Acts 19:36

Act 19:36. Ὑπάρχειν, to be) An apposite word for appeasing those making the tumult. He does not say, to become, nor to continue quiet (orderly); but the word expresses something between the two.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Act 19:36 . ἀναντιῤῥήτων : only here in N.T., but the adverb in Act 10:29 , not in LXX but Symm., Job 11:2 ; Job 33:13 ; Polyb., xxiii., 8, 11; on spelling see critical note. δέον ἐστὶν , 1Pe 1:6 (1Ti 5:13 ), cf. Ecclus., Prol. , Act 19:3-4 , 1Ma 12:11 , 2Ma 11:18 , also in classical Greek. προπετὲς : only in Luke and Paul in N.T., 2Ti 3:4 , of thoughtless haste (Meyer Weiss); in LXX of rash talk, cf. Pro 10:14 ; Pro 13:3 , Sir 9:18 , Symm., Ecc 5:1 , Clem. Rom., Cor [332] , i. 1, of persons. κατεσταλμένους , see also on Act 19:35 ; only in these two verses in N.T.

[332] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Seeing that these things cannot be spoken against, &c.--Like a true legal man, he urges that such was notoriously the constitution and fixed character of the city, with which its very existence was all but bound up. Did they suppose that all this was going to be overturned by a set of itinerant orators? Ridiculous! What did they mean, then, by raising such a stir?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(36) Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against . . .—The language of the town-clerk has the ring of an official acceptance of the established cultus rather than of any strong personal devotion. Such language has often been heard from the defenders of institutions which were almost on the verge of ruin.

Ye ought to be quiet.—The verb is the same as that of the transitive “appeased” in Act_19:35. In the exhortation “to do nothing rashly” we hear the voico of a worldly prudence, reminding us partly, as has been said, of Gamaliel, partly of the well-known maxim of Talleyrand, Surtout, point de zele.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

36. Seeing … cannot be spoken against] Better, gainsaid with Rev. Ver. Paul had spoken, and others would speak, against the worship, nobody could gainsay the facts, they were incontrovertible.

ye ought to be quiet] The verb is the same as is used in Act_19:35, of his own quieting the people, which is another reason why the rendering there should be changed.

and to do nothing rashly] The last word is better taken as an adjective, “rash.” The word describes the headstrong, outrageous uproar for which there was no reason, and from which no good could come, and also their conduct in seizing two persons who were not the offenders and against whom, as it appears, they could take no proceedings.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For we are in danger of being called in question,.... Or are liable to be called to an account, reproved, and punished by the Roman proconsul, appointed over this city, or by the Roman emperor, or the Roman senate: for this day's uproar; it being capable of being interpreted as a riot, tumult, and sedition:

there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse: or no reason can be assigned, why such a number of people should gather together; none can be given that will justify it, or that can be alleged in favour of it.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

Ver. 36. Ye ought to be quiet] Or, sedate, composed, kept within compass, "to do nothing rashly or headlongly:" Temeritas enim comitem την μετανοιαν εχει.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Seeing then ... - Since no one can call in question the zeal of the Ephesians on this subject, or doubt the sincerity of their belief, and since there can be no danger that this well-established worship is to be destroyed by the efforts of a few evil-disposed Jews, there is no occasion for this tumult.

Be quiet - Be appeased. The same Greek word which is used in Acts . Act 19:35, “had appeased the people.”

To do nothing rashly - To do nothing in a heated, inconsiderate manner. There is no occasion for tumult and riot. The whole difficulty can be settled in perfect consistency with the maintenance of order.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

He did there cunningly than honestly endeavour to evade their clamour, and still their rage, by telling them (how fallaciously soever), that neither Paul, nor any other Christian or Jew, had any quarrel with their goddess or worship. For they indeed were against all images that were made with hands; but theirs was not such a one, it being fallen down from heaven. We must consider he was but a pagan; and his design was only to still the people; and populus vult decipi.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Gainsaid for spoken against, A.V.; rash for rashly, A.V. (propetwv is the adverb), quiet (katestalmenouv: see above, ver. 35, note).

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

See notes on verse 35

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

36. ἀναντιρρήτων οὖν ὄντων τούτων, seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid. Even those who spoke against the worship as St Paul had done, could not dispute the facts just stated by the γραμματεύς about the devotion of the Ephesians to their goddess.

δέον ἐστὶν ὑμᾶς κατεσταλμένους ὑπάρχειν, ye ought to be quiet, i.e. not raising an uproar like this. See on the verb, Act 19:35, above.

καὶ μηδὲν προπετὲς πράσσειν, and to do nothing rash. προπετές describes the headstrong outrageous uproar for which there was no reason, and from which no good could come, and also their conduct in seizing two persons who were not the offenders and against whom, as it appears, they could take no proceedings.

In the LXX. the word is always used of rash talk. Cf. Pro 10:14; Pro 13:3; Sir 9:18.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Quiet [κατεσταλμενους] . Compare quieted (ver. 35). The verb means to let down or lower; and so is applied, metaphorically, to keeping one's self in check; repressing.

Rash [προπετες] . Lit., headlong.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.