New Living Translation
Acts 19:38
38“If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges.
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
36Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. 37You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess. “If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. 39And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. 40I 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.”
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 19:24It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy.
- Acts 18:14But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case.
- Deuteronomy 17:8“Suppose a case arises in a local court that is too hard for you to decide—for instance, whether someone is guilty of murder or only of manslaughter, or a difficult lawsuit, or a case involving different kinds of assault. Take such legal cases to the place the Lord your God will choose,
- 1 Corinthians 6:1When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers!
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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