Acts 19:38

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. WHEREFORE IF DEMETRIUS, AND THE CRAFTSMEN WHICH ARE WITH HIM, HAVE A MATTER (OF COMPLAINT) AGAINST ANY MAN, THE LAW IS OPEN, AND THERE ARE DEPUTIES, [ agoraioi (G60) agontai (G71) kai (G2532) anthupatoi (G446) eisin (G1526)] - rather, 'court-days are being holden, and there are proconsuls' (see the note at Acts 13...

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 accordingly in the great day. One, having authority, at length stilled the noise. It is a very good rule at all times, both in private and public affairs, not to be hasty and rash in our motions, but to take time to consider; and always to keep our passions under check. We ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly; to do nothing in haste, of which we may repent at leisure. The regular methods of the law ought always to stop popular tumults, and in well-governed nations will do so. Most people stand in awe of men's judgments more than of the judgement of God. How well it were if we would thus quiet our disorderly appetites and passions, by considering the account we must shortly give to the Judge...

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, public courts, times of sessions or assize; or, rather, _the judges are_ _mow sitting_: so the words may be understood. _And there are_ _deputies_, ανθυπατοι, _proconsuls_, appointed to guard the peace of the state, and to support every honest man in his right: _let them_ _implead one another_; let the one party bring forward his action of assault or trespass, and the other put in his defense: the laws are equal and impartial, and justice will be done to him who is wronged....

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 hēmerai. There are court-days; days which are open, or appointed for judicial trials, where such matters can be determined in a proper manner. Perhaps the courts were then held, and the matter might be immediately determined. AND THERE ARE DEPUTIES - Roman proconsuls. See the notes on Acts 13:7. The cause might be brought before them with the certainty that it would be heard and decided. The Syriac reads this in the singular numb

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 journeyed on his way to Ephesus, as distinguished from the seacoast on which Ephesus stood. DISCIPLES. They were like Apollos, believers in the Lord Jesus through the preaching of John the Baptist. It looks as if they were companions of Apollos, and had come with him from Alexandria, perhaps for some purpose of trade or Commerce. ACTS 19:2 _And he said _for _he said, _A.V. and T.R.; _did ye receive _for _have ye received, _A.V.; _when _for _since, _A.V.

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 accuse him of, and charge him with: THE LAW IS OPEN; or court days are kept; there are certain times fixed for the hearing and trying of causes, where and when such an affair should be regularly brought; and not use such disorderly methods, and throw a city into confusion, and break the peace as these men had done: the Syriac version renders it, "they are artificers"; that is, Demetrius and the craftsmen with him; they are tradesmen, and it does not belong to them, nor should they take upon themselves to judge and determine what is right or wrong: AND THERE ARE DEPUTIES; or "proconsuls"; the proconsul and his deputy, to whom such matters appertain, and who are judges in such cases, and to whom...

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 (Acts 19:8). 3. The Power of God and the Power of Satan (Acts 19:11). 4. Paul plans to go to Jerusalem and to visit Rome (Acts 19:21). 5. The opposition and riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:23). The disciples whom Paul found at Ephesus were disciples of John. The question the Apostle asked them has often been made the foundation of wrong teach

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 suffers. This opens a large chapter in the early history of Christianity (_cf._ Tertullian, _On the Public Games; The Soldier's Crown)._ Demetrius, to judge from his speech, is rather an employer than a craftsman. His business has been falling off, or he fears it may do so. The silver shrines would be used as mementoes of travel, but people would not purchase them if they ceased to believe in Artemis, and this was the evident outcome of Paul's teaching. The silversmiths and allied trades are therefore called together, and it is pointed out that not only the trade but the goddess herself must suffer if the preaching goes on. The audience fully agrees, works itself up, and vents its feelings in

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. In those days trade followed the river valleys. Ephesus stood at the mouth of the Cayster and therefore commanded the richest hinterland in Asia Minor. Revelation 18:12-13 gives a description of the trade of Ephesus. She was known as "The Treasure House of Asia" and someone has called her, "The Vanity Fair of Asia Minor." (ii) She was an Assize Town. That is to say, at specified times the Roman governor came there and great cases of justice were tried. S

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-123. LAW IS OPEN. courts (Greek. _agoraios._ See note on Acts 17:5) are being held. DEPUTIES. proconsuls. Greek. _anthupatos._ See note on Acts 13:7. Asia was. proconsular province, but there was only one proconsul. The townclerk was probably speaking generally. IMPLEAD. charge, or accuse. Greek. _enkaleo._ Only here, Acts 19:40; Acts 23:28;...