Acts 19:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him.

NIV: Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.

NASB: And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him.

CSB: Although Paul wanted to go in before the people, the disciples did not let him.

NLT: Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him.

KJV: And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

NKJV: And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.

Demetrius is a silversmith in Ephesus, on the Aegean Coast of Asia, a province in western modern-day Turkey. He and other craftsmen make their living by selling idols and shrines of Greek gods, particularly Artemis. Paul arrived in the city three years before. God's supernatural empowering of Paul to heal and to expel demons has brought him such a great following that people from all over Asia—the province in southwest modern-day Turkey—have abandoned their witchcraft, the demons, and the Greek gods (Acts 19:11–20).

The livelihoods of the craftsmen are in danger, so they start a protest in support of Artemis, march to the theater, and grab Paul's companions Gaius and Aristarchus. Paul realizes what's happening and tries to defend his partners (Acts 19:23–29).

The level of detail in the account suggests Luke was either in Ephesus or, more likely considering the pronouns, heard what happened right after when Paul came to Troas on his way to Macedonia. Still, Luke doesn't fully express Paul's fear. Paul writes to the church in Corinth that he and his companions "despaired of life itself" and thought they were going to be executed (2 Corinthians 1:8–9). It may be Paul only survives because his disciples and other friends from Asia keep him from trying to defend his partners (Acts 19:31). Fortunately, Gaius and Aristarchus survive, and they leave shortly after.

In Acts 19:28–34, a marketing campaign turns into a riot. Silversmiths and other craftsmen are losing business because so many in the city of Ephesus are turning to Jesus. They shout their allegiance to Artemis, the city goddess, as they march through the streets. Other residents join their cry and follow them to the theater. Along the way, they grab two of Paul's companions. Paul tries to intervene, but other church members hold him back. The mob marches to the theater, most of them not knowing what is actually going on, and chant for two straight hours.

Acts 19 recounts Paul's three-year visit in Ephesus. He starts by revealing how Jesus of Nazareth has brought to life the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit validates Paul's message by healing those struck with physical ailments and demon possession. Amazed by Paul's authority over evil spirits, so many magicians turn to Christ that the craftsmen who make idols fear for their livelihoods. They nearly incite a riot before the town clerk settles them down. Paul realizes his time in Ephesus has ended, and he travels to Macedonia (Acts 20:1).

Acts 19 is the meat of Paul's third missionary voyage. He has already revisited the churches in central modern-day Turkey (Acts 18:23). Now he returns to Ephesus for a three-year stay. After firmly establishing the church there, rescuing many from pagan magic and the worship of Artemis, he returns to Macedonia and Greece. A threat on his life sends him back up to Macedonia and across to Troas. He meets briefly with the Ephesian elders to tell them they will not meet again (Acts 20). When he returns to Jerusalem, he is arrested and, eventually, taken to Rome.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.