Acts 19:40 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.
Acts 19:40 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."
Acts 19:40 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."
Acts 19:40 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."
Acts 19:40 nlt
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."
Acts 19 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 19:33 | "And they put forward Alexander, from the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people." | Context for legal defense attempt |
| 2 Timothy 4:3 | "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires," | Warning against appealing to the crowd |
| Titus 1:9 | "holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able to exhort by sound doctrine both to convince the gainsayers." | Qualification for leaders to handle disputes |
| Proverbs 28:1 | "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." | Contrast in boldness and guilt |
| Romans 8:31 | "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" | Assurance of divine support against accusers |
| Jeremiah 1:17 | "Thou, therefore, gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them." | God's encouragement to Paul |
| 1 Corinthians 16:9 | "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." | Paul facing opposition |
| Galatians 2:2 | "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain." | Importance of correct doctrine and justification |
| Ephesians 5:11 | "But have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." | Rebuke of wrongful assemblies |
| Colossians 4:6 | "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." | Instruction on how to answer accusations |
| 1 Peter 3:15 | "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" | Being ready to give an account |
| John 18:38 | "Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no fault in him at all." | Pilate finding no fault in Jesus |
| Matthew 7:24-27 | Parable of the wise and foolish builders | Establishing truth and falsehood |
| Acts 19:10 | "And this continued by the space of two years: so that all the dwellers in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." | Duration of Paul's ministry in Ephesus |
| Acts 19:29 | "And the whole city was filled with confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, and caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel." | The mob's actions |
| Acts 19:32 | "Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together." | Disorder of the assembly |
| Acts 21:31-32 | "And as they went about to slay him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them:" | Dealing with city disturbances |
| Deuteronomy 19:15 | "One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established." | Legal principle of sufficient witnesses |
| Joshua 1:7 | "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left," | Obedience and faithfulness |
| Acts 19:38 | "Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craft which is with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another." | The city's legal recourse |
Acts 19 verses
Acts 19 40 Meaning
This verse asserts that the people gathered in Ephesus had no grounds for holding an assembly concerning the riot stirred up by Demetrius and the silversmiths, as there was no legitimate reason or legal basis to do so. They could not bring forth proof or evidence of Paul's supposed wrongdoing or sacrilege against the goddess Artemis.
Acts 19 40 Context
This verse concludes the account of a riot instigated by Demetrius, a silversmith whose livelihood was threatened by the success of Paul's ministry in Ephesus. Demetrius incited a crowd against Paul, accusing him of blaspheming Artemis and devaluing her temple and cult. The ensuing uproar led to a disorderly assembly in the city's theatre. The town clerk, a civic official, intervened to calm the mob. He then delivered a speech, recorded in verses 35-40, which addressed the legality and nature of their gathering. Verse 40 summarizes his legal assessment of the situation. This event took place during Paul's extended ministry in Ephesus, as described in Acts chapter 19.
Acts 19 40 Word Analysis
εἰ: (ei) - "if" or "since" - Introduces a conditional clause, indicating the premise for the subsequent statement.
δὲ: (de) - "but," "and" - A conjunction that marks a transition or contrast, here connecting the previous statements to this concluding assertion.
μήτε: (mēte) - "neither" - Used in a correlative construction with another 'mēte' (implied or omitted due to context) or indicating a negation. It means "not even," introducing the second disallowed reason.
εἰς: (eis) - "into," "in," "to" - Preposition indicating direction or presence within a specified context.
ἑώρακεν: (heōraken) - "he has seen," "he has perceived," "he has encountered" - From the verb horaō (ὁράω), to see. The perfect tense implies a completed action with present results, suggesting no one had legally proven or established any wrongdoing by Paul.
τὸ: (to) - "the" - Definite article.
ὄνομα: (onoma) - "name" - Referring to the name of Paul.
αὐτοῦ: (autou) - "of him," "his" - Possessive pronoun.
δὲ: (de) - "but," "and" - Conjunction again.
παράταξις: (parataxis) - "a drawing up in battle array," "an encounter," "a conflict" - From paratasso (παρατάσσω), to draw up alongside. In this context, it refers to a formal accusation, charge, or legal prosecution, like an arranged confrontation in court.
λόγοι: (logoi) - "words," "sayings," "grounds," "reasons" - From logos (λόγος). It signifies the actual substance of a case or an accusation.
The overall phrase "μήτε τι κακόν εὑρήσεται": (mēte ti kakon heurēsetai) - "neither shall he find any evil," "no wrong shall be found." This implies an absence of verifiable charges or offenses.
The combined sense of "καὶ μήτε περὶ τοῦ ὀνόματος αὐτοῦ παράταξις λόγοι": (kai mēte peri tou onomatos autou parataxis logoi) - "and neither concerning his name will there be charges/grounds for conflict." This elegantly summarizes that there was no legitimate case, accusation, or legal basis to prosecute Paul. The "name" of Paul likely refers to him as a person and perhaps his teaching or ministry associated with that name.
Acts 19 40 Bonus Section
The administrative language used by the town clerk reflects the established legal structures of Roman-governed cities like Ephesus. His primary concern was to prevent an illegal riot and uphold civic order, not to judge the truth of the accusations against Paul, which he implicitly dismisses for lack of proof. This demonstrates the clash between sincere faith and societal economic interests, a theme prevalent throughout the New Testament. The verse also implicitly endorses the legal framework, provided it is used justly and without corruption, as a means to resolve disputes. The use of parataxis is noteworthy, indicating a formal legal confrontation, something the agitators could not legally mount.
Acts 19 40 Commentary
The town clerk, in his effort to restore order, serves as an analogy for good governance and adherence to law. His statement in verse 40 is a pronouncement that the gathering has no legal standing. The absence of any factual or provable accusation against Paul renders the mob's assembly baseless and illegal. This underscores the importance of due process and the need for concrete evidence in any legal or communal dispute. It also highlights that the true issue was not about genuine offense, but rather about economic and cultural disruption that the mob leaders manufactured into a pseudo-legal complaint. The failure to present evidence, despite the attempt by Alexander (verse 33), confirms the clerk's declaration that the situation was not one that necessitated a public assembly for legal redress.