Acts 19 37

Acts 19:37 kjv

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

Acts 19:37 nkjv

For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.

Acts 19:37 niv

You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess.

Acts 19:37 esv

For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.

Acts 19:37 nlt

You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.

Acts 19 verses

Acts 19 37 Meaning

Acts 19:37 describes the town clerk's declaration that Paul's companions (likely Gaius and Aristarchus) were innocent of the specific charges leveled against them during the Ephesian riot. He states they had not desecrated or robbed the temple of Artemis, nor had they spoken evil or slandered the goddess herself. This statement effectively refutes the legal basis of the mob's accusations, emphasizing that the apostles did not resort to physical violence against pagan structures or direct verbal abuse of their deities, but rather presented the message of Christ through reasoned proclamation.

Acts 19 37 Context

The broader context of Acts 19 recounts Paul's influential three-year ministry in Ephesus, where the Gospel gained significant traction, leading many to turn from magic and idol worship to Christ. This success directly impacted the livelihoods of those dependent on pagan cults, particularly the silversmiths who made shrines for Artemis. Demetrius, a leading silversmith, instigated a riot by stirring up fear and pride among his fellow craftsmen, claiming that Paul's teaching ("gods made with hands are not gods") was destroying their business and diminishing the glory of Artemis. Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's companions, were seized by the mob. In this tumultuous atmosphere, the city clerk intervenes to calm the riot and asserts the legal innocence of the accused, highlighting their lack of concrete criminal acts against the Ephesian deities or temple. This intervention by a high-ranking civic official protected the Christians and resolved a potentially explosive situation, demonstrating God's sovereign hand working through unexpected channels.

Acts 19 37 Word analysis

• For ye have brought hither these men: This phrase directly addresses the agitated crowd, particularly Demetrius and the silversmiths who instigated the riot. It acknowledges their action of seizing Paul's companions but sets the stage for a judicial assessment, shifting from mob rule to legal scrutiny.
• which are neither robbers of churches (ἱεροσύλους - hierosylous):
  • Hierosylous: This Greek term literally means "temple-robbers" or "sacrilegious." It refers to those who steal from, desecrate, or violate a sacred place. The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus was not just a religious center but also a bank and treasury for much of Roman Asia. Any act of sacrilege against it would be a severe crime, punishable by death.
  • Significance: The clerk explicitly clears the Christians of this gravest accusation. This demonstrates that Paul's ministry did not involve physical violence against pagan sites. The early Christians preached truth but did not engage in destructive iconoclasm. The KJV "churches" here means "temples," reflecting an older English usage.
• nor yet blasphemers (βλασφημοῦντας - blasphemountas):
  • Blasphemountas: This means "slanderers," "revilers," "abusers," specifically of deities in this context. While Paul taught that idols were "nothing" (1 Cor 8:4) and urged turning "from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thes 1:9), he and his companions were not reported to have publicly insulted or reviled Artemis by name in a provocative or aggressive manner designed for legal accusation.
  • Significance: Paul's evangelistic approach focused on proclaiming the true God rather than directly denouncing specific pagan deities with malicious slander. He challenged the idea of idols (Acts 17:29, "gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man"), not engaging in personal insults against their mythical figures. This subtle but crucial distinction provided no legal grounds for prosecution based on blasphemy.
• of your goddess (τῆς ὑμῶν θεᾶς - tēs hymōn theas):
  • tēs hymōn theas: The definite article and possessive pronoun "your" highlights the clerk's neutrality and political astuteness. He doesn't validate Artemis as a real goddess but acknowledges her revered status among them. This avoids endorsing paganism while also acknowledging local religious sensitivities.
  • Significance: This specific phrasing is a diplomatic move by the clerk, designed to soothe the crowd by acknowledging their sacred traditions, while simultaneously pointing out that the Christians had not committed an overt act of offense against their particular deity in a legally actionable way.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess": This concise declaration forms the legal core of the clerk's argument. It outlines the specific, legally serious charges that were commonly brought against those deemed disrespectful to established cults, and systematically refutes that Paul's men engaged in either of these. It underscores the apostles' method of evangelism, which relied on the power of the preached word rather than physical or verbal assault on pagan systems. The charges brought by Demetrius were primarily economic and emotional, lacking substantial legal merit based on direct transgression of religious laws regarding property or defamation of deity.

Acts 19 37 Bonus section

• Polemics: While Paul's men were cleared of direct "blasphemy," the entire thrust of Christian teaching—that there is only one God and idols are useless human constructs—was an indirect, yet profound, polemic against the polytheistic and idolatrous practices prevalent in Ephesus. The conflict arose precisely because this theological message undermined the cultural and economic underpinnings of Artemis worship.
• Significance of Clerk's Position: The grammateus (town clerk) was often a respected civic leader, sometimes ranking higher than proconsuls in terms of continuous local authority and political weight within a Roman province. His intervention wasn't merely advisory but carried significant weight, particularly his warning about the Roman proconsuls' likely response to an uncontrolled riot. This underscores the strategic importance of God raising up key individuals, even secular ones, to protect His people.
• Evangelism Style: The clerk's statement vindicates Paul's consistent evangelistic methodology: articulate reasoning (Acts 17 in Athens, for example) over direct confrontation or destruction of religious artifacts. This model provided early Christians a powerful defense against accusations of being destructive agitators.
• Roman Tolerance vs. Civic Disorder: The Roman Empire generally allowed conquered peoples to maintain their local customs and religions, including deity worship, provided it didn't disrupt Roman peace (Pax Romana) or challenge Imperial authority. The riot, however, was an act of civic disorder that could invite Roman military intervention and severe penalties, a fact the clerk was keenly aware of and which spurred his calming address.

Acts 19 37 Commentary

Acts 19:37 is a crucial moment that exemplifies divine providence and wise, legal evangelism. The town clerk, a pagan official, unknowingly becomes an instrument of God to protect Paul's companions and diffuse a dangerous riot. His statement highlights that early Christian missionaries, while challenging the very foundation of paganism, were neither common criminals who desecrated holy sites nor insolent blasphemers of specific deities. Instead, their "offense" was the persuasive truth of their message, which led people to abandon idolatry. This discerning verdict preserved the early church from premature conflict with Roman law based on fabricated or exaggerated charges. It illustrates that spiritual warfare can be fought effectively without resorting to tactics that create avoidable legal entanglements, fostering an environment where the Gospel can continue to be proclaimed. This wise approach also protected Paul and his team from falling into typical charges for civil disturbance or religious insensitivity, which could have led to more severe Roman intervention.