesus, so he wore the trade apron and he used sweat cloths or handkerchiefs. The people would take these aprons or handkerchiefs to those who were sick or possessed with evil spirits and they would be healed; God did not honor their superstitions, but He did honor Paul, and they would know that it was because of his relationship with God that these things were accomplished, for Paul never ever took credit for his supernatural gifts.
Barnes notes:
"If it be asked why this was done, it may be observed, (1) that the working of miracles in that region would greatly contribute to the spread of the gospel. (2) We are not to suppose that there was any efficacy in the aprons thus brought, or in the mere fact that they had touched the body of Paul, any more than there was in the hem of the Savior's garment which the woman touched, or the clay which He made use of to open the eyes of the blind man, John 8:6. (3) In this instance. The fact that the miracles were wrought in this manner by garments which had touched his body, was a mere sign, or as evidence to the persons concerned, that it was done by the instrumentality of Paul, as the fact that the Savior put His finger into the ears of a deaf man, and spit and touched his tongue (Matt. 7:33), was an evidence to those who saw it that the power of healing came from Him. The bearing of these aprons to the sick was, therefore, merely evidence to all concerned that miraculous power was given to Paul."
Verse 13, "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth."
LGT "But certain also of the wandering Jews, exorcists, took in hand to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you [by] Jesus, whom Paul proclaims."
These wandering Jewish exorcists were vagabonds that traveled around like gypsy fortunetellers. They regarded Paul as the same as they, and so they imitated his words, expecting the same results; what they observed from Paul, they thought he used magical words to get magical results. They used the Lord's name in vain. Robertson says "The Ephesian mysteries included Christianity, so they supposed." These wandering exorcists pretended to be able to cast out demons and cure illness by incantations and charms. Barnes notes that these vagabond exorcists are common in the Orient even now.
Verse 14, "And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and a chief of the Priests, which did so."
LGT "And there seven sons of a certain one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who were doing this."
Sceva had seven sons who were pretending to do these things.
Verse 15, "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?"
LGT "But answering, the evil spirit said to them, Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted, but who are you?"
The evil spirit answers The whom you mention Jesus, I recognize, and the whom you mention Paul, I am acquainted, but who are you? The word for "know" the evil spirit uses is gr. ginosko, which means that he is aware of them, not by faith, simply by knowledge.
Verse 16, "And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."
LGT "And the man leaping on them, in whom the evil spirit was, having mastered all and prevailed against them, so that naked and wounded they escaped out of that house."
This man empowered by Satan, leaped upon all seven of these phonies, and ripped their clothes off them, and allowed them to escape out into the streets running for safety, wounded and naked. What a sight to behold. Oh, how I would love to see something like this happen to that phony Benny Hinn; I am sure it would if there were such a thing as demon possession today. How this incident magnified the honesty and truthfulness of the apostle Paul.
Verse 17, "And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."
LGT "And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, these inhabiting Ephesus, and fear fell upon all them, and name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."
Paul never performed a miracle in his own name; it was always in the name of the Lord Jesus. Now this incident with these phony magicians spread throughout all Ephesus, and caused the people to fear and magnify the name of the Lord Jesus. This incident caused the people to see the real message that Paul was preaching.
McGee notes:
"The miracles which Paul and the other apostles performed were not the type of thing that one hears about today. For many years there have been stories of miracles being performed in Los Angeles and in Southern California, but they made no dent or impression on this great pagan city. The miracles of Paul shook Ephesus to its very foundation. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified through them."
Verse 18, "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds."
LGT "And many of those who believed came confessing and declaring their deeds."
"Judgment was beginning at the house of God. The dupes (professing believers, alas) of these jugglers or exorcists now had their eyes opened when they saw the utter defeat of the tricksters who had tried to use the name of Jesus without his power (that is, using the Lord's name in vain). The boomerang was tremendous. The black arts now laid bare in their real character. Gentile converts had a struggle to shake off their corrupt environment" (Robertson). The word "confess" means that they named their deeds the same as God named them; this was a real true confession.
Verse 19, "Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver."
LGT "And many of those who practiced the curious arts, having brought the books, burnt [them] up before all, and they reckoned up the prices of them, and found [it] fifty thousand pieces of silver."
Those who practiced these curious arts brought their books of incantations and burnt them up before the people. The fifty thousand pieces of silver showed that it was quite a healthy sum of money they were giving up; it showed what a convincing power Christianity had over their superstitions.
Verse 20, "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."
LGT "Thus with might the Word of the Lord increased and triumphed."
The Word of God increased and triumphed in Ephesus, the center for these curious arts. "It was a day of triumph for Christ in Ephesus, this city of vast wealth and superstition. Ephesus for centuries will be one of the centers of Christian power. Timothy will come here and John the Apostle and Polycarp and Irenaeus" (Robertson).
The Riot at Ephesus
Verse 21, "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."
LGT "And when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in the spirit, having passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After my having been there, it is necessary for me also to see Rome."
Paul expresses his desire to go to Rome, possibly because of his friendship with Aquila and Priscilla, but primarily to establish the believers in doctrine. Paul says that after his work in planting churches throughout Asia, he purposed in his mind to visit Rome; "he did go to Rome, but in chains as a prisoner" (Barnes).
Verse 22, "So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season."
LGT "And having sent into Macedonia two of the ones who ministered to him, Timotheus and Erastus, and remained a time in Asia."
Paul sends Timothy and Erastus, two of his faithful servants who had helped Paul in his ministry in Ephesus, to Macedonia. It was here that Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, and may have had Timothy deliver it.
Verse 23, "And the same time there arose no small stir about the way."
LGT "And it came to pass at that time no small disturbance about the Way."
The word "Way" was the description given to the gospel of grace Paul preached; Jesus Christ who Himself said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). Luke uses the diminutive no small disturbance meaning there was a great disturbance about the Way.
Verse 24, "For a certain man named Demetrius, a silver smith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsman."
LGT "For a certain [man] by name Demetrius, a silversmith, making silver temples of Artemis, brought to the artificers no little gain;"
Paul's preaching the Way interfered with the silversmiths business. We see over and over that the gospel of grace hit the world in the pocketbook. Again Luke uses the diminutive no little gain for it made the artificers in silver very rich. "The temple of Diana was a great pagan temple, and it was the center of business. It was the bank of that day. It was also the center of sin. Gross immorality took place around it. It is true that religion can go to a lower level than anything else. That temple was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the largest Greek temple that was ever built. It was beautiful and was adorned with works of art, but the images of Diana or Artemis was hideous. It was not the Diana of the Greeks, a graceful image, but was the crude, many-breasted, oriental Diana. They were selling those silver images, and it was big business" (McGee).
Verses 25, 26, "Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:"
LGT "Whom having gathered together, and the workmen concerning such things, he said, Men, ye know that from this gain is the wealth of us, and ye see and hear that not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, this Paul, having persuaded, turned away a great multitude, saying, that they are not gods which are made by hands."
We see in this verse that Demetrius, the silversmith, gathers together those in his trade who made silver shrines of Dianna and Artemis, but also others in like trades who made terra-cotta [fired clay] shrines of their temple; he did not gather them together as a union to strike, but a revolt against the preaching of Paul through Asia Minor. Their was a Jewish colony in Ephesus, but their revolt against idolatry was nothing compared to the effect Paul's preaching the grace of God had on their occupation, and this caused a great concern for these artisans of loosing their livelihood. This was quite a testimony by this Greek, Demetrius, that the preaching of Paul was successful in turning the heathen from idols to the true and Living God.
Verse 27, "So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshipped."
LGT "And not only this is dangerous to us [lest] the business come into disregard, but also the temple of the great goddess Artemis shall be counted as nothing, and the majesty of her be destroyed, whom all Asia and the habitable world worships."
What an admission on the part of Demetrius that the entire world worships nothing but graven images made with hands. When he said our worship be counted as nothing, he was actually saying, our worship is now exposed as nothing.
Vincent notes:
"We must distinguish between the Greek Artemis, known to the Romans as Diana, and the Ephesian goddess. The former, according to the legend, was the daughter of Zeus (Jove), and the sister of Apollo. She was the patroness of the chase, the huntress among the immortals, represented with bow, quiver, and spear, clad in hunting-habit, and attended by dogs and stags. She was both a destroyer and a preserver, sending forth her arrows of death, especially against women, but also acting as a healer, and the special protectress of women in childbirth. She was also the goddess of the moon. She was a maiden divinity, whose ministers were vowed to chastity.
The Ephesian Artemis is totally distinct from the Greek, partaking of the Asiatic character, and of the attributes of the Lydian Cybele, the great mother of the gods. Her worship near Ephesus appears to have existed among the native Asiatic population before the foundation of the city, and to have been adopted by the Greek immigrants, who gradually transferred to her features peculiar to the Grecian goddess. She was the personification of the fructifying and nourishing powers of nature, and her image, as represented on current coins of the time, is that of a swathed [wrapped] figure, covered with breasts, and holding in one hand a trident [a three pronged spear], and in the other a club. This uncouth figure, clad in a robe covered with mystic devices, stood in the shrine of the great temple, hidden by a purple curtain [I wonder where they got this idea], and was believed to have fallen down from heaven (vs. 35). In her worship the oriental influence was predominant. The priests were eunuchs, and with them was associated a body of virgin priestesses and a number of slaves, the lowest of whom were known as neocori, or temple-sweepers (vs. 35). 'Many a time must Paul have herd from the Jewish quarter the piercing shrillness of their flutes, and the harsh jangling of their timbrels; many a time have caught the glimpses of their detestable dances and Corybantic [orgiastic] processions, as, with streaming hair, and wild cries, and shaken torches of pine, they strove to madden the multitude into sympathy with that orgiastic worship which was but too closely connected with the vilest debaucheries' (Farrar, Life and Work of Paul)."
Verse 28, "And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
LGT "And having heard, and having become full of indignation, they cried out saying, Great Artemis of the Ephesians."
They went about the city clamoring in their orgiastic style, Great Artemis of the Ephesians. "The design of this clamor was doubtless to produce a persecution against Paul, and thus to secure a continuance of their employment. Often, when men have no arguments, they raise a clamor; when their employments are in danger of being ruined, they are filled with rage. We may learn, also, that when men's pecuniary (financial) interests are effected, they often show great zeal for religion, and expect by clamor in behalf of some doctrine to maintain their own interest, and to secure their own gains" (Barnes).
Verse 29, "And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater."
LGT "And the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord to the theater, having seized with [them] Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow-travelers of Paul."
Gaius lived in Ephesus, and Paul stayed there with him; the mob, filled with the confusion, (See verse 32) was looking for Paul, and Gaius and Aristarchus probably went in his place to protect him. The theater, which remains can still be seen, seated some fifty six thousand people; some believe twenty four thousand five hundred. It was in this theater that public hearings and courts were held; also the gladiators and stage actors performed here. This mob had only one thing in mind, kill.
Verse 30, "And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
LGT "But Paul, intending to go in to the people, the disciples did not suffer him."
Paul would have definitely been killed if his disciples did not stop him from going out to the howling mob; Paul wanted to face them head on, but his friends stopped him. Paul wanted to defend himself face to face with the people, but the more he insisted, the more his disciples resisted him, and the disciples won. Paul was not the type of man to let his comrades face the music on his behalf.
Verse 31, "And certain of the chief of Asia, which were friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater."
LGT "And some also of the chiefs of Asia, being friends to him, having sent to him, urged [him] not to venture into the theater."
The theater was no place for Paul, for it meant certain death. These chiefs of Asia were ten officers, wealthy men, elected by cities in the province who celebrated at their own cost public games and festivals (Page), who were tolerant of Paul, and they urged him not to adventure into the theater.
Verse 32, "Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together."
LGT "Some therefore one thing and some another kept on crying out: for the assembly was confused, and the most did not know for what cause they came together."
This was not a lawful assembly, but called together by Demetrius; they were crying out one thing, and then another thing; they had no idea what they were crying out, they just were caught up in being a mob. "The greater part did not know. They had been drawn together by the noise and excitement, and but a small part would know the real cause of the commotion. This is usually the case in tumultuous meetings" (Barnes). This scene reminds me of the demonstrations brought on by the democrats at the RNC. Most of the people in political revolts haven't the foggiest notion what they are railing about, especially the anti war mob, that are usually drugged up to the hilt, and they are just out there because their friends are there.
Verse 33, "And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense unto the people."
LGT "But from among the crowd they put forward Alexander, the Jews thrusting him forward: And Alexander, having made a sign with the hand, wished to make a defense to the people."
The Jews put forth this Alexander to make a defense that the Jews were not responsible for this tumult; for the Jews hated idolatry as much as the Christians. Alexander wanted to make his defense, but was never allowed. Alexander beckoned with his hand for silence, and that is far as he got.
Verse 34, "But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians."
LGT "But having recognized that he is a Jew, there was one cry from all, for about two hours, crying out, Great the Artemis of [the] Ephesians."
"This is typical mob action. Many of them didn't even know why they were gathered together. However, notice that they do not grant freedom of speech to anyone else. They would not permit Alexander to speak because they wanted to run around and squeal, Great is Diana of the Ephesians" (McGee). Vincent adds: "The reverberations of their voices from the steep rock which formed one side of the theater must have rendered their frenzied cries still more terrific." Barnes notes: " This shouting they did at first to silence Alexander. The shouting, however, was continued in order to evince their attachment to Diana, as would be natural in an excited and tumultuous mob of heathen worshippers." This whole scene proves that the majority is not right because of unanimity.
Verse 35, "And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?"
LGT "And the town clerk, having calmed the crowd says, Men Ephesians, for what man is there who knows not the city of [the] Ephesians as being the temple-keepers of the great goddess Artemis, and of that fallen from Zeus."
The town clerk was the chief magistrate of the city; "Ephesus was a free city and elected its own officers, and the recorder or secretary was the chief magistrate of the city, though the proconsul of the province of Asia resided there. This officer is not a mere secretary of another officer or like the copyists and students of the law among the Jews, but the most influential person in Ephesus who drafted decrees with the aid of the strategois (general of the army), had charge of the city's money, was the power in control of the assembly, and communicated directly with the proconsul. Inscriptions at Ephesus give frequently this very title for their chief officer and the papyri have it also. The precise function varied in different cities. His name appeared on the coin at Ephesus issued in his year of office" (Robertson).
The town clerk waited until the people had screeched out their salutations to Diana, and at the end of the two hours of wailing he stood up and began to quiet the crowd. He told them that they feared the Jews unnecessarily, for all the people knew that that the Ephesians were the temple-keepers of the goddess Diana, which was believed, that had fallen down from heaven.
Verse 36, "Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly."
LGT "Therefore, these things being undeniable, it is necessary for you to be calm, and to do nothing rashly."
The town clerk points to the great temple of the goddess Diana and says that they should be calm, for nothing can be done to change their religion, and worship of Diana; however, as McGee points out, the temple has laid in ruins now for over two thousand years.
Verse 37, "For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess."
LGT "For ye have brought these men, [who are] neither temple plunderers, nor defaming your goddess."
The town clerk says that they have brought these men before him, who are neither civil nor religious offenders; they neither rob the temple, nor blaspheme their goddess Diana. Paul and his companions were simply presenting the gospel of grace, and no bitter words against Diana; the people who gave up the worship of idols did so because they found the true and living God.
Verse 38, "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."
LGT "If indeed therefore, Demetrius and the artificers with him have a matter against anyone, courts are held, and proconsuls there are; let them accuse one another."
The town clerk is saying that if the silversmiths have a charge against Paul and his companions, the courts are open. "The town clerk makes a definite appeal to the mob for orderly legal procedure as opposed to mob violence in a matter where money and religious prejudice unite, a striking rebuke to so-called lynch-law proceedings in lands today where Christianity is supposed to prevail" (Robertson).
Verse 39, "But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly."
LGT "But if ye require anything concerning further matters, it shall be solved in the lawful assemblies."
He continues that all matters of a legal nature will be solved by the courts of law, in a legal way, and not by mob rule.
Verse 40, "For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse."
LGT "For also, we are in danger to be accused of insurrection concerning this day, not one cause existing concerning which we are able to give a reason for this concourse. And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly."
He tells them that there is not one good reason for them to have assembled in the town square. He tells them that he will have to give the proconsul an explanation for this wild frenzied, confused affair. "There was a Roman law which made it capital for anyone to be engaged in promoting a riot" (Barnes).
Verse 41, "And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly."
LGT (Verse 41 is the end of verse 40 in the original).
He sends the crowd home, and Paul ends his ministry here in Ephesus.
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