Acts 19:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people.

NASB: Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.

CSB: Some Jews in the crowd gave instructions to Alexander after they pushed him to the front. Motioning with his hand, Alexander wanted to make his defense to the people.

NLT: The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak.

KJV: And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

NKJV: And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.

For three years (Acts 20:31), Paul has been in Ephesus, drawing people to the kingdom of God. He has freed people from all over the province from physical ailments and demon possession. Many are led to salvation in Christ. As the people realize Paul speaks the truth about their need for reconciliation with God, they burn their magic spells and abandon their gods (Acts 19:8–12, 17–20).

A silversmith named Demetrius meets with the local craftsmen. He doesn't particularly care that Paul has power to heal and expel demons. What he resents is that the more people follow him, the fewer idols and shrines he and the craftsmen can sell. Their businesses are at risk. The only way to regain control is to remind Ephesus how much the worship of Artemis defines them. They go into the street, chanting "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" (Acts 19:28). A mob forms behind them. Someone finds Paul's traveling companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, and drags them along as the crowd fills the theater (Acts 19:23–29).

Unbeknownst to Demetrius, Paul tries to push his way through, perhaps thinking if only he can explain the saving power of Jesus, the mob might let his friends go. People from the church as well as high-ranking district officials hold him back. The crowd finds Alexander, instead (Acts 19:30–31).

It's unclear who Alexander is. That he comes from "the Jews" suggests he's a member of the synagogue and does not follow Jesus. If so, it's possible God doesn't allow him to speak because he would encourage the crowd's violence against the church. The crowd shouts him down and continues shouting for two hours. Eventually, the city clerk arrives and disperses the crowd (Acts 19:34–41).

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.