God’s Word Translation
Acts 19:33
33Some people concluded that Alexander was the cause, so the Jews pushed him to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand to quiet the people because he wanted to defend himself in front of them.
Acts 19:33 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
- New International Version (NIV)The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.
Context of Acts 19:33
31Even some officials who were from the province of Asia and who were Paul’s friends sent messengers to urge him not to risk going into the theater. 32Some people shouted one thing while others shouted something else. The crowd was confused. Most of the people didn’t even know why they had come together. Some people concluded that Alexander was the cause, so the Jews pushed him to the front. Alexander motioned with his hand to quiet the people because he wanted to defend himself in front of them. 34But when they recognized that Alexander was a Jew, everyone started to shout in unison, “Artemis of the Ephesians is great!” They kept doing this for about two hours. 35The city clerk finally quieted the crowd. Then he said, “Citizens of Ephesus, everyone knows that this city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis. Everyone knows that Ephesus is the keeper of the statue that fell down from Zeus.
Read all of Acts 19Acts 19:33 word by word
ἐκ δὲ τοῦ ὄχλου συνεβίβασαν Ἀλέξανδρον προβαλόντων αὐτὸν τῶν Ἰουδαίων· ὁ δὲ Ἀλέξανδρος κατασείσας τὴν χεῖρα ἤθελεν ἀπολογεῖσθαι τῷ δήμῳ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- they drewπροβιβάζωprobibazō · to promptG4264
- AlexanderἈλέξανδροςAlexandros · AlexanderG223
- out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- the multitudeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the multitudeὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
- the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- puttingπροβάλλωproballō · to put forthG4261
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- beckonedκατασείωkataseiō · to signalG2678
- with the handχείρcheir · handG5495
- and would haveθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- made his defenceἀπολογέομαιapologeomai · to defend oneselfG626
- unto the peopleδῆμοςdēmos · peopleG1218
Cross-references for Acts 19:33
- 1 Timothy 1:20Among these people are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan in order to teach them not to dishonor God.
- 2 Timothy 4:14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did.
- Acts 12:17Peter motioned with his hand to quiet them down and told them how the Lord had taken him out of prison. He added, “Tell James and the other believers about this.” Then he left and went somewhere else.
- Acts 13:16Then Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Men of Israel and converts to Judaism, listen to me.
- Acts 21:40The officer gave Paul permission to speak. So Paul stood on the stairs of the barracks and motioned with his hand for the people to be quiet. When the mob was silent, Paul spoke to them in the Hebrew language.
- Acts 24:10The governor motioned for Paul to speak. Paul responded, “I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years. So I’m pleased to present my case to you.
- Luke 1:22When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. So they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. He motioned to them but remained unable to talk.
- Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen as I now present my case to you.”
- Acts 26:1Agrippa said to Paul, “You’re free to speak for yourself.” Paul acknowledged King Agrippa and then began his defense.
- Philippians 1:7You have a special place in my heart. So it’s right for me to think this way about all of you. All of you are my partners. Together we share God’s favor, whether I’m in prison or defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.
Commentaries on Acts 19:33
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 33They drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward - From this and the following verses it is pretty evident that this Alexander was brought forward on this occasion by the Jews, that he might make an oration to the multitude, in order to exculpate the Jews, who were often by the heathens confounded with the Christians; and cast the whole blame of the uproar upon Paul and his party. And he was probably chosen because he was an able…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 33And they drew Alexander - Who this Alexander was is not known. Grotius supposes that it was “Alexander the coppersmith, who had in some way done Paul much harm 2 Timothy 4:14; and whom, with Philetus, Paul had excommunicated. He supposes that it was a device of the Jews to put forward one who had been of the Christian party, in order to accuse Paul, and to attempt to cast the odium of the tumult on him. But it is not clear that the Alexander whom Paul had…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. 24-34Demetrius, a silversmith whose business was harmed by Paul’s message about one God, stirred up a large riot against him.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 30-3430-34. when Paul would have entered in--with noble forgetfulness of self. unto the people--the demos, that is, the people met in public assembly. the disciples suffered him not--The tense used implies only that they were using their efforts to restrain him; which might have been unavailing but for what follows.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 19:33
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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