EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Acts 19:38
38Perhaps Demetrius and his workers think that someone has done a bad thing to them. If they think that, they should let a judge decide. There are officers for the government who will do this. If someone has done a wrong thing, people should tell a judge.
Acts 19:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
- New International Version (NIV)If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges.
- English Standard Version (ESV)If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.
Context of Acts 19:38
36Nobody can say that this is not true. So be careful! Do not quickly do anything that is silly. 37You have brought Gaius and Aristarchus here to the city officers' meeting place. But what bad thing have they done? They have not robbed the house of Artemis. They have not said bad things against her. Perhaps Demetrius and his workers think that someone has done a bad thing to them. If they think that, they should let a judge decide. There are officers for the government who will do this. If someone has done a wrong thing, people should tell a judge. 39So, if you want to argue about these problems any more, do it properly. Go to the place where the judges meet. 40Today, there is a crowd of people who are shouting and fighting. The Roman rulers may hear about what has happened. They will say that we have done bad things. We could not explain to them the reason why there is all this trouble.’
Read all of Acts 19Acts 19:38 word by word
εἰ μὲν οὖν Δημήτριος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ τεχνῖται ἔχουσι πρός τινα λόγον, ἀγοραῖοι ἄγονται καὶ ἀνθύπατοί εἰσιν· ἐγκαλείτωσαν ἀλλήλοις.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- ifεἰei · ifG1487
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- DemetriusΔημήτριοςDēmētrios · DemetriusG1216
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the craftsmenτεχνίτηςtechnitēs · craftsmanG5079
- which areὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- withσύνsun · withG4862
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- a matterλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- againstπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- any manτιςtis · oneG5100
- the lawἀγοραῖοςagoraios · of the marketplaceG60
- is openἄγωagō · to bringG71
- there areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- deputiesἀνθύπατοςanthupatos · proconsulG446
- let them impleadἐγκαλέωegkaleō · to accuseG1458
- one anotherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
Cross-references for Acts 19:38
- Acts 19:24In Ephesus there was a man called Demetrius. He used silver to make beautiful things. He made models that looked like the temple of Artemis. He paid a lot of money to people who did this work for him.
- Acts 18:14Paul was ready to speak, but Gallio spoke first to the Jews. He said, ‘If this man had done a very bad thing, then I would judge him. It would be right for me to listen to you.
- Deuteronomy 17:8It may be difficult for the judges in your towns to decide what is true. This may happen when one person has attacked or killed another person. It may happen when people cannot agree about some land. It may be anything that people in your towns are arguing about. If you do not know who is right, you must take those people to the place that the Lord your God will choose.
- 1 Corinthians 6:1Perhaps one of you has a quarrel with another Christian. Who should decide which of you is right? You should never ask people who do not know God to decide. No! Instead, you should go to God's people. They should decide.
Commentaries on Acts 19:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38If Demetrius - have a matter against any man - If it be any breach of law, in reference to Demetrius and the artists, the law is open, ; these are the terms of law, public courts, times of sessions or assize; or, rather, the judges are mow sitting: so the words may be understood. And there are deputies, , proconsuls, appointed to guard the peace of the state, and to support every honest man in his right: let them implead one another; let the one party…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38Have a matter against any man - Have a complaint of injury; if injustice has been done them by anyone. The law is open - See the margin. ̓́ Agoraioi ̓́ agontaithat is, ̔́ . There are court-days; days which are open, or appointed for judicial trials, where such matters can be determined in a proper manner. Perhaps the courts were then held, and the matter might be immediately determined. And there are deputies - Roman proconsuls. See the notes on Acts…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 32-41Verses 32-41 The Jews came forward in this tumult. Those who are thus careful to distinguish themselves from the servants of Christ now, and are afraid of being taken for them, shall have their doom accordingly in the great day. One, having authority, at length stilled the noise. It is a very good rule at all times, both in private and public affairs, not to be hasty and rash in our motions, but to take time to consider; and always to keep our passions…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 35-41The city clerk stopped the demonstration to prevent the city from being accused of rioting by the Roman government. This story shows that Christians in the Roman world had the right to a fair legal process.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 35-4135-41. when the town-clerk--keeper of the public archives, and a magistrate of great authority. had appeased--"calmed." the people--"the multitude," which the very presence of such an officer would go far to do. he said ... what man ... knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana--literally, the neocoros or "warden." The word means "temple-sweeper"; then, "temple-guardian." Thirteen cities of Asia had an interest…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 19:38
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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