Acts 19:39 kjv
But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
Acts 19:39 nkjv
But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.
Acts 19:39 niv
If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly.
Acts 19:39 esv
But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
Acts 19:39 nlt
And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly.
Acts 19 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. | Divine institution of authority |
| Tit 3:1 | Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities. | Obedience to civil leadership |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. | Submission to civic structures |
| Deut 1:16-17 | Judge righteously between a man and his brother... you shall not show partiality. | Importance of just judgment |
| Ex 18:21-22 | Choose able men...and let them judge the people at all times. | Establishing legal arbiters |
| Lev 19:15 | You shall do no injustice in court. | Prohibition of unjust legal action |
| Prov 17:15 | He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination. | Upholding righteousness in judgment |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. | God's nature values order, not chaos |
| 1 Cor 6:1-2 | When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law... | Emphasizes proper resolution of disputes |
| Acts 25:8-12 | Paul answered... "I appeal to Caesar." | Utilizing legitimate legal channels |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. | Accountability and future divine judgment |
| Ezra 10:7-8 | A proclamation was made... all the returned exiles should assemble at Jerusalem. | Example of a called public assembly |
| Ps 82:1 | God has taken his place in the divine council. | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and courts |
| Joel 2:15-16 | Blow the trumpet in Zion... gather the people... assemble the elders. | Holy convocation for solemn purposes |
| Jer 26:10 | The princes of Judah heard these things... sat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord and judged. | Officials holding public legal session |
| Zech 8:16 | These are the things you shall do: Speak the truth to one another... execute true and righteous judgment. | Call to truthful and just judicial process |
| Jn 19:11 | You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. | Divine source of human authority |
| Eccl 12:14 | For God will bring every deed into judgment. | Ultimate divine settling of all matters |
| Matt 18:15-17 | If your brother sins against you... take one or two others... tell it to the church. | Procedural guidance for conflict resolution |
| 2 Tim 4:1 | I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead. | Christ as the ultimate judge of all affairs |
| Heb 9:27 | It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. | Finality of divine judgment |
| Jas 1:20 | The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. | Contrast with chaotic mob action |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 39 Meaning
Acts 19:39 concludes the town clerk's masterful speech aimed at de-escalating the riot in Ephesus. It signifies that if the agitated populace has any further grievances or matters to pursue beyond the immediate concerns of the uproar caused by Demetrius and the silversmiths, these issues must be addressed and resolved through the legitimate, formal, and legally constituted civic assembly, rather than through an unlawful mob gathering. It underscores the principle of due process and proper governance in a civil society.
Acts 19 39 Context
This verse is situated at the climax of the tumultuous riot in Ephesus, sparked by Demetrius, a silversmith, whose livelihood was threatened by Paul's gospel message against idol worship. Demetrius incited the city, leading to a large, confused mob seizing Gaius and Aristarchus (Paul's companions) and dragging them into the city's amphitheater. Paul wished to enter and address the crowd but was prevented by his disciples and some Roman officials. Amidst the chaos and unintelligible shouting, the city town clerk (grammateus) emerged as the voice of reason and authority. He skillfully calmed the frenzied crowd by first validating their perceived concerns about the great goddess Artemis, then reminding them of their city's renown, and finally by stressing the legal repercussions of such a disorderly assembly. Verse 39 follows his explanation that Demetrius and his craftsmen have legal recourse if they have genuine charges against Paul and his companions (verse 38). It provides the proper channel for any other, not-yet-defined disputes, moving the issue from mob rule to legitimate governance.
Acts 19 39 Word analysis
- But if: Greek: De ei (Δὲ ἐὰν). "But" signifies a transition, drawing a distinction from the previous point. "If" introduces a conditional clause, indicating a hypothetical situation requiring a specific procedure.
- you would inquire: Greek: epizēteite (ἐπιζητεῖτε). From epizēteō (ἐπιζητέω). Means to "seek after," "investigate," "examine," "inquire into." It implies a careful, deliberate process of seeking resolution or clarity, distinct from the impulsive anger of the mob. It suggests a desire for due process and a just outcome.
- about anything further: Greek: peri heterōn (περὶ ἑτέρων). "About other things." This phrase broadens the scope beyond the silversmiths' initial complaints. It implies that if there are any other unresolved issues or additional matters of dispute that the citizens wish to bring forward, these, too, must follow proper legal channels.
- it shall be settled: Greek: epilythēsetai (ἐπιλυθήσεται). Future passive indicative of epilyō (ἐπιλύω), meaning "to untie," "solve," "explain," or "settle." The passive voice emphasizes that the resolution will be brought about through an external, authorized process. The future tense conveys a certainty of formal judgment, contrasting with the present disorder.
- in the lawful assembly: Greek: en tē ennōmō ekklēsia (ἐν τῇ ἐννόμῳ ἐκκλησίᾳ).
- ennōmō (ἐννόμῳ): Means "lawful," "legal," "legitimate," "according to custom/law." This word is crucial. It directly opposes the earlier description of the mob as "unlawful" (asystatos, Acts 19:32, 40). The town clerk insists on adhering to established legal and constitutional procedures.
- ekklēsia (ἐκκλησίᾳ): While this Greek word is commonly translated "church" in Christian contexts (e.g., Matt 16:18; Eph 5:25), in Acts 19, particularly in its secular use, it refers to a "public assembly," "a legislative gathering of citizens." This was a formally constituted civic body in Greco-Roman cities, empowered to make decisions and administer justice. It was a lawful meeting of qualified citizens summoned for official business, distinguishing it sharply from the spontaneous, unauthorized riotous mob.
Acts 19 39 Bonus section
The town clerk's rhetoric is a masterclass in ancient civic management, designed to diffuse high tension while upholding Roman law. His strategy involved:
- Acknowledging popular sentiment: He first validated their devotion to Artemis, avoiding direct confrontation with their religious beliefs (Acts 19:35-36).
- Affirming Ephesian identity: He appealed to their pride as custodians of the temple and the image, calming their insecurities.
- Pointing to due process: He clearly articulated the legal avenues available for actual grievances (Acts 19:38).
- Warning of Roman intervention: His mention of the risk of being charged with rioting for "this day's upheaval" (Acts 19:40) was a subtle but clear threat of severe Roman punishment for civic disorder, implying loss of self-governance or even greater penalties.
This verse therefore encapsulates the balance between local autonomy and imperial oversight, emphasizing that the Roman system, though pagan, possessed an underlying order that facilitated civil society and could, at times, protect the innocent or at least demand due process, indirectly aiding the spread of the gospel by preventing its immediate suppression through mob violence.
Acts 19 39 Commentary
Acts 19:39 is a critical declaration by the Ephesian town clerk, offering a path to resolution through established civic and legal structures. He shrewdly directs the mob's energy from lawless chaos to an orderly, state-sanctioned process. His instruction acknowledges potential legitimate grievances ("anything further") but adamantly requires they be handled by the "lawful assembly" (ennōmō ekklēsia). This assembly was not the mob currently filling the amphitheater, but the properly convened legal body. The clerk’s appeal to legality and order serves as a Roman warning, implicitly reminding the Ephesians that Roman authorities valued civic peace and could intervene if local order broke down. For early Christians, this highlights the necessity of respecting governing authorities (Rom 13:1-7) and proper channels, even when facing persecution, rather than resorting to violence or unlawful means. It underscores the contrast between the chaos driven by human passion and the peace found in adherence to God-ordained order, even in secular systems. This episode served as an important testimony to Paul's non-threatening nature in a civil sense, demonstrating that it was not Christianity but rather the opposition to it that produced public disturbance.