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King James Bible - Acts 19:38

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SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:38

Que si Demetrio y los oficiales que est�n con �l tienen negocio con alguno, audiencias se hacen, y proc�nsules hay; ac�sense los unos a los otros.

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Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 19:38

Verse 38. If Demetrius-have a matter against any man] If it be any breach of law, in reference to Demetrius and the artists, the law is open, agoraioi agontai; these are the terms of law, public courts, times of sessions or assize; or, rather, the judges are mow sitting: so the words may be understood. And there are deputies, anqupatoi, proconsuls, appointed to guard the peace of the state, and to support every honest man in his right: let them implead one another; let the one party bring forward his action of assault or trespass, and the other put in his defense: the laws are equal and impartial, and justice will be done to him who is wronged.

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John Gill's Bible Commentary

Ver. 38. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him , etc.] Who were the ringleaders and encouragers of this tumult: have a matter against any man ; any accusation, or charge, any crime to accuse him of, and charge him with: the law is open ; or court days are kept; there are certain times fixed for the hearing and trying of causes, where and when such an affair should be regularly brought; and not use such disorderly methods, and throw a city into confusion, and break the peace as these men had done: the Syriac version renders it, �they are artificers�; that is, Demetrius and the craftsmen with him; they are tradesmen, and it does not belong to them, nor should they take upon themselves to judge and determine what is right or wrong: and there are deputies ; or �proconsuls�; the proconsul and his deputy, to whom such matters appertain, and who are judges in such cases, and to whom application should be made, and before whom such cases should be brought, and heard, and tried: the Syriac version reads in the singular number, �and there is a proconsul in the city�; a Roman governor and judge, whose province it is to determine such matters: let them implead one another ; let the plaintiff bring his accusation, and charge, and let the others defend themselves, and let things proceed in a due course of law, and so issue.

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Matthew Henry Commentary

Verses 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 afrai of being taken for them, shall have their doom accordingly in the grea 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 alway to keep our passions under check. We ought to be quiet, and to d nothing rashly; to do nothing in haste, of which we may repent a leisure. The regular methods of the law ought always to stop popula tumults, and in well-governed nations will do so. Most people stand i 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 an earth! And see how the overruling providence of God keeps the publi 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 eac other. We can scarcely look around but we see men act like Demetriu and the workmen. It is as safe to contend with wild beasts as with me 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 __________________________________________________________________

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Greek Textus Receptus

ει 1487 COND μεν 3303 PRT ουν 3767 CONJ δημητριος 1216 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM συν 4862 PREP αυτω 846 P-DSM τεχνιται 5079 N-NPM προς 4314 PREP τινα 5100 X-ASM λογον 3056 N-ASM εχουσιν 2192 5719 V-PAI-3P αγοραιοι 60 A-NPM αγονται 71 5743 V-PPI-3P και 2532 CONJ ανθυπατοι 446 N-NPM εισιν 1526 5748 V-PXI-3P εγκαλειτωσαν 1458 5720 V-PAM-3P αλληλοις 240 C-DPM

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Vincent's NT Word Studies

38. The law is open (agoraioi agontai) Lit., the court-days are being kept. Rev., the courts are open. Compare ch. xvii. 5.

Deputies (anqupatoi) Proconsuls, by whom Asia, as a senatorial province, was governed. See Introduction to Luke.

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Robertson's NT Word Studies

19:38 {Have a matter against any one} (ecousin pros tina logon). For this use of ecw logon with pros see #Mt 5:32; Col 3:13. The town-clerk names Demetrius and the craftsmen (tecnitai) as the parties responsible for the riot. {The courts are open} (agoraioi agontai). Supply hemerai (days), court days are kept, or sunodoi, court-meetings are now going on, Vulgate _conventus forenses aguntur_. Old adjective from agora (forum) marketplace where trials were held. Cf. #Ac 17:4. There were regular court days whether they were in session qen or not. {And there are proconsuls} (kai anqupatoi eisin). Asia was a senatorial province and so had proconsuls (general phrase) though only one at a time, "a rhetorical plural" (Lightfoot). Page quotes from an inscription of the age of Trajan on an aqueduct at Ephesus in which some of Luke's very words occur (newkoros, anqupatos, grammateus, demos). {Let them accuse one another} (egkaleitwsan allelois). Present active imperative of egkalew (en, kalew), old verb to call in one's case, to bring a charge against, with the dative. Luke uses the verb six times in Acts for judicial proceedings (#19:38,40; 23:28,29; 26:2,7). The town-clerk makes a definite appeal to the mob for orderly legal procedure as opposed to mob violence in a matter where money and religious prejudice unite, a striking rebuke to so-called lynch-law proceedings in lands today where Christianity is supposed to prevail.