When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
the theater - "The theater accommodated 25,000 people." (Ryrie)
"The ruins of this ancient amphitheatre still stand. It probably seated upwards of twenty-five thousand persons." (Stam)
Aristarchus - "A native of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4; 27:2). Our first notice of him occurs here. He was a converted Jew (Col 4:10-12). He is found in St. Paul's company on the return journey from his third missionary tour (Acts 20:4), and seems to have accompanied him to Jerusalem, since we find him going with the apostle from Caesarea to Rome (Acts 27:2). He remained with him during part or the whole of his first Roman imprisonment, possibly sharing his bonds (Col 4:10); Philem 24). After that, we lose sight of him. Both he and Gaius were converted, most likely, during St. Paul's first visit to Macedonia (Acts 16)." (Walker)
the Asiarchs - "Each province had an association for promoting the worship of Rome and the emperors, and the chief officers of such associations were styled after the name of their province, 'Syriarch', 'Galatarch', 'Asiarch', etc. They probably acted as high priests of the temples erected for emperor worship, and they certainly presided over the public games which were held in connexion with provincial festivals. Thus these Asiarchs were most important provincial officials, who assembled in council at intervals to manage such business of the province of Asia as appertained to emperor worship and public games. It has been suggested that they had gathered in Ephesus at that time for such a purpose, and that possibly a great festival was then being held." (Walker)
"The Asiarchs were men of wealth and position chosen to preside over public festivals and games." (Stam)
Alexander - "Some have supposed that this was the Christian Alexander of 1 Tim. 1:20, before his defection, and that the Jews put him forward to deliver him to the vengeance of the mob. But there are insurmountable objections to this view, especially since the Jews themselves were opposed to the worship of Diana and would hardly place themselves in so compromising a position. It is far more likely that this Alexander is the 'coppersmith' referred to in 2 Tim 4:14, who did Paul 'much evil,' probably at this very time. It is evident that this man, put forward by the Jews, was about to make 'a defence' (not 'his defence') to the people. Probably the Jews, themselves opposed to idol worship, feared that they might suffer the wrath of the silversmiths and thus chose from among themselves a man of 'like occupation,' a coppersmith, to explain that they had not caused the defection from Diana—this, when they, as worshippers of the one true God, should have supported Paul in this conflict." (Stam)
the town clerk - "Ephesus, under the Romans, was allowed the rights of a 'free' city, i.e. to retain its own democratic municipal constitution, with its 'ecclesia' or 'popular assembly', which had a senate of leading citizens for ordinary executive purposes. While the Asiarchs were provincial officials, with special functions, these senators, acting for the people, dealt with municipal affairs. The townclerk or recorder was secretary of the ecclesia (and its senate), and was responsible for drafting its decrees and for sealing them with the public seal. He was the most important local official in Ephesus, and was in constant contact, on behalf of the municipal government, with the court of the proconsul, the Roman governor who represented the suzerain power. He would be held responsible by the governor for the peace of the city." (Walker)
who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess - "Next the townclerk had a word to say in defense of Paul and his associates. They had not been 'robbers of temples' (since many of Diana's worshippers brought their gifts to her at the temple, robberies there were quite common) nor 'blasphemers' of Diana (Ver 37). Their care not to deride this heathen goddess shows what restraint Paul's fellow-workers had practiced under his leadership and by his example. In the record of his ministry among both Jews and Gentiles, we find him often reasoning, debating and persuading, but never insulting or ridiculing. Now this was all to his advantage." (Stam)
regular assembly - "The people of Ephesus had the right to meet in a legislative assembly, though this particular gathering was an unlawful one." (Ryrie)
the theater - "The theater accommodated 25,000 people." (Ryrie)
"The ruins of this ancient amphitheatre still stand. It probably seated upwards of twenty-five thousand persons." (Stam)
Aristarchus - "A native of Thessalonica (Acts 20:4; 27:2). Our first notice of him occurs here. He was a converted Jew (Col 4:10-12). He is found in St. Paul's company on the return journey from his third missionary tour (Acts 20:4), and seems to have accompanied him to Jerusalem, since we find him going with the apostle from Caesarea to Rome (Acts 27:2). He remained with him during part or the whole of his first Roman imprisonment, possibly sharing his bonds (Col 4:10); Philem 24). After that, we lose sight of him. Both he and Gaius were converted, most likely, during St. Paul's first visit to Macedonia (Acts 16)." (Walker)
the Asiarchs - "Each province had an association for promoting the worship of Rome and the emperors, and the chief officers of such associations were styled after the name of their province, 'Syriarch', 'Galatarch', 'Asiarch', etc. They probably acted as high priests of the temples erected for emperor worship, and they certainly presided over the public games which were held in connexion with provincial festivals. Thus these Asiarchs were most important provincial officials, who assembled in council at intervals to manage such business of the province of Asia as appertained to emperor worship and public games. It has been suggested that they had gathered in Ephesus at that time for such a purpose, and that possibly a great festival was then being held." (Walker)
"The Asiarchs were men of wealth and position chosen to preside over public festivals and games." (Stam)
Alexander - "Some have supposed that this was the Christian Alexander of 1 Tim. 1:20, before his defection, and that the Jews put him forward to deliver him to the vengeance of the mob. But there are insurmountable objections to this view, especially since the Jews themselves were opposed to the worship of Diana and would hardly place themselves in so compromising a position. It is far more likely that this Alexander is the 'coppersmith' referred to in 2 Tim 4:14, who did Paul 'much evil,' probably at this very time. It is evident that this man, put forward by the Jews, was about to make 'a defence' (not 'his defence') to the people. Probably the Jews, themselves opposed to idol worship, feared that they might suffer the wrath of the silversmiths and thus chose from among themselves a man of 'like occupation,' a coppersmith, to explain that they had not caused the defection from Diana—this, when they, as worshippers of the one true God, should have supported Paul in this conflict." (Stam)
the town clerk - "Ephesus, under the Romans, was allowed the rights of a 'free' city, i.e. to retain its own democratic municipal constitution, with its 'ecclesia' or 'popular assembly', which had a senate of leading citizens for ordinary executive purposes. While the Asiarchs were provincial officials, with special functions, these senators, acting for the people, dealt with municipal affairs. The townclerk or recorder was secretary of the ecclesia (and its senate), and was responsible for drafting its decrees and for sealing them with the public seal. He was the most important local official in Ephesus, and was in constant contact, on behalf of the municipal government, with the court of the proconsul, the Roman governor who represented the suzerain power. He would be held responsible by the governor for the peace of the city." (Walker)
who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess - "Next the townclerk had a word to say in defense of Paul and his associates. They had not been 'robbers of temples' (since many of Diana's worshippers brought their gifts to her at the temple, robberies there were quite common) nor 'blasphemers' of Diana (Ver 37). Their care not to deride this heathen goddess shows what restraint Paul's fellow-workers had practiced under his leadership and by his example. In the record of his ministry among both Jews and Gentiles, we find him often reasoning, debating and persuading, but never insulting or ridiculing. Now this was all to his advantage." (Stam)
regular assembly - "The people of Ephesus had the right to meet in a legislative assembly, though this particular gathering was an unlawful one." (Ryrie)
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