The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 19
Chapter XIX · Vol. IV, pp. 291–294
6 The Holy Ghost is given by Paul's hands. 9 The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles. 13 The Jewish exorcists are beaten by the devil. 19 Conjuring books are burned. 24 Demetrius, for love of gain, raiseth an uproar against Paul, 35 which is appeased by the town-clerk.
1 And it came to pass, that, while aApollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts,1 cameb to Ephesus; and finding certain disciples,
a ch.18.24-28. 1 Co.3.5-7.
A.M. cir. 4061. A.D. cir. 57.
1 Upper coasts. The upper and inland districts of Phrygia.—C.
b ch.18.19,21.
2 He said unto them, Have cye received the Holy Ghost2 since ye believed? And they said unto him, dWe have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
c Jn.7.39. ch.10.44;8.17; ver.6.
2 Having received the testimony concerning the kingdom of God, and been by John baptized unto repentance, they must have known the Scriptures, and consequently the existence of the Holy Spirit, and the prophetic promise of his effusion. Their meaning, therefore, must be that they had not heard of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed on the day of Pentecost upon the Jews, and afterwards, at the conversion of Cornelius, upon the Gentiles. See ver.4,6.—C.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, eUnto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, gJohn verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
g Mat.3.11. Mar.1.4,8. Lu.3.16. Jn.1.15,26,27,30. ch.1.5;11.16;13.24,25.
6 Andi when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and jprophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And he went kinto the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing,3 and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
k ch.3.26;13.5,14;14.1;17.1-3,11;18.28;26.22,23;28.23. 1 Co.15.3,4;2.2. ch.13.1. Ep.3.8.
3 Disputing. Rather, 'reasoning.'—C.
9 Butl when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that nway before the multitude, he odeparted from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.4Cited in WLC 113
10 Andp this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in qAsia5 heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
p ch.20.18-21,31. Ps.19.3. Ro.10.18;15.19.
q ch.16.6. 2 Ti.1.15. 1 Pe.1.1. Re.1.4,11.
5 Asia here means merely that province of modern Asia in which the seven churches stood. And as Ephesus was the chief seat of trade, and a celebrated centre of attraction by reason of its magnificence and luxury, there is no difficulty in understanding how 'all in Asia' might, in the space of two years, hear the word of the gospel, either directly in their own persons, or mediately through the report of others.—C.
11 Andr God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists,s took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We tadjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.Cited in WLC 113
A.D. cir. 59.
s Mat.12.27. Mar.9.38. Lu.9.49. ch.8.18,19.
t Mat.26.63. Mar.5.7. 1 Ki.22.16. Jos.6.26. 1 Sa.14.24.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesusu I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
u Mat.8.29. ch.16.17.
16 Andv the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
v Lu.8.29. Ps.7.15,16;9.15,16;140.8-11.
* Curious arts. Such as, pretending by incantations, to raise the dead, or coerce spirits to appear and reveal things unknown, or to foretell events to come; to heal, and sometimes to inflict diseases; to counteract evil influences by amulets or charms; to interpret dreams, calculate nativities, and foretell by planetary aspects the good or evil that lay before their credulous dupes.—C.
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; xand fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
19 Many of them also zwhich used curious arts7 brought their books8 together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.9Cited in WLC 142
7 See note * in first column.
8 The books themselves were most probably such as Artemidorus on Magic, and Astrampsychus on Dreams—pretended sciences, by which, alas! for human ignorance, vanity, presumption, and credulity, even not a few professing Christians still continue to be deluded!—C.
9 £1562 or £6000 sterling.
21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed bin the spirit,1 when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to cgo to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I dmust also see Rome.
b ch.16.5.
1 In the spirit. Surely this purpose arose from the revelation, guidance, and persuasion of the Holy Spirit; for if the purpose was merely of Paul's own spirit, why mention 'the spirit' at all? In that case it had been enough to say, 'Paul purposed,' without any addition.—C.
c ch.18.21;21.15;20.22.
d ch.23.11;28.16. Ro.15.23-28. Ga.2.1.
22 So ehe sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines2 for Diana,3 brought no small hgain unto the craftsmen;Cited in WLC 142
2 These were, most probably, medals, or miniature models of the great temple at Ephesus, purchased either as curiosities or as imaginary aids to devotion, as the models of Santa Croce at Loretta are still manufactured, purchased, and employed.—C.
3 Diana. Represented in heathen mythology as the daughter of Jupiter and Latona, the patroness of wisdom, chastity, and hunting. Under the name of Diana the moon was worshipped.—C.
h ch.16.16,19. 1 Ti.6.10. Is.56.11,12.
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know ithat by this craft we have our wealth.Cited in WLC 142
i ch.16.16,19. Re.18.11,16,19. 1 Ti.6.9,10.
26 Moreover, ye see and hear, that not alone jat Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that kthey be no gods, which are made with hands:
j ch.18.19-26. Ga.4.8. 1 Th.1.9.
k Ps.115.4-8. Is.44.9-20. Je.10.3-5,9,14,15. ch.14.15;17.29. 1 Co.8.4;10.20;12.2. Ga.4.8.
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the 4temple of the great goddess Diana should be ldespised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and nthe world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings othey were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, pGreat is Diana of the Ephesians!
29 Andq the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught rGaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.5
5 Places where the people met for public sports, where men were devoured by beasts, &c., 1 Co.15.32.
q ch.16.19,20;17.8;21.27.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people,6 the disciples suffered him not.
6 To give account of the Christian faith, ch.14.15-18;17.22-31. 1 Co.15.3,4.
31 And certain of the chief of sAsia,7 which were his friends, sent unto him, tdesiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Someu therefore cried one thing, and some another; for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
u ver.30; ch.21.34.
33 And they drew8 Alexanderv out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward.9 And Alexander xbeckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence1 unto the people.
8 They drew. Rather, 'they put forward;' the Jews 'putting him forward' (as spokesman) to defend the Jews, and throw the blame of the tumult on the Christians. This was, most probably, 'Alexander the coppersmith'—selected as well known to his brother artisans.—C.
x ch.12.17; 13.16; 21.40; 24.10.
9 As their advocate to the people.
1 The word defence does not here imply answering accusations with which he was personally charged, but an apology for the Jews. The object of it seems to have been to show that the Jews were not chargeable in any way with this tumult. It would be supposed by the heathen that the Christians were only a sect of the Jews, and the Jews wished to show that they had not been concerned in giving occasion to this tumult, but that it was to be traced to Paul and his friends.—C.
34 But when they2 knew that he was a Jew,3 all with one voice, about the space of two hours, cried out, yGreat is Diana of the Ephesians!
35 And when the town-clerk4 had appeased the people, he said, zYe men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper5 of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell6 down from Jupiter?7
4 Or clerk of the public sports, who registered the victories, &c.
z Ep.2.12.
5 Gr. the temple-keeper.
6 The priests said, as ch.15.5; 17.3.
7 It is by no means improbable, that in a rude state of idolatrous society, a crafty priesthood might take advantage of the fall of an aerolite, and represent it as sent from heaven as an object of worship. The fall of such stones is of frequent occurrence.—C.
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and ato do nothing rashly.
a Pr.14.29.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither brobbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
b ch.25.8.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open,8 and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
8 Or, the court-days are kept.
39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful9 assembly.
9 Or, ordinary.
40 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.
Notes
Reflections.—Much more clear and glorious is the gospel dispensation which we enjoy than even the ministration of John Baptist. And much better the baptism of the Holy Ghost than that of mere water. But, alas! how many receive the external seals of God's covenant who have no experimental, and very little notional, knowledge of him or his influences! And though baptism is never to be repeated, yet the Spirit is daily to be received. With great boldness and persevering courage ought the gospel to be preached; and dreadful is their fate who put it from them, or attempt to counterfeit its miraculous confirmations. They but fight and labour for the devil that he may reward them with shame and ruin.—But happy are they who are turned to the Lord by a cordial faith and genuine repentance! And hopeful is the case when the peculiar favourites of Satan are made openly to renounce his service, sacrifice their dearest abominations with abhorrence, and remove every temptation of drawing back out of their own and their neighbours' way. How furiously zealous are the most of mankind for a false religion, especially if worldly gain and long custom are on its side. And with such, noise and clamour are invincible arguments for the most blasphemous absurdities. When those are so zealous for the devil, it is much to be lamented that many called Christians have so little concern for the glory of God.—Safe are the persons of God's faithful ministers, since he can make heathens earnest advocates for and prudent protectors of them. Fear of men hinders many from wickedness; but much more wise are they who are prevented from it by serious views of their future account to God.