Acts 19:36

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(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 Acts 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.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

19:32-41 The Jews came forward in this tumult. Those who are thus careful to distinguish themselves from the servants of Christ now, and are afraid of being taken for them, shall have their doom accordingly in the great day. One, having authority, at length stilled the noise. It is a very good rule at all times, both in private and public affairs, not to be hasty and rash in our motions, but to take time to consider; and always to keep our passions under check. We ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly; to do nothing in haste, of which we may repent at leisure. The regular methods of the law ought always to stop popular tumults, and in well-governed nations will do so. Most people stand in awe of men's judgments more than of the judgement of God. How well it were if we would thus quiet our disorderly appetites and passions, by considering the account we must shortly give to the Judge of heaven and earth! And see how the overruling providence of God keeps the public peace, by an unaccountable power over the spirits of men. Thus the world is kept in some order, and men are held back from devouring each other. We can scarcely look around but we see men act like Demetrius and the workmen. It is as safe to contend with wild beasts as with men enraged by party zeal and disappointed covetousness, who think that all arguments are answered, when they have shown that they grow rich by the practices which are opposed. Whatever side in religious disputes, or whatever name this spirit assumes, it is worldly, and should be discountenanced by all who regard truth and piety. And let us not be dismayed; the Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters; he can still the rage of the people.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 . Acts 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.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

36. Seeing that these things cannot be spoken against, &c.—Like a true legal man, he urges that such was notoriously the constitution and fixed character of the city, with which its very existence was all but bound up. Did they suppose that all this was going to be overturned by a set of itinerant orators? Ridiculous! What did they mean, then, by raising such a stir?

Matthew Poole's Commentary

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.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire 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.

Geneva Study Bible

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 19:36. ἀναντιῤῥήτων: only here in N.T., but the adverb in Acts 10:29, not in LXX but Symm., Job 11:2; Job 33:13; Polyb., xxiii., 8, 11; on spelling see critical note.—δέον ἐστὶν, 1 Peter 1:6 (1 Timothy 5:13), cf. Ecclus., Prol., Acts 19:3-4, 1Ma 12:11, 2Ma 11:18, also in classical Greek.—προπετὲς: only in Luke and Paul in N.T., 2 Timothy 3:4, of thoughtless haste (Meyer—Weiss); in LXX of rash talk, cf. Proverbs 10:14; Proverbs 13:3, Sir 9:18, Symm., Ecclesiastes 5:1, Clem. Rom., Cor[332], i. 1, of persons.—κατεσταλμένους, see also on Acts 19:35; only in these two verses in N.T.

[332] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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 Acts 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.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 19:36. Ὑπάρχειν, 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.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 36. - Gainsaid for spoken against, A.V.; rash for rashly, A.V. (προπετῶς is the adverb), quiet (κατεσταλμένους: see above, ver. 35, note). Acts 19:36

Vincent's Word Studies

Quiet (κατεσταλμένους)

Compare quieted (Acts 19:35). The verb means to let down or lower; and so is applied, metaphorically, to keeping one's self in check; repressing.

Rash (προπετὲς)

Lit., headlong.