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Thursday, July 10th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

Simplified Cowboy Version

Acts 19:32

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.

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.
Good News Translation
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.
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.

Contextual Overview

21The Holy Spirit then told Paul to head off for Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "That's where I'm headed," Paul said, "and then I'm off to Rome." 22He told his two most trusted cowboys, Timothy and Erastus, to head to Macedonia and he'd join them shortly. 23About this time, tempers began to flare about the cowboys who rode for the Way. 24A blacksmith who made silver idols of the Greek goddess Artemis had hired a bunch of craftsmen and Paul's message had been bad for business. 25The blacksmith got everyone together and said, "Y'all know this is how we make our living. You also know how profitable making these idols are. 26You also know this cowboy named Paul has been taking customers away from us. And he ain't just doing it here in Ephesus, but the whole province of Asia. He convinces folks that man-made idols are worthless. 27If we don't do something, our business is going to dry up and our great Artemis is going get a bad name. Folks will stop worshiping her and we will lose everything." 28Now, this really got 'em riled up. They all began chanting, "Artemis! Artemis! Artemis!" 29The chant spread throughout the city of Ephesus. The chant turned to violence as Paul's buddies from Macedonia, Gaius and Aristarchus, were grabbed and taken to the stadium. 30Paul wanted to go and save them, but the cowboys with him kept him from rushing in there.

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

Mark 12:19
They asked him, "Sir, Moses told us that God said, 'If a man's brother is married and dies, then the brother is to marry his former sister-in-law and have some kids in memory of his dead brother.' But what about this scenario?

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.


 
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