Acts 19:32-41 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused… When the tumult had gone on for about two hours down comes the town clerk. At the appearance of a well-known Roman official order is quickly restored, just as we have seen a crowd in the streets of London, assembled to witness a fight, quietly disperse on the appearance of one policeman, whilst the two excited combatants saunter off calmly in the opposite direction with their hands in their pockets. This sudden quieting of the city was a great tribute to the genius of Rome for good government. The Roman officials, indeed, usually appear to advantage in the New Testament, especially in the Acts. Gallio knew his business at Corinth, and the town clerk knew his business at Ephesus. His speech was brief and admirable — quite as good as Gallio's, in its way, and to the point. He said in effect — "Good people, what is this noise about? 'Great is Diana!' We all know Diana is great. If a wretched, wandering Jew, half off his head, comes here and says otherwise, what can it matter? Every one in this assembly is aware that the famous image we adore came straight down from Jupiter. Nobody doubts that, so there's an end of the matter. You are not so simple as to suppose that our temple, celebrated throughout the world, can be in any danger from the windy chatter of this half-blind Paulus and his crew? Then, after all, poor deluded troublesome creatures as we know all the Jews are, yet these particular ones have committed no robbery. (Cries of 'Demetrius and all of us are being robbed. Here's the month of May, the place is full of visitors, the temple festival at its height, and we can't sell our shrines; there's a lot of dead stock on hand.') Well, well, if Demetrius and his friends have any grievance, the law is open; let him get his solicitor to prepare his case; both sides will then be heard, and you know that in a Roman law court justice will be done. I'll see to that. But this is not the way to get your rights. Go home quietly, and your business shall be attended to 'in a lawful manner.' Remember, an uproar like this is a serious matter. You have special privileges, and you are in danger of forfeiting them by your unseemly behaviour. You are not under martial law with a propraetor and a legion to rule you, but you are a senatorial province, with a proconsul, and your humble servant in office, who is likely to be 'called to account' for this disturbance, and in what a ridiculous, if not criminal light will Demetrius and his followers have to appear then! I fear they, and not Paulus and Alexander, will have to stand as prisoners in the dock." And beneath this mixture of flattery, irony, and menace, the excited crowd melted away. (H. R. Haweis, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. |
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