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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:32

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another ,.... Not in the church at Ephesus among the disciples, and friends of the apostle, as if they were divided in their sentiments about his going into the theatre, some being for it, and others against it; but the people that were gathered together in the theatre, these were not agreed about the reason of this tumult, some said it was on account of one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused ; the multitude of people that were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:33

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude ,.... Or "some of the multitude brought forth Alexander"; into the theatre, in order to kill him, by casting him to the wild beasts. Some think this is the same with Alexander the coppersmith, who apostatized upon this danger he was exposed to, and became a blasphemer, and a great enemy of the apostle, and did him much evil, 1 Timothy 1:20 . This man, though his name was a Greek name, yet was a Jew, as is expressed in Acts 19:34 and from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:34

But when they knew that he was a Jew ,.... And so equally an enemy to their idolatry, as Paul and his companions were, whether he was a Christian or not. All with one voice about the space of two hours cried out ; all that were in the theatre lift up their voices at once to prevent Alexander's apology, or at least its being heard; and which they continued about two hours, which was a long time to keep hallooing out, great is Diana of the Ephesians ; See Gill on Acts 19:28 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:35

And when the town clerk had appeased the people ,.... Caused them to cease their loud outcry, so as that he could be heard. This person seems to have been more than a "town clerk", as we render it; or a common "scribe", as the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions render it; rather as the Syriac version, "a chief man of the city"; the Septuagint interpreters in Exodus 5:6 use the word for the Egyptian officers that were over the Israelites; and the Babylonians used to call the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:36

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against ,.... This officer intimates, in order to quiet the mob, and make them easy, that these things were so certain, and well known, that nobody would pretend to contradict them, and therefore they must be mistaken in the men, whom they had hurried into the theatre; it was impossible that they, or any men, should be capable of saying any thing against the truth of these things: therefore ye ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly ; to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:37

For ye have brought hither these men ,.... The Arabic version reads, "these two men"; that is, Gaius and Aristarchus, whom they had brought by force into the theatre to fight with wild beasts: which are neither robbers of churches ; or "temples"; or, as the Arabic version renders it, "robbers of the vessels of the temple", sacrilegious persons; they have not stolen anything out of the temple of Diana, nor any other: nor yet blasphemers of your goddess ; they have not made mention of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:38

Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him ,.... Who were the ringleaders and encouragers of this tumult: have a matter against any man ; any accusation, or charge, any crime to accuse him of, and charge him with: the law is open ; or court days are kept; there are certain times fixed for the hearing and trying of causes, where and when such an affair should be regularly brought; and not use such disorderly methods, and throw a city into confusion, and break the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:39

But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters ,.... Than what belongs to the craft and business of Demetrius, and the artificers: it shall be determined in a lawful assembly ; that is, called together according to law, and who have a right to hear, try, and judge causes, which such a confused lawless assembly as this in the theatre had not. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:40

For we are in danger of being called in question ,.... Or are liable to be called to an account, reproved, and punished by the Roman proconsul, appointed over this city, or by the Roman emperor, or the Roman senate: for this day's uproar; it being capable of being interpreted as a riot, tumult, and sedition: there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse : or no reason can be assigned, why such a number of people should gather together; none can be given that will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 19:41

And when he had thus spoken ,.... Or delivered this oration, made use of the above arguments, reasonings, and expostulations: he dismissed the assembly ; he ordered them to break up, and every one to return home in peace, and go about his own business; and thus Paul, and his companions, were delivered from an imminent danger they were exposed to. read more

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