Acts 19:23-20:38

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 19:21-41

I. Paul is here brought into some trouble at Ephesus, just when he is forecasting to go thence, and to cut out work for himself elsewhere. See here, 1. How he laid his purpose of going to other places, Acts 19:21, 22. He was a man of vast designs for God, and was for making his influences as widely diffusive as might be. Having spent above two years at Ephesus, (1.) He designed a visit to the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, especially of Philippi and Corinth, the chief cities of those... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 19:23-41

19:23-41 It happened that at this time there was a great disturbance about The Way. A certain man called Demetrius, who was a silversmith and who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought very considerable profit to the craftsmen. He called them together, with the workers who were engaged in like crafts, and said, "Men, you know that our prosperity depends on this craft; and you see and hear how not only in Ephesus but throughout nearly the whole of Asia this fellow Paul has won over and led... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:23

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. The Syriac version reads, "the way of God"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "the way of the Lord": that is, the Christian religion, and the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel, which the saints were directed to walk in; and the Ethiopic version renders it, "about this doctrine"; which mightily grew and prevailed, and which such numbers embraced; and how great the stir was about it, and from whence it arose, who began it, and what... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 19:23

No small stir about that way - Concerning the Gospel, which the apostles preached; and which is termed this way, Acts 9:2 , where see the note. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 19:23

Verse 23− 23.Tumult about that way. Concerning this word way, let the readers understand thus much, that it is here taken for that which the Latins call sect; the Greek philosophers call it heresies or heresy. But because in the Church of God, where the unity of faith ought to reign, there is nothing more odious or detestable than for every man to choose, at his pleasure, that which he will follow, I think that Luke did fly that name which was, for good causes, infamous among the godly, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 19:21-41

The greed of gain. Several instructive lessons crop up from this narrative. When two people advancing from opposite directions meet in a narrow pathway, one must give way to the other. When the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ encounters the greed of gain in a human breast, either the Word, with its promises, its hopes, its commands, must stand aside that the love of money may pursue its onward course, or the worldly gain must become as dung in the eyes of the hearer of the Word. We have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 19:21-41

The supreme conflict. Of all the struggles which have occurred or are now taking place in the human world, there is not one which deserves to be named in comparison with that supreme conflict which is proceeding between Divine truth and human error, between holiness and sin, between Christ and "the world." We are I. ONE STRONG ADVERSARY WHICH HAS TO BE OVERCOME . The world will never be renovated until many strong "interests" have been bravely encountered and utterly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 19:21-41

The spirit of rebellion against the gospel. The tumult at Ephesus presents a picture of certain aspects of human nature and of the contest between good and evil in the world. I. ITS CAUSES . Most radical of all was the instinct of self-seeking. This is the dark background out of which all manner of fiendish shapes arise to contend against the light. Then it was self-seeking under the guise of religious zeal. Demetrius is the type of all those who make great professions of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 19:23

About that time for the same time, A.V.; concerning the Way for about that way, A.V. (see Acts 19:9 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 19:23-41

A popular riot. A glimpse into the darkness of the heathen world. Passions pent up let loose. The deep foundation of heathen superstition in the selfish, immoral practices of those who ministered to it. The widespreading effects of true religion in revolutionizing the habits and customs. Society must be reformed by the action of spiritual principles from within, not by merely external changes. Ignorance is the mother of disorder. The conflicts of the world are the result of the antagonism... read more

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