New Living Translation
Acts 19:40
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.”
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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.”
- 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.”
Context of Acts 19:40
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. 39And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. 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.” 41Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.
Read all of Acts 19Acts 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 some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.
- Acts 20:1When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia.
- Acts 21:31As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
- 1 Kings 1:41Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet. When Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn, he asked, “What’s going on? Why is the city in such an uproar?”
- Matthew 26:5“But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
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
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
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