New International VersionYou have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess.
New Living TranslationYou have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.
English Standard VersionFor you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Berean Standard BibleFor you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed our goddess.
Berean Literal BibleFor you brought these men, neither temple plunderers nor blaspheming our goddess.
King James BibleFor ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
New King James VersionFor you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
New American Standard BibleFor you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
NASB 1995“For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
NASB 1977“For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Legacy Standard BibleFor you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Amplified BibleFor you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Christian Standard BibleFor you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess.
Holman Christian Standard BibleFor you have brought these men here who are not temple robbers or blasphemers of our goddess.
American Standard VersionFor ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Contemporary English VersionYou have brought men in here who have not robbed temples or spoken against our goddess.
English Revised VersionFor ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe men you brought here don't rob temples or insult our goddess.
Good News TranslationYou have brought these men here even though they have not robbed temples or said evil things about our goddess.
International Standard VersionFor you have brought these men here, although they neither rob temples nor blaspheme our goddess.
NET BibleFor you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
New Heart English BibleFor you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Webster's Bible TranslationFor ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
Weymouth New TestamentFor you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor you have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed our temple nor blasphemed your goddess.
World English BibleFor you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor you brought these men, who are neither temple-robbers nor slandering of your goddess;
Berean Literal BibleFor you brought these men, neither temple plunderers nor blaspheming our goddess.
Young's Literal Translation 'For ye brought these men, who are neither temple-robbers nor speaking evil of your goddess;
Smith's Literal TranslationFor ye brought these men not sacrilegious, nor blaspheming your goddess. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor you have brought hither these men, who are neither guilty of sacrilege, nor of blasphemy against your goddess.
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor you have brought forward these men, who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers against your goddess.
New American BibleThe men you brought here are not temple robbers, nor have they insulted our goddess.
New Revised Standard VersionYou have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor you have brought these men here who have neither robbed temples nor have they reviled our goddess.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English“For you have brought these men although they have not robbed temples neither have reviled our goddess.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples, nor revilers of your goddess.
Godbey New TestamentFor you have led in these men, who are neither robbers of temples, nor are they blaspheming your goddess.
Haweis New TestamentFor ye have brought hither these men, neither robbers of the temple, nor blasphemers of your goddess.
Mace New Testamentfor the men you have brought here, have neither plunder'd your temples, nor inveigh'd against your goddess.
Weymouth New TestamentFor you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Worrell New TestamentFor ye brought hither these men, who are neither temple-robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Worsley New TestamentFor ye have brought these men hither, who are neither robbers of temples, nor blasphemers of your goddess.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Riot in Ephesus… 36Since these things are undeniable, you ought to be calm and not do anything rash. 37Foryou have broughtthesemen here,though they have neitherrobbed our templenorblasphemedourgoddess.38So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there.…
Cross References Exodus 20:4You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.
Isaiah 44:9-20All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame. / Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing? / Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame. ...
Jeremiah 10:3-5For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman. / They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter. / Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”
1 Corinthians 8:4-6So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. / For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), / yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.
1 Corinthians 10:19-20Am I suggesting, then, that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? / No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
1 Thessalonians 1:9For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
Deuteronomy 4:28And there you will serve man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.
Psalm 115:4-8Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; ...
Psalm 135:15-18The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. / They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; / they have ears, but cannot hear; nor is there breath in their mouths. ...
Isaiah 46:6-7They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship. / They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
Jeremiah 16:20Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!”
1 Kings 18:26-29And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. / At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!” / So they shouted louder and cut themselves with knives and lances, as was their custom, until the blood gushed over them. ...
2 Kings 19:18They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.
Daniel 5:23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.
Habakkuk 2:18-19What use is an idol, that a craftsman should carve it—or an image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. / Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”
Treasury of Scripture For you have brought here these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. which. Acts 25:8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. 1 Corinthians 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: Jump to Previous BlasphemedBlasphemersChurchesDamageEvilGoddessHitherHolyInjuriouslyRobbedRobbersrsSpeakSpeakingTalkingTemplesJump to Next BlasphemedBlasphemersChurchesDamageEvilGoddessHitherHolyInjuriouslyRobbedRobbersrsSpeakSpeakingTalkingTemplesActs 19 1.The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands.8.The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles.13.The Jewish exorcists,16.are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit.19.Conjuring books are burnt.21.Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;35.which is appeased by the town clerk.For you have brought these men hereThis phrase is part of a speech by the city clerk of Ephesus, addressing a crowd that had gathered in an uproar against Paul and his companions. The men referred to are likely Gaius and Aristarchus, who were seized by the mob. The city clerk's role was to maintain order and ensure that the city did not fall into disfavor with Roman authorities. Ephesus was a major city in the Roman province of Asia, known for its temple to Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The clerk's statement highlights the legal and civic responsibilities of the time, emphasizing the importance of due process and the potential consequences of mob action. though they have neither robbed our temple
The temple of Artemis in Ephesus was not only a religious center but also a significant economic hub, attracting pilgrims and tourists. The accusation of temple robbery would have been a serious charge, as temples often served as treasuries and banks. The clerk's assertion that Paul and his companions had not committed such an act underscores their innocence in terms of any direct offense against the temple's sanctity or economic interests. This reflects the broader theme in Acts of the apostles being falsely accused or misunderstood, similar to accusations faced by Jesus (e.g.,Mark 14:58). nor blasphemed our goddess
Artemis was a central figure in Ephesian culture and religion, and blasphemy against her would have been considered a grave offense. The clerk's statement suggests that Paul and his companions had not directly spoken against Artemis, which aligns with Paul's general approach of preaching the gospel without directly attacking local deities. This approach is consistent with Paul's strategy in other cities, where he focused on proclaiming Christ rather than denouncing local gods (e.g.,Acts 17:22-23 in Athens). The emphasis on not blaspheming highlights the early Christian effort to distinguish their message from direct cultural or religious confrontation, focusing instead on the transformative power of the gospel. Persons / Places / Events 1. PaulAn apostle spreading the Gospel in Ephesus, whose teachings were causing a significant cultural and economic stir. 2. DemetriusA silversmith in Ephesus who incited a riot against Paul and his companions because their teachings threatened his trade of making silver shrines of Artemis. 3. EphesusA major city in Asia Minor, known for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 4. ArtemisThe goddess worshiped in Ephesus, central to the city's identity and economy. 5. Town ClerkA city official who calmed the riotous crowd by pointing out that Paul and his companions had not committed sacrilege or blasphemy against Artemis. Teaching Points Respectful EngagementPaul and his companions were not blasphemers, demonstrating the importance of engaging with differing beliefs respectfully and without slander. Cultural SensitivityUnderstanding the cultural and economic implications of the Gospel message is crucial in ministry, as seen in the impact on the Ephesian economy. Legal and Peaceful DefenseThe town clerk's defense of Paul highlights the importance of legal and peaceful means in resolving conflicts. Integrity in WitnessThe accusation that Paul and his companions were neither robbers nor blasphemers underscores the importance of maintaining integrity in our Christian witness. God's Sovereignty Over IdolsThe passage reminds us of God's sovereignty over all creation, including man-made idols, encouraging believers to trust in God's ultimate authority. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Acts 19:37?
2.How does Acts 19:37 demonstrate God's protection over His faithful servants?
3.What can we learn about defending our faith from Acts 19:37?
4.How does Acts 19:37 connect to Exodus 20:4 about idolatry?
5.How should Acts 19:37 influence our response to false accusations today?
6.In what ways can Acts 19:37 encourage us to trust God's justice?
7.What does Acts 19:37 reveal about early Christian interactions with pagan religions?
8.How does Acts 19:37 support the integrity of Christian evangelism in Ephesus?
9.Why were the Christians in Acts 19:37 not accused of temple robbery?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Acts 19?
11.Who is the Greek goddess Artemis?
12.What miracles are described in the Bible?
13.Why does Paul say women should not have authority over men (1 Timothy 2:12)?
14.Who was Demetrius in the Bible?What Does Acts 19:37 Mean For you have brought these men hereThe city clerk speaks these words to the frenzied crowd in Ephesus (Acts 19:35-41). • He reminds them that they, not the accused Christians, assembled the mob. • Moments earlier, craftsmen led by Demetrius stirred up fear that the gospel threatened their livelihood (Acts 19:24-29). • By pointing out who initiated the uproar, the clerk subtly warns the crowd that they, not the believers, could face Roman penalties for unlawful assembly (Acts 19:38-40). • Similar scenes show opposition forming without real cause—seeActs 17:5-9 in Thessalonica.
though they have neither robbed our templeThe charge of sacrilege is dismissed outright. • Paul’s companions, Gaius and Aristarchus (Acts 19:29), never laid hands on the sacred treasury or images. • Scripture consistently showcases believers respecting property, even when confronting idolatry—Paul later testifies, “They found me… neither in the temple nor in the synagogues nor anywhere in the city stirring up a crowd” (Acts 24:12-13). • The seventh commandment protects property (Exodus 20:15), and the early church walked in integrity, persuading by truth rather than force (1 Peter 2:12).
nor blasphemed our goddessThe accusation of verbal insult is also rejected. • Paul’s method was to proclaim Christ rather than rail against idols. In Athens he begins, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious” before moving to the resurrection (Acts 17:22-31). • He preached “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2), trusting the Spirit to convict. • While the gospel exposes false gods (1 Thessalonians 1:9), believers are still to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). • The clerk’s observation underscores that Christian witness can be bold yet respectful, “becoming all things to all people” so that some might be saved (1 Corinthians 9:22).
summaryActs 19:37 shows that even a pagan official could see the innocence and integrity of Paul’s co-workers. They neither looted Artemis’s temple nor mocked her name; instead, they proclaimed Christ with respect and honesty. The verse encourages believers to share the gospel confidently, without resorting to physical force or insulting rhetoric, trusting God to vindicate His servants and open hearts to the truth. (37) These men, which are neither robbers of churches.--Better, robbers of temples. It was not unusual for the writers of the Elizabethan age to apply the term, which we confine to Christian buildings, to heathen temples. They would speak, e.g.,of the "church" of Diana, or the "chapel" of Apollo. The corresponding noun for "robbing temples," or "sacrilege," is found in inscriptions discovered by Mr. Wood (vi. 1, p. 14) among the ruins of the Temple, as denoting a crime to which the severest penalties were attached. The testimony to the general character of St. Paul and his companions, as shown both in word and deed, indicates the quietness and calmness with which they had preached the truth. They persuaded, but they did not ridicule or revile. This was, probably, more than could be said for Alexander and the Jews who put him forward. (See Note on Acts 19:33.) Verse 37.- Temples for churches, A.V.; ,or for nor yet, A.V.; our for your, A.V. Ye have brought, etc. Ἄγειν is especially used of "bringing before a magistrate," "leading to execution," etc. ( Luke 21:12; Luke 23:1; Acts 6:12; Acts 17:19; Acts 18:12; Mark 13:11). Robbers of temples; ἱερόσυλοι found only here in the New Testament. The verb ἱεροσυλεῖν occurs in Romans 2:22. Blasphemers of our goddess. If the A.V. is right, perhaps we may see in the phrase "your goddess" an indication that the town-clerk himself was more or less persuaded by St. Paul's preaching, that "they are no gods which are made with hands," and did not care to speak of Diana as his own goddess. It appears also that St. Paul had not launched out into abuse of the heathen gods in general, or Diana in particular, but had preached the more excellent way by faith in Jesus Christ, to draw them from their idols ( 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Forγὰρ(gar)Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.you have broughtἠγάγετε(ēgagete)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 71:A primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, go, pass, or induce.theseτούτους(toutous)Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.men {here},ἄνδρας(andras)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 435:A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.[though they have] neitherοὔτε(oute)Conjunction
Strong's 3777:And not, neither, nor. From ou and te; not too, i.e. Neither or nor; by analogy, not even.robbed [our] templeἱεροσύλους(hierosylous)Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2417:Robbing temples, but possibly simply: sacrilegious. From hieron and sulao; a temple-despoiler.norοὔτε(oute)Conjunction
Strong's 3777:And not, neither, nor. From ou and te; not too, i.e. Neither or nor; by analogy, not even.blasphemedβλασφημοῦντας(blasphēmountas)Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 987:From blasphemos; to vilify; specially, to speak impiously.ourἡμῶν(hēmōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473:I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.goddess.θεὸν(theon)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
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NT Apostles: Acts 19:37 For you have brought these men here (Acts of the Apostles Ac) |
