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Acts 19:21
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19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 aSo the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.  

The Riot at Ephesus

21 aWhen these things were accomplished, Paul bpurposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through cMacedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, dI must also see Rome.”  
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, aTimothy and bErastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.  
23 And aabout that time there arose a great commotion about bthe Way.  
24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of1 Diana, brought ano small profit to the craftsmen.  
25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.
26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that athey are not gods which are made with hands.  
27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and1 her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”  
28 Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
29 So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized aGaius and bAristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.  
30 And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.
31 Then some of the1 officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.  
32 Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And aAlexander bmotioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.  
34 But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”
35 And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess1 Diana, and of the image which fell down from2 Zeus?  
36 Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.
37 For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of1 your goddess.  
38 Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a1 case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.  
39 But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.
40 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.”  
41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
<< Acts 19:20   Acts 19:22 >>


Acts 19:21

Purposed in the spirit (eqeto en tw pneumati). Second aorist middle indicative for mental action and "spirit" expressed also. A new stage in Paul's career begins here, a new division of the Acts.

Passed through (dielqwn). Word (dierxomai) used ten times in Acts (cf. Acts 19:1) of missionary journeys (Ramsay).

Macedonia and Achaia (thn Makedonian kai Axaian). This was the way that he actually went, but originally he had planned to go to Achaia (Corinth) and then to Macedonia, as he says in II Corinthians 1:15 f., but he had now changed that purpose, perhaps because of the bad news from Corinth. Already when he wrote I Corinthians he proposed to go first to Macedonia (I Corinthians 16:5-7). He even hoped to spend the winter in Corinth "if the Lord permit" and to remain in Ephesus till Pentecost, neither of which things he did.

I must also see Rome (dei me kai Rwmhn idein). This section of Acts begins with Rome in the horizon of Paul's plans and the book closes with Paul in Rome (Rackham). Here he feels the necessity of going as in Romans 1:15 he feels himself "debtor" to all including "those in Rome" (Romans 1:16). Paul had long desired to go to Rome (Romans 1:10), but had been frequently hindered (Romans 1:13), but he has definitely set his face to go to Rome and on to Spain (Romans 15:23-29). Paley calls sharp attention to this parallel between Acts 19:21 and Romans 1:10-15; Romans 15:23-29. Rome had a fascination for Paul as the home of Aquila and Priscilla and numerous other friends (Rom. 16), but chiefly as the capital of the Roman Empire and a necessary goal in Paul's ambition to win it to Jesus Christ. His great work in Asia had stirred afresh in him the desire to do his part for Rome. He wrote to Rome from Corinth not long after this and in Jerusalem Jesus in vision will confirm the necessity (dei) that Paul see Rome (Acts 23:11).




Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 19:21:

Acts 19:21
Acts 20:2
Acts 20:22
Acts 23:11
Acts 25:11
Acts 28:14
Romans 1:13
2 Corinthians 1:16
3 John 1:12

 

<< Acts 19:20   Acts 19:22 >>

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