Acts 19:40 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.”

NIV: As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.'

NASB: For indeed, we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real reason for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.'

CSB: In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disturbance."

NLT: I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”

The city clerk of Ephesus is very good at his job. He is aware that Demetrius the silversmith has, possibly unintentionally, created a mob that could turn violent in a moment. He knows that Demetrius' goal is to restore the passion the Ephesians have for Artemis. And he knows Demetrius is doing this because Paul has been converting so many people to an invisible God that Demetrius and the other craftsmen are afraid their shops filled with idols and shrines will go out of business (Acts 19:23–27).

The clerk lets the crowd rally in the great theater for a good two hours before he steps in (Acts 19:34). He then reminds the mob of what they already know:

The great temple of Artemis—now one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—is well established in Ephesus and nothing is going to threaten the Ephesians' devotion to the goddess. Their worry is baseless (Acts 19:35–36).
The men before them, two of Paul's companions, have neither blasphemed against Artemis nor shown sacrilege against her temple. They have not committed a crime (Acts 19:37).
While the theater is, indeed, the assembly place where people meet to discuss insults against the city and its deities, the forum only happens three times a month, and this is not that time. In addition, there is no insult (Acts 19:39).
If Demetrius and the other craftsmen have a legal complaint against Paul, they should bring him before the proconsuls at the courts—not cause this great disturbance that has the city in an uproar (Acts 19:38).
The Roman Empire did not have the right of freedom of assembly. Every meeting had to be licensed and overseen by a magistrate. That makes this group a riot: an unlawful assembly that causes factions in society that may lead to sedition.
The Roman government doesn't like riots.

Because of the city clerk's cool head, the mob disperses, and Paul and his companions are able to leave peacefully (Acts 19:41—20:1).

Acts 19:35–41 describes one way to deal with unruly mobs; much the same as one might with over-tired toddlers. A crowd has formed in the Ephesian theater to renew their devotion to Artemis. The mob was started by idol makers whose businesses are threatened by the decreasing demand for shrines for Artemis as city residents convert to Christianity. The town clerk of Ephesus needs to disperse the crowd. He lets them wear themselves out, affirms their feelings, shows them they have nothing to fear, reminds them of the proper way to handle disappointment, and tells them the consequences if they don't behave. It works, and the crowd goes home.

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.