Acts 19:23

THE MESSAGE

But before he got away, a huge ruckus occurred over what was now being referred to as "the Way." A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business. He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, "Men, you well know that we have a good thing going here—and you've seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we're doing by telling people that there's no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of people are going along with him, not only here in Ephesus but all through Asia province.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
About that time there was a major disturbance about the Way.

King James Version (1611)
And the same time there arose no small stirre about that way.

King James Version
And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

English Standard Version
About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way.

New American Standard Bible
About that time a major disturbance occurred in regard to the Way.

New Century Version
And during that time, there was some serious trouble in Ephesus about the Way of Jesus.

Amplified Bible
About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way (Jesus, Christianity).

New American Standard Bible (1995)
About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now about that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way.

Berean Standard Bible
About that time a great disturbance arose about the Way.

Contemporary English Version
At that time there was serious trouble because of the Lord's Way.

Complete Jewish Bible
It was at this time that a major furor arose concerning the Way.

Darby Translation
And there took place at that time no small disturbance about the way.

Easy-to-Read Version
But during that time there was some trouble in Ephesus about the Way. This is how it all happened:

Geneva Bible (1587)
And the same time there arose no small trouble about that way.

George Lamsa Translation
And at that time there was a great uprising against those who followed in the way of God.

Good News Translation
It was at this time that there was serious trouble in Ephesus because of the Way of the Lord.

Lexham English Bible
Now there happened at that time no little disturbance concerning the Way.

Literal Translation
And about that time there was no little disturbance about the Way.

American Standard Version
And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

Bible in Basic English
And about that time a great outcry took place about the Way.

Hebrew Names Version
About that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

International Standard Version
Now just about that time a great commotion broke out concerning the Way.Acts 9:2; 2 Corinthians 1:8;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
BUT there was made at that time a great tumult on account of the way of Aloha.

Murdock Translation
And at that time there was great commotion respecting the way of God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the same time there arose no litle a do about that way.

English Revised Version
And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

World English Bible
About that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And about that time, there arose no small tumult concerning the way.

Weymouth's New Testament
Now just at that time there arose no small commotion about the new faith.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And a greet troubling was maad in that dai, of the weie of the Lord.

Update Bible Version
And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

New English Translation
At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the Way.

New King James Version
And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.

New Living Translation
About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way.

New Life Bible
During that time there was much trouble about the Christians.

New Revised Standard
About that time no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And there arose during that season no small disturbance concerning the Way.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now at that time there arose no small disturbance about the way of the Lord.

Revised Standard Version
About that time there arose no little stir concerning the Way.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The same tyme ther arose no lytell a do aboute that waye.

Young's Literal Translation
And there came, at that time, not a little stir about the way,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
At the same tyme there rose no litle a doo aboute that waye.

Mace New Testament (1729)
It was then a tumult happen'd at Ephesus upon account of the christian sect.

Simplified Cowboy Version
About this time, tempers began to flare about the cowboys who rode for the Way.

Contextual Overview

²¹After all this had come to a head, Paul decided it was time to move on to Macedonia and Achaia provinces, and from there to Jerusalem. "Then," he said, "I'm off to Rome. I've got to see Rome!" He sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, on to Macedonia and then stayed for a while and wrapped things up in Asia. ²³But before he got away, a huge ruckus occurred over what was now being referred to as "the Way." A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business. He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, "Men, you well know that we have a good thing going here—and you've seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we're doing by telling people that there's no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of people are going along with him, not only here in Ephesus but all through Asia province. ²⁷ "Not only is our little business in danger of falling apart, but the temple of our famous goddess Artemis will certainly end up a pile of rubble as her glorious reputation fades to nothing. And this is no mere local matter—the whole world worships our Artemis!" ²⁸That set them off in a frenzy. They ran into the street yelling, "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" They put the whole city in an uproar, stampeding into the stadium, and grabbing two of Paul's associates on the way, the Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the disciples wouldn't let him. Prominent religious leaders in the city who had become friendly to Paul concurred: "By no means go near that mob!" ³²Some 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. ³⁵Finally, the town clerk got the mob quieted down and said, "Fellow citizens, is there anyone anywhere who doesn't know that our dear city Ephesus is protector of glorious Artemis and her sacred stone image that fell straight out of heaven? Since this is beyond contradiction, you had better get hold of yourselves. This is conduct unworthy of Artemis. These men you've dragged in here have done nothing to harm either our temple or our goddess. ³⁸"So if Demetrius and his guild of artisans have a complaint, they can take it to court and make all the accusations they want. If anything else is bothering you, bring it to the regularly scheduled town meeting and let it be settled there. There is no excuse for what's happened today. We're putting our city in serious danger. Rome, remember, does not look kindly on rioters." With that, he sent them home.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

there: 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, 2 Corinthians 6:9

that: Acts 19:9, Acts 9:2, Acts 18:26, Acts 22:4, Acts 24:14, Acts 24:22

Reciprocal: Amos 8:14 - manner Matthew 22:34 - they Matthew 27:20 - persuaded Acts 4:2 - grieved Acts 12:18 - there Acts 18:25 - instructed Acts 20:1 - after 1 Corinthians 15:32 - Ephesus 2 Corinthians 6:5 - in tumults 2 Corinthians 11:26 - in perils by the

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. The Syriac version reads, "the way of God"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "the way of the Lord": that is, the Christian religion, and the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel, which the saints were directed to walk in; and the Ethiopic version renders it, "about this doctrine"; which mightily grew and prevailed, and which such numbers embraced; and how great the stir was about it, and from whence it arose, who began it, and what were the consequences of it, are hereafter related.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

No small stir - No little excitement, disturbance, or tumult τάραχος tarachos. Compare Acts 17:4-5. “About that way.” Respecting the doctrines of Christianity which Paul preached. See the notes on Acts 9:2; Acts 18:26; Acts 19:9.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 19:23. No small stir about that way. — Concerning the Gospel, which the apostles preached; and which is termed this way, Acts 9:2, where see the note.