Acts 19:40

Acts 19:40 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion."
• New King James Version (NKJV)For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.”

Context of Acts 19:40

38If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Acts 19:40 word by word

καὶ γὰρ κινδυνεύομεν ἐγκαλεῖσθαι στάσεως περὶ τῆς σήμερον μηδενὸς αἰτίου ὑπάρχοντος περὶ οὗ οὐ δυνησόμεθα ἀποδοῦναι λόγον περὶ τῆς συστροφῆς ταύτης.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• we are in dangerκινδυνεύωkinduneuō · be in dangerG2793
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• to be called in questionἐγκαλέωegkaleō · to accuseG1458
• forπερίperi · aboutG4012
• this day’sσήμερονsēmeron · todayG4594
• uproarστάσιςstasis · uprisingG4714
• there beingὑπάρχωhuparchō · be alreadyG5225
• noμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
• cause wherebyαἴτιοςaitios · causerG159
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• we mayδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• giveἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
• an accountλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• concourseσυστροφήsustrophē · commotion/plotG4963

Cross-references for Acts 19:40

• Acts 17:5But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.
• Acts 20:1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.
• Acts 21:31While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
• 1 Kings 1:41Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?”
• Matthew 26:5“But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Commentaries on Acts 19:40

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 40For we are in danger, etc. - Popular commotions were always dreaded by the Roman government; and so they should by all governments; for, when might has nothing to direct its operations but passion, how destructive must these operations be! One of the Roman laws made all such commotions of the people capital offenses against those who raised them. Qui caetum et concursus fecerit, capite puniatur: "He who raises a mob shall forfeit his life." If such a law…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 40To be called in question - By the government; by the Roman authority. Such a tumult, continued for so long. a time, would be likely to attract the attention of the magistrates, and expose them to their displeasure. Popular commotions were justly dreaded by the Roman government; and such an assembly as this, convened without any good cause, would not escape their notice. There was a Roman law which made it capital for anyone to be engaged in promoting a…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 19:40

• Citizens
• Mob
• Paul
• Prudence
• Tact

In the dictionaries

• Adjure
• Concourse
• Confused
• Confusion
• Craft
• Curious
• Danger
• Diana
• Fall
• Implead

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