Acts 19:39

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But if you seek anything further, it must be decided in a legal assembly.

King James Version (1611)
But if yee enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shalbe determined in a lawfull assembly.

King James Version
But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

English Standard Version
But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

New American Standard Bible
"But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.

New Century Version
If there is something else you want to talk about, it can be decided at the regular town meeting of the people.

Amplified Bible
"But if you want anything beyond this, it will be settled in the lawful assembly.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful meeting.

Berean Standard Bible
But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly.

Contemporary English Version
But if you want to do more than that, the matter will have to be brought before the city council.

Complete Jewish Bible
But if there is something more you want, it will have to be settled in a lawful assembly.

Darby Translation
But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.

Easy-to-Read Version
"Is there something else you want to talk about? Then come to the regular town meeting of the people. It can be decided there.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But if ye inquire any thing cocerning other matters, it may be determined in a lawful assembly.

George Lamsa Translation
But if you want something else, it must be determined in a lawful assembly.

Good News Translation
But if there is something more that you want, it will have to be settled in a legal meeting of citizens.

Lexham English Bible
But if you desire anything further, it will be settled in the lawful assembly.

Literal Translation
But if you seek concerning other things, it will be settled in a lawful assembly.

American Standard Version
But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

Bible in Basic English
But if any other business is in question, let it be taken up in the regular meeting.

Hebrew Names Version
But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.

International Standard Version
But if you want anything else, it must be settled in the regular assembly.

Etheridge Translation
And if you require other (procedure), in the place which is given by the law for an assembly it shall be resolved.

Murdock Translation
Or if you desire any other thing, it may be determined in the place assigned by law for an assembly.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But yf ye inquire any thyng concernyng other matters, it shalbe determined in a lawfull assemblie.

English Revised Version
But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

World English Bible
But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

Weymouth's New Testament
But if you desire anything further, it will have to be settled in the regular assembly.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If ye seken ouyt of ony othir thing, it may be assoylid in the lawful chirche.

Update Bible Version
But if you seek after something more, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

New English Translation
But if you want anything in addition, it will have to be settled in a legal assembly.

New King James Version
But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.

New Living Translation
And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly.

New Life Bible
If you want anything else, it should be done in another meeting.

New Revised Standard
If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, if after, something further, ye are seeking, in the regular assembly shall it be settled.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And if you inquire after any other matter, it may be decided in a lawful assembly.

Revised Standard Version
But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Yf ye goo about eny other thinge it maye be determined in a lawfull cogregacion

Young's Literal Translation
`And if ye seek after anything concerning other matters, in the legal assembly it shall be determined;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But yf ye wil go aboute eny other thinge, it maye be determyned in a laufull congregacion.

Mace New Testament (1729)
but if the contest be about other matters, it may be decided in a regular assembly.

Simplified Cowboy Version
If there are other matters as well, let us handle them like adults.

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

lawful: or, ordinary, Acts 19:39

Gill's Notes on the 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 - ἐκκλησία ekklēsia. 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 ἐκκλησία ekklēsia of the faithful,” is made up of those who are called out from the world.

Clarke's 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, εν τη εννομῳ εκκλησιᾳ, one legally constituted, and properly authorized to hear and determine on the subject.