Acts 19:38
in Acts 19So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.
KJV
Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
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This verse in Acts 19
Commentary
13 notes on this verse"and have recourse to the courts and to the magistrates." There was a class of judges in Asia called the magistrates, of humble status, who in some cases judged the poor and market-people; therefore they were called magistrates, just as there are public prosecutors in …
This site's exposition
the law is open
on Acts 19:38-41
If Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a genuine grievance, the clerk says, the law is open and there are deputies, proconsuls holding regular court, so let the matter be tried there rather than settled by a mob in a theatre. Anything beyond that belongs to a lawful assembly, not this one, and he warns that Rome itself may call the city to account for the day's uproar, since an unauthorized riot was itself a crime under Roman administration and Ephesus's own privileged status as a free city could be revoked for tolerating one. Having spoken, he dismisses the assembly, and the riot ends without a single recorded injury to Paul, Gaius, or Aristarchus. The bench reads the town clerk's intervention as ordinary Roman civic order functioning, unknowingly, as the means by which providence protects the gospel's advance in one of its most important cities, closing the Ephesian episode exactly as the growth panel of verse 20 had already promised it would close, the word prevailing.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A great good is affliction: and we learn this from our own children: for without affliction a boy would learn nothing useful. But we, more than they, need affliction. For if there, when the passions as yet are quiet, chastisement benefits them, how much more us, especially possessed as we are by so many! Nay, we behoove rather to have schoolmasters than they: since the faults of children cannot be great, but ours are exceeding great. Our schoolmaster is affliction. Let us then not draw it down willingly upon ourselves, but when it is come let us bear it bravely, being, as it is, always the cause of numberless good things; that so we may both obtain grace from God, and the good things which are laid up for them that love Him, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In order that those (workmen) also might become more reasonable, he says: "Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsman which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye enquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause, for which (matter) we shall not be able to give an account for this concourse." "A lawful assembly," he says, for there were three assemblies according to law in each month; but this one was contrary to law. Then he terrified them also by saying, "We are in danger to be called to account" for sedition.
Afflictions cut us off from the sympathy we have for the present world, as appears in this, that we wish for death immediately, and cease to be loving of the body: which very thing is the greatest part of wisdom, to have no hankering, no ties to the present life. The soul which is afflicted does not wish to be concerned about many things: repose and stillness are all it desired, content for its part to have done with the things present, even though there be nothing else to follow.
Seest thou how God permits trials, and by them stirs up and awakens the disciples, and makes them more energetic? Then let us not sink down under trials: for He Himself will "also make the way of escape, that we may be able to bear them." Nothing so makes friends, and rivets them so firmly, as affliction: nothing so fastens and compacts the souls of believers: nothing is so seasonable for us teachers in order that the things said by us may be heard. For the hearer when he is in ease is listless and indolent, and seems to suffer annoyance from the speaker: but when he is in affliction and distress, he falls into a great longing for the hearing. For when distressed in his soul, he seeks on all sides to find comfort for his affliction: and the preaching brings no small comfort.
The Medieval Church1 voice
He gently rebukes them, showing that they acted rashly and that it was not proper to hold a public assembly for private reasons.
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. Ephesus was a city of great note in Asia, famous for a temple built there to Diana, which was one of the wonders of the world: thither Paul came to preach the gospel while Apollos was at Corinth (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
If Demetrius - have a matter against any man - If it be any breach of law, in reference to Demetrius and the artists, the law is open, αγοραιοι αγονται; these are the terms of law, public courts, times of sessions or assize; or, rather, the judges are mow sitting: so the words may be understood.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
if Demetrius have a matter--of complaint. against any man, the law is open--rather, "the court days are being held." and there are deputies--literally "proconsuls" (see on Ac 13:7); that is, probably, the proconsul and his council, as a court of appeal.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
"With this we may compare various legends concerning images and pictures in the Romish Church, such as the traditional likenesses of Christ, which were said to be "not made with hands"" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON].
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Have a matter against any man - Have a complaint of injury; if injustice has been done them by anyone. The law is open - See the margin. Ἀγόραιοι Agoraioi ἄγονται agontai, that is, ἡμέραι hēmerai. There are court-days; days which are open, or appointed for judicial trials, where such matters can be determined in a proper manner. Perhaps the courts were then held, and the matter might be immediately determined. And there are deputies - Roman proconsuls. See the notes on Act 13:7. The cause might be brought before them with the certainty that it would be heard and decided. The Syriac reads this in the singular number “Lo, the proconsul is in the city.” Let them implead one another - Let them accuse each other in the court. The laws are equal, and impartial justice will be done.
The words behind it
20 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| μὲν | men | indeed | G3303 → | 176 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| Δημήτριος | demetrios | Demetrius | G1216 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τεχνῖται | technitai | craftsmen | G5079 → | |
| ἔχουσι | echousi | have | G2192 → | 707 times |
| πρός | pros | against | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τινα | tina | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| λόγον, | logon | a matter | G3056 → | 329 times |
| ἀγοραῖοι | agoraioi | courts | G60 → | |
| ἄγονται | agontai | are conducted | G71 → | 68 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀνθύπατοί | anthupatoi | proconsuls | G446 → | 5 times |
| εἰσιν· | eisin | there are; | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐγκαλείτωσαν | egkaleitosan | they should accuse | G1458 → | 7 times |
| ἀλλήλοις. | allelois | to one another. | G240 → | 100 times |
εἰIf
eiG1487 →508 times
μὲνindeed
menG3303 →176 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
ΔημήτριοςDemetrius
demetriosG1216 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
αὐτῷhim
autoG846 →5565 times
τεχνῖταιcraftsmen
technitaiG5079 →
ἔχουσιhave
echousiG2192 →707 times
πρόςagainst
prosG4314 →700 times
τιναanyone
tinaG5100 →528 times
λόγον,a matter
logonG3056 →329 times
ἀγοραῖοιcourts
agoraioiG60 →
ἄγονταιare conducted
agontaiG71 →68 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀνθύπατοίproconsuls
anthupatoiG446 →5 times
εἰσιν·there are;
eisinG1510 →2333 times
ἐγκαλείτωσανthey should accuse
egkaleitosanG1458 →7 times
ἀλλήλοις.to one another.
alleloisG240 →100 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 6:1If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints!
it leads to
- Matthew 18:15–17
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
- Matthew 18:15–17
Through
Acts 13:7an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.
it leads to
- Acts 13:12
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.
- Acts 18:12
While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat.
- Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
- Acts 13:12
Through
Deuteronomy 17:8If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 12:5
Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go.
- Haggai 2:11
“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling.
- Deuteronomy 1:17
Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I…
- Deuteronomy 12:5
Through
Acts 18:14But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:14–15
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
- 1 Peter 3:14–15
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 42; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.