Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 19:36
Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
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.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
36. Seeing that these things cannotbe spoken against, &c.Like a true legal man, he urges thatsuch was notoriously the constitution and fixed character of thecity, with which its very existence was all but bound up. Did theysuppose that all this was going to be overturned by a set ofitinerant orators? Ridiculous! What did they mean, then, by raisingsuch a stir?
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against,…. This officer intimates, in order to quiet the mob, and make them easy, that these things were so certain, and well known, that nobody would pretend to contradict them, and therefore they must be mistaken in the men, whom they had hurried into the theatre; it was impossible that they, or any men, should be capable of saying any thing against the truth of these things: therefore
ye ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly; to these men, to their hurt, but sit down, and compose yourselves, and think again, and consider of this matter, and not go into any hasty measures, which may, in the issue, be prejudicial to yourselves.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Cannot be gainsaid ( ). Genitive absolute with (therefore). Undeniable (, , ), verbal adjective. Occasionally in late Greek (Polybius, etc.), only here in N.T., but adverb in Ac 10:29. These legends were accepted as true and appeased the mob.
Ye ought ( ). It is necessary. Periphrastic present indicative instead of like 1Pet 1:6; 1Tim 5:13.
Be quiet (). Perfect passive participle of (see verse 35).
Rash (). Old adjective from and , to fall forward, headlong, precipitate. In the N.T. only here and 2Ti 3:4, though common in the Koine. Better look before you leap.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Quiet [] . 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 [] . Lit., headlong.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Seeing then that these things, ‘ (anatirreton oun onton touton) “As these matters are undeniable, incontestable,” in the blinded minds and hearts of the heathen worshippers, and standing on legal grounds for their place in Ephesus and all Asia Minor.
2) “Cannot be spoken against,” (deon estin humas katestalmenous huparchein) ” ch have been spoken against,” since “you all have been quieted, have yourselves in restraint;- Did they suppose these itinerant preachers (orators) were going to overturn the silversmith idol-making business that promoted the goddess Diana? Ridiculous!
3) “Ye ought to be quiet,” (dion estin huparchein) “It is necessary that you all are to be quiet,” to have self-control in this matter, not raise a stir, cause, or aid and abet a riot.
4) “And to do nothing rashly,” (kai meden propetes prassein) “And to practice not even one rash thing,” to do nothing rashly or impulsively, to practice no stupidity, without good judgement, Pro 14:29; Pro 29:20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(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.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.”
So the city clerk pointed out that as no one could deny these things they should take matters quietly and not do anything rash. They needed to be calm and look at matters sensibly, or otherwise they would simply bring down trouble on them all.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
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 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Act 19:36 . : 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. , 1Pe 1:6 (1Ti 5:13 ), cf. Ecclus., Prol. , Act 19:3-4 , 1Ma 12:11 , 2Ma 11:18 , also in classical Greek. : 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. , see also on Act 19:35 ; only in these two verses in N.T.
[332] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
cannot be spoken against = are indisputable. Greek. anantirrhetos. Only here. The adverb in Act 10:29.
ye ought to = it is needful that ye should.
be. Greek. huparcho. See note on Luk 9:48.
quiet = calmed or appeased, as in Act 19:33.
nothing. Greek. medeis.
rashly = rash, or headstrong. Greek. propetes. Only here and 2Ti 3:4 (heady).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Act 19:36. , 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.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
ye ought: Act 5:35-39, Pro 14:29, Pro 25:8
Reciprocal: Act 4:14 – they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
Act 19:36. The reputation of the goddess in the eyes of the Greek people was not even questioned by them, hence there was no reason for being reckless or unnecessarily hasty in acting against Paul and his companions.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 19:36. Ye ought to be quiet. The town-clerk seems to be throughout his harangue intensely anxious that his city should not through any riotous behaviour incur the displeasure of Rome.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 35
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 36
Spoken against; called in question.