Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 19:39
But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
39. But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters ] Rev. Ver. But if ye seek anything about other matters. The “seeking” which the townclerk means is by a legal process. If the matter were of such a character as to come before the proconsul, there he was, ready to hear the cause. It was, as we might say, “assize time.” But if the question was of another kind, one for the jurisdiction of the ordinary city courts, then they could apply at the proper time and place.
it shall be determined in a lawful assembly ] This conveys a wrong idea to the English reader. Of course the court where the proconsul sat was a “lawful assembly,” though the contrary might be inferred from A.V. The word rendered “lawful” signifies “appointed by law.” The days and time of the meeting of the city courts were defined by law. Thus the Rev. Ver. “ it shall be settled in the regular assembly ” is a better rendering, and distinguishes the ordinary, legal, appointed days of hearing in the regular courts, from the assize of the proconsul.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But if we inquire – If you seek to determine any other matters than that pertaining to the alleged wrong which Demetrius has suffered in his business.
Other matters – Anything respecting public affairs; anything pertaining to the government and the worship of Diana.
In a lawful assembly – In an assembly convened, not by tumult and riot, but in conformity to law. This was a tumultuous assemblage, and it was proper in the public officer to demand that they should disperse; and that, if there were any public grievances to be remedied, it should be done in an assembly properly convened. It may be remarked here that the original word rendered assembly is what is usually in the New Testament rendered church – ekklesia. It is properly rendered by the word assembly – not denoting here a mixed or tumultuous assemblage, but one called out, or convened in the legal manner. The proper meaning of the word is what is called out. The church, the Christian assembly ekklesia of the faithful, is made up of those who are called out from the world.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 39. But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters] In which the safety of the state, or the national worship, is concerned, know that such a matter is not the business of the mob; it must be heard and determined in a lawful assembly, , one legally constituted, and properly authorized to hear and determine on the subject.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Other matters; relating to the good government of the city, or maintaining the established religion, which ought not in such a confused manner to be treated of, but in an assembly called by lawful authority, which the Romans did usually call, at least, three times every month.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
39. if ye inquire“haveany question.”
concerning other mattersofa public nature.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters,…. Than what belongs to the craft and business of Demetrius, and the artificers:
it shall be determined in a lawful assembly; that is, called together according to law, and who have a right to hear, try, and judge causes, which such a confused lawless assembly as this in the theatre had not.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Anything about other matters ( ). Most MSS. here have , but B b Vulgate read as in Plato’s . Several papyri examples of it also. It is comparative of , beyond. Note also in . Charges of illegal conduct (Page) should be settled in the regular legal way. But, if you wish to go further and pass resolutions about the matter exciting you, “it shall be settled in the regular assembly” ( ). “In the lawful assembly,” not by a mob like this. Wood (Ephesus) quotes an inscription there with this very phrase “at every lawful assembly” ( ). The Roman officials alone could give the sanction for calling such a lawful or regular assembly. The verb is an old one, but in the N.T. only here and Mr 4:34 (which see) where Jesus privately opened or disclosed the parables to the disciples. The papyri give examples of the verb in financial transactions as well as of the metaphorical sense. The solution will come in the lawful assembly, not in a riot like this. See also 2Pe 1:20 where the substantive occurs for disclosure or revelation (prophecy).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters,” (ei de ti peraitero epizeteite) “But if you all seek or are in pursuit of anything further,” something more public in nature than your craft union, and its incitement against Paul, and his missionary helpers, 2Co 1:8-10.
2) “It shall be determined,” (epiluthesetai) “It will be settled or resolved,” brought to a resignation, an end of conflict.
3) “In a lawful assembly.” (emteennomenekklesia) “In the lawful assembly,” not in an incited street mob, which had been going on that day for two hours, Act 19:23-34. The purpose of that lawful assembly was civil in nature, not religious, as the church or assembly that Jesus:
a) Chose and established, Joh 15:16; Joh 15:26-27; Joh 20:21.
b) Built, Mat 16:18; and commissioned, Mat 28:18-20.
c) Loved and gave Himself for, Eph 5:25.
d) Purchased with His own blood, Act 20:28.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(39) It shall be determined in a lawful assembly.Better, in the lawful assembly. The argument is that, should the alleged grievance be one that called for legislative rather than judicial action, the matter would have to be referred to the regular meeting of the ecclesia, which the town-clerk had probably the right to summon. There they could present their gravamen, and petition for redress. Here also the inscriptions discovered by Mr. Wood (vi. 6, p. 50) give an interesting illustration of the official phraseology. An image of Athena is to be placed above the bench where the boys sit, at every lawful (or regular) ecclesia.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
39. Lawful assembly An assembly regularly called and legally authorized; as this was not. To move an unlawful tumult was a capital offence, and Demetrius was now quite as much in danger as Paul.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“But if you seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.”
If it was a civil matter then they should wait for the regular assembly, where such matters could be dealt with, not at an ad hoc meeting gathered like this by a riotous crowd which would only be seen by Rome as reprehensible.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 19:39. But if ye inquire, &c. “But if the cause be not properly either civil or criminal, and you are inquiring any thing concerning other matters relating to the common utility, or to religion, which may seem of a special nature, you need not doubt but it shall be determined, to the general satisfaction, in a lawful assembly of the Asiatic states; who will inquire into it impartially, and with a diligence proportionable to its importance.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 19:39-40 . But if you desire anything further thereupon (beyond matters of private law), it will be discussed (cleared up) in the lawful assembly of the people (“qui a magistratu civitatis convocatur et regitur,” Grotius; in contrast to this illegal concourse, comp. on Act 19:32 ; Act 19:30 ). On (see the critical remarks), comp. Plat. Phaed . p. 107 B: .
.] for we even run the risk of being charged with tumult ( : genitive of accusation) on account of this day . gives the reason why the speaker in the latter case (Act 19:39 ) has relegated the matter to the . is not to be connected with (Vulgate, Luther, Calvin, and others). [105]
] there being no reason, on the ground of which we shall be in a position to give account of this concourse . . , taken as masculine (Vulgate), would less accord with the prudence of the speaker, who with wise forbearance clothes the threatening in a form embracing others , including his own responsibility.
Very wisely, on the whole, has the politically adroit man of business, in the first instance, by way of capitatio benevolentiae praised the Ephesian worship of Diana in its unendangered world-wide fame (Act 19:35 ); then from this inferred the unseemliness of such a hasty proceeding (Act 19:36-37 ); further, pointed Demetrius and his companions to the legal form of procedure in their case (Act 19:38-39 ); and finally, put on the people the lasting curb of the fear of Roman punishment (Act 19:40 ).
. . .] , , Chrysostom.
How lightly Baur deprives this whole history of its historical character, may be seen in his Paulus , I. p. 217, Exo 2 .
[105] So also Buttmann, neut. Gr . p. 154 [E. T. 177]. Certainly the is in keeping with , Act 23:29 , Act 26:7 . But it may he urged, on the other hand, that such a position of the preposition after the noun (Krger, lxviii. 4. 2; Khner, 626) is not usual in the N.T., and also that the in his speech was too diplomatically prudent to designate, on his part, the affair exactly as a tumult ( ). In his mouth it is only a concourse ( ). We may add, that in Greek writers , with the simple genitive, is the usual expression.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
Ver. 39. In a lawful assembly ] Such as this could not be. Cum boni, cum probi coeunt, non est factio dicenda sed curia: ut e contrario, illis nomen factionis accommodandum est, qui in odium bonorum et Troborum conspirant. (Tertul. Apol. xxxix.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
39. ] ‘Legitimus ctus est, qui a magistrate civitatis convocatur et regitur.’ Grot. The art. points out the regularly recurring assembly, of which they all knew.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 19:39 . : if we read , cf. Plato, Phdo , p. 107 B, the meaning is anything further than an accusation against an individual, a public and not a personal matter: if they desired to get any resolution passed with regard to the future conduct of citizens and of resident non-citizens in this matter, see Ramsay, Expositor , February, 1896, reading . ( cf. Mar 4:34 ), nowhere else in N.T. (the verb is found in LXX, Aquila, Gen 40:8 ; Gen 41:8 ; Gen 41:12 ; Th., Hos., Act 3:4 ; Philo., Jos.). : “the regular assembly,” R.V. Mr. Wood, Ephesus, App. , p. 38, quotes an inscription in which it was enjoined that a statue of Minerva should be placed in a certain spot, . But A.V. has “the lawful assembly”: which is the better rendering? “regular” seems to restrict us to held on stated customary days, and to exclude from the secretary’s statement any reference to extraordinary meetings, meetings summoned for special business, whereas he would be likely to use a term which would cover all legal meetings. But on the other hand Blass quotes the phrase given above from the inscriptions, and explains sunt, qu ex lege certis diebus fiebant (so too Wendt, Lightfoot); and if this is correct, “regular” would be the more appropriate rendering, = . But in Ephesus we have to consider how far the old Greek assembly was or was not under the control of the imperial government. In considering this with reference to the special incident before us, Ramsay, with whom Wendt agrees, p. 321 (1899), gives good reason for regarding the “regular” as equivalent to the “lawful” assemblies: i.e. , extraordinary assemblies which in the Greek period had been legal, but were now so no longer through the jealous desire of Rome to control popular assemblies, abroad as at home. The could not be summoned without the leave of the Roman officials, and it was not at all likely that that sanction would be extended beyond a certain fixed and regular number, Ramsay, Expositor , February, 1896: “The Lawful Assembly,” and “Ephesus,” Hastings’ B.D., p. 723.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
enquire = seek diligently. Same word as in Act 12:19; Act 13:7.
other. Greek. heteros. App-124.
determined = resolved. Greek. epiluo. Only here and Mar 4:34 (expounded).
lawful. Greek. ennomos, under laws. Only here and 1Co 9:21.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
39.] Legitimus ctus est, qui a magistrate civitatis convocatur et regitur. Grot. The art. points out the regularly recurring assembly, of which they all knew.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 19:39. ) the ordinary lawful assembly.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
lawful: or, ordinary, Act 19:39
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 19:39. By other matters he meant subjects that were differences of opinion only and not involving any personal misconduct. Lawful assembly means one called by the proper authorities and in accordance with the law.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 19:39. It shall be determined in a lawful assembly. The crowd of citizens he was then addressing was simply a popular gathering; their decisions could have no weight. Such a meeting would only tend to damage the city in the eyes of the Roman government. The lawful assembly () was one formally summoned. A free city like Ephesus had the right to call such a meeting together for the purpose of deliberation.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 35
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
19:39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a {r} lawful assembly.
(r) He speaks of a lawful assembly not only to speak against the disordered tumult of the people, but also against all meeting and coming together which was not by order: for there were certain days appointed to call people together in.