Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, April 9th, 2026
Thursday in Easter Week
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Acts 19:32

Meanwhile the whole meeting was in an uproar: some people were shouting one thing, others were shouting something else, because most of them did not even know why they had come together.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Demetrius;   Mob;   Paul;   Prudence;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Church;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ephesus;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Church, the;   Gods and Goddesses, Pagan;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Church;   Ordination;   Relics;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Church;   Diana;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Corinth;   Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Church;   Demetrius;   Ephesus;   Gods, Pagan;   Masons;   Silversmith;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bible;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to;   Romans, Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Asia ;   Assembly;   Citizenship ;   Roman Law in the Nt;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Artemis ;   Assembly;   Church;   Diana ;   Ephesians ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ephesians;   Ephesus;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Church;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Saul of Tarsus;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Assembly;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Some were shouting one thing and some another, because the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
King James Version (1611)
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused, and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
King James Version
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused: and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
English Standard Version
Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
New American Standard Bible
So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
New Century Version
Some people were shouting one thing, and some were shouting another. The meeting was completely confused; most of them did not know why they had come together.
Amplified Bible
Now some shouted one thing and some another, for the gathering was in confusion and most of the people did not know why they had come together.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
Legacy Standard Bible
So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the meeting was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
Berean Standard Bible
Meanwhile the assembly was in turmoil. Some were shouting one thing and some another, and most of them did not even know why they were there.
Contemporary English Version
Some of the people in the meeting were shouting one thing, and others were shouting something else. Everyone was completely confused, and most of them did not even know why they were there.
Complete Jewish Bible
Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and others something else, because the assembly was in complete confusion, and the great majority didn't even know why they were there.
Darby Translation
Different persons therefore cried out some different thing; for the assembly was tumultuous, and the most did not know for what cause they had come together.
Easy-to-Read Version
Some people were shouting one thing and others were shouting something else. The meeting was very confused. Most of the people did not know why they had come there.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assemblie was out of order, and the more part knewe not wherefore they were come together.
George Lamsa Translation
Now the multitude in the theatre was greatly confused; some cried one thing, and some another; and many of them did not know why they had assembled together.
Lexham English Bible
So some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know why they had assembled.
Literal Translation
Then others indeed cried out a different thing, for the assembly was confused, and the majority did not know on what account they came together.
American Standard Version
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
Bible in Basic English
And some said one thing, and some another: for there was no order in the meeting; and most of them had no idea why they had come together.
Hebrew Names Version
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn't know why they had come together.
International Standard Version
Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another. For the assembly was confused, and most of them didn't know why they were meeting.
Etheridge Translation
But the crowd who were in the theatre were greatly commoved, and others cried other things; for many of them knew not on what account they were assembled.
Murdock Translation
And the multitudes that were in the theatre were in great confusion, and cried, some one thing, and some another: and many of them knew not for what cause they had come together.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Some therfore cryed one thyng, and some another, and the assemblie was all out of quiet, and the more part knew not wherfore they were come together.
English Revised Version
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
World English Bible
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was in confusion. Most of them didn't know why they had come together.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another; for the assembly was confused, and the greater part did not know, for what they were come together.
Weymouth's New Testament
The people, meanwhile, kept shouting, some one thing and some another; for the assembly was all uproar and confusion, and the greater part had no idea why they had come together.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And othere men crieden othir thing; for the chirche was confusid, and many wisten not for what cause thei weren come togidere.
Update Bible Version
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and most didn't know why they had come together.
Webster's Bible Translation
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not why they had come together.
New English Translation
So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.
New King James Version
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.
New Living Translation
Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn't even know why they were there.
New Life Bible
All this time some were crying out one thing and some another. The meeting was all noise. Most of the people did not know why they had come together.
New Revised Standard
Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Others, indeed, were crying out something else; for the assembly had become confused, and, the greater part, knew not for what cause they had come together.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now some cried one thing, some another. For the assembly was confused: and the greater part knew not for what cause they were come together.
Revised Standard Version
Now some cried one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Some cryed one thinge and some another and the congregacion was all out of quiet and ye moare parte knewe not wherfore they were come togeder.
Young's Literal Translation
Some indeed, therefore, were calling out one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused, and the greater part did not know for what they were come together;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Some cried one thinge, some another. And the congregacion was out of quyete, and the more parte knewe not wherfore they were come together.
Mace New Testament (1729)
there the mob were in the utmost riot, some bawling out in one cry, some in another, and the greatest part at a loss to know why they were met.
THE MESSAGE
Some were yelling one thing, some another. Most of them had no idea what was going on or why they were there. As the Jews pushed Alexander to the front to try to gain control, different factions clamored to get him on their side. But he brushed them off and quieted the mob with an impressive sweep of his arms. But the moment he opened his mouth and they knew he was a Jew, they shouted him down: "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!"—on and on and on, for over two hours.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Inside the stadium, people were in a frenzy. Everyone was shouting something different and confusion reigned. Most people had just been caught up in action and didn't know why they were even there.

Contextual Overview

21 After these things had happened, Paul made up his mind to travel through Macedonia and Achaia and go on to Jerusalem. "After I go there," he said, "I must also see Rome." 22 So he sent Timothy and Erastus, two of his helpers, to Macedonia, while he spent more time in the province of Asia. 23 It was at this time that there was serious trouble in Ephesus because of the Way of the Lord. 24 A certain silversmith named Demetrius made silver models of the temple of the goddess Artemis, and his business brought a great deal of profit to the workers. 25 So he called them all together with others whose work was like theirs and said to them, "Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this work. 26 Now, you can see and hear for yourselves what this fellow Paul is doing. He says that hand-made gods are not gods at all, and he has succeeded in convincing many people, both here in Ephesus and in nearly the whole province of Asia. 27 There is the danger, then, that this business of ours will get a bad name. Not only that, but there is also the danger that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will come to mean nothing and that her greatness will be destroyed—the goddess worshiped by everyone in Asia and in all the world!" 28 As the crowd heard these words, they became furious and started shouting, "Great is Artemis of Ephesus!" 29 The uproar spread throughout the whole city. The mob grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians who were traveling with Paul, and rushed with them to the theater. 30 Paul himself wanted to go before the crowd, but the believers would not let him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

cried: Acts 19:29, Acts 21:34

and the: Acts 19:40, Matthew 11:7-9, Luke 7:24-26

Reciprocal: Acts 21:22 - the multitude

Cross-References

Genesis 9:21
After he drank some of the wine, he became drunk, took off his clothes, and lay naked in his tent.
Genesis 11:3
They said to one another, "Come on! Let's make bricks and bake them hard." So they had bricks to build with and tar to hold them together.
Genesis 19:6
Lot went outside and closed the door behind him.
Genesis 19:7
He said to them, "Friends, I beg you, don't do such a wicked thing!
Genesis 19:15
At dawn the angels tried to make Lot hurry. "Quick!" they said. "Take your wife and your two daughters and get out, so that you will not lose your lives when the city is destroyed."
Genesis 19:16
Lot hesitated. The Lord , however, had pity on him; so the men took him, his wife, and his two daughters by the hand and led them out of the city.
Genesis 19:31
The older daughter said to her sister, "Our father is getting old, and there are no men in the whole world to marry us so that we can have children.
Genesis 19:33
That night they gave him wine to drink, and the older daughter had intercourse with him. But he was so drunk that he didn't know it.
Mark 12:19
"Teacher, Moses wrote this law for us: ‘If a man dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man's brother must marry the widow so that they can have children who will be considered the dead man's children.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another,.... Not in the church at Ephesus among the disciples, and friends of the apostle, as if they were divided in their sentiments about his going into the theatre, some being for it, and others against it; but the people that were gathered together in the theatre, these were not agreed about the reason of this tumult, some said it was on account of one thing, and some another:

for the assembly was confused; the multitude of people that were gathered together were made up of different persons, of different employments and sentiments, and were in no manner of form or order:

and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together; there was a noise and a hubbub in the city; but what was the reason and meaning of it, they were ignorant of; they were got together into the theatre in great numbers, but what was to be done there they knew not. And this is too often the case in religious assemblies, that the majority, at least many, can give no account of the reason, end, and design of their assembling together.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Some therefore cried one thing ... - This is an admirable description of a mob, assembled for what purpose they knew not; but agitated by passions, and strifes, and tumults.

And the more part knew not ... - The greater part did not know. They had been drawn together by the noise and excitement, and but a small part would know the real cause of the commotion. This is usually the case in tumultuous meetings.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 32. Some - cried one thing, and some another — This is an admirable description of a tumultuous mob, gathered together without law or reason; getting their passions inflamed, and looking for an opportunity to commit outrages, without why or wherefore-principle or object.

For the assembly was confused — Ἡ εκκλησια; The same word which we translate church; and thus we find that it signifies any assembly, good or bad, lawful, or unlawful; and that only the circumstances of the case can determine the precise nature of the assembly to which this word is applied.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile