SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:37
pues habis traído a estos hombres, sin ser sacrílegos ni blasfemadores de vuestra diosa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 19:37
Verse 37. These men-are neither robbers of churches] iresulouv; Spoilers of sacred places. As his design evidently was to appease and conciliate the people, he fixed first on a most incontrovertible fact: These men have not spoiled your temples; nor is there any evidence that they have even blasphemed your goddess. The apostles acted as prudent men should: they endeavoured to enlighten the minds of the multitude, that the absurdity of their gross errors might be the more apparent; for, when they should know the truth, it was likely that they would at once abandon such gross falsehood.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 37. For ye have brought hither these men , etc.] The Arabic version reads, these two men; that is, Gaius and Aristarchus, whom they had brought by force into the theatre to fight with wild beasts: which are neither robbers of churches ; or temples; or, as the Arabic version renders it, robbers of the vessels of the temple, sacrilegious persons; they have not stolen anything out of the temple of Diana, nor any other: nor yet blasphemers of your goddess ; they have not made mention of her name, much less said anything against her, at least this officer did not know that they had; and if he had, he did not stick to tell an officious lie to screen them, as did the Egyptian midwives in favour of the Hebrew women.
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 __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ηγαγετε 71 5627 V-2AAI-2P γαρ 1063 CONJ τους 3588 T-APM ανδρας 435 N-APM τουτους 5128 D-APM ουτε 3777 CONJ ιεροσυλους 2417 A-APM ουτε 3777 CONJ βλασφημουντας 987 5723 V-PAP-APM την 3588 T-ASF θεαν 2299 N-ASF υμων 5216 P-2GP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
37. Robbers of churches (ierosulouv). The A.V. puts a droll anachronism into the mouth of the town-clerk of a Greek city. Render, rather, as Rev., robbers of temples.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
19:37 {Neither robbers of temples} (oute hierosulous). Common word in Greek writers from hieron, temple, and sulaw, to rob, be guilty of sacrilege. The word is found also on inscriptions in Ephesus. The Jews were sometimes guilty of this crime (#Ro 2:22), since the heathen temples often had vast treasures like banks. The ancients felt as strongly about temple-robbing as westerners used to feel about a horse-thief. {Nor blasphemers of our goddess} (oute blasfemountas ten qeon hemwn). Nor those who blasphemed our goddess. That is to say, these men (Gaius and Aristarchus) as Christians had so conducted themselves (#Col 4:5) that no charge could be placed against them either in act (temple-robbery) or word (blasphemy). They had done a rash thing since these men are innocent. Paul had used tact in Ephesus as in Athens in avoiding illegalities.
