Acts 19 23

Acts 19:23 kjv

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

Acts 19:23 nkjv

And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.

Acts 19:23 niv

About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.

Acts 19:23 esv

About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.

Acts 19:23 nlt

About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way.

Acts 19 verses

Acts 19 23 Meaning

Acts 19:23 records the inception of significant opposition and public uproar in Ephesus directly related to the Christian movement. Following Paul's successful ministry which saw many turn from idolatry, this verse marks the moment when economic and religious vested interests, threatened by the growth of "the Way," stirred up a substantial and intense disturbance against the believers and their message. It highlights how the transformative power of the gospel often encounters strong, sometimes violent, resistance from a world deeply entrenched in conflicting beliefs and practices.

Acts 19 23 Context

Acts chapter 19 describes Paul's impactful ministry in Ephesus, a prominent city known for its vast temple to Artemis (Diana), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. For two years, Paul taught in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, leading many Jews and Gentiles to believe. This ministry was marked by extraordinary miracles and a dramatic shift in local spiritual practices, with many abandoning magic and idolatry (Acts 19:8-20). The success of Paul's evangelism, which openly proclaimed the one true God, directly challenged the widespread worship of Artemis and, crucially, the lucrative trade associated with it, such as the production of silver shrines. Verse 23 thus serves as the turning point, marking the inevitable eruption of a major confrontation between the burgeoning Christian movement and the deeply entrenched religious and economic systems of Ephesus that felt threatened by "the Way."

Acts 19 23 Word analysis

• About that time (Ἐγένετο δὲ κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον / Egeneto de kata ton kairon ekeinon):
  • Ἐγένετο (Egeneto): A common Greek verb meaning "it came to pass," or "there arose." It signifies an event beginning, often marking a significant transition or development in the narrative.
  • δὲ (de): A conjunction meaning "but" or "and," connecting this new event to the preceding successful ministry, indicating a shift from peaceful growth to conflict.
  • κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν ἐκεῖνον (kata ton kairon ekeinon): Literally "according to that time" or "around that time." The use of kairos here refers not just to chronological time (chronos), but an opportune, critical, or appointed moment, suggesting this disturbance was a consequence directly linked to Paul's influential two-year ministry in Ephesus (Acts 19:10).
• there arose no small disturbance (τάραχος οὐκ ὀλίγος / tarachos ouk oligos):
  • τάραχος (tarachos): Meaning "disturbance," "commotion," "tumult," "agitation." It implies public disorder, unrest, and trouble, suggesting a chaotic and possibly violent situation rather than a calm disagreement.
  • οὐκ ὀλίγος (ouk oligos): This is a litotes, a rhetorical device that affirms something by denying its opposite ("not small"). It emphasizes that the disturbance was, in fact, quite large, considerable, significant, and substantial, downplaying nothing. It indicates the profound impact of Christianity on the city.
• concerning the Way (περὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ / peri tēs hodou):
  • περὶ (peri): A preposition meaning "concerning," "about," indicating the subject or cause of the disturbance.
  • τῆς ὁδοῦ (tēs hodou): This phrase, meaning "the Way," is highly significant. It was one of the earliest and most prevalent self-designations used by the first Christians. It signifies not just a set of beliefs, but a distinct manner of life, a moral and ethical path of following Jesus. It differentiates this movement from others and indicates that it was understood as a distinct "way" of living in contrast to paganism and traditional Judaism. This identity often invoked both legal and theological implications for its followers and for those opposing it.

Acts 19 23 Bonus section

The opposition against "the Way" in Ephesus primarily stemmed from economic concerns (Acts 19:24-27). Demetrius, a silversmith, articulates a fear for their craft's livelihood and the revered temple of Artemis becoming discredited, suggesting a dual motivation for the uprising – financial self-interest disguised as religious piety. This episode showcases that societal friction often arises when Christian principles expose the moral ambiguities and corruptions within commercial or cultural practices that are contrary to God's will. The term "the Way" resonated with philosophical schools of thought in the Greco-Roman world which also spoke of following a specific 'way' of life to achieve virtue, but the Christian 'Way' was uniquely tied to the person and teachings of Jesus Christ, providing the ultimate blueprint for truth and salvation.

Acts 19 23 Commentary

Acts 19:23 concisely introduces a pivotal confrontation. The "no small disturbance" signals a major event, a direct consequence of the gospel's transformative power impacting the established economic and religious structures of Ephesus. The phrase "the Way" highlights the early Christians' self-understanding as adherents of a unique and demanding lifestyle centered on Christ, setting them apart and inherently challenging the idolatry and materialism of their society. This disturbance, stemming from threatened commercial interests and pagan devotion, illustrates the inherent conflict between the light of Christ and the darkness of human systems unwilling to yield, foretelling a larger societal upheaval spurred by truth.