Acts 19:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The people began to stir. All hurried to the public square where they usually assembled. Many shouted without themselves knowing what the matter was. Two of Paul's companions were seized.

The Greek people, who formed the main population of the city, generally cherished hatred toward the Jews living there as enemies of the gods. At a slight offense, popular hatred could easily flare into a riot, from which the Jews might suffer much.

In the present case, many still did not know the exact cause of the popular indignation. The Jews only heard that the people were agitated because of an insult inflicted by enemies of the gods. They at once referred the cause of this indignation to themselves.

A man named Alexander appeared, intending to give the people explanations and, if necessary, to lay the blame on the Christians. But the appearance of such a man, who himself belonged among the enemies of the popular religion, produced only stronger irritation. The shouting increased still more.

It seems, however, that only the rabble harbored these hostile dispositions toward the Apostle. The city authorities knew Paul's manner of life and activity during almost three years in Ephesus. This could not but give them a favorable judgment of Paul.

Some of the city rulers, who in that year administered religious affairs in Asia Minor, the Άσιάρχαι, and had supervision over the public games, even showed concern for his fate. They begged him not to appear before the people during this disturbance.

At last the city clerk succeeded in calming the turbulent crowd. He explained that satisfaction must be sought by lawful order. He said that it was impossible for anyone to rise against the great goddess of Ephesus, and that responsibility for the disturbance might be feared.

"Truly, their mind is childish. As though fearing that their piety might be exhausted, they shout without ceasing. Paul stayed there two years, and see how many pagans still remained. Do you see how God permits temptations, so that by them He may stir up His disciples and make them firmer?

Therefore let us not lose heart during temptations, for He Himself will also provide relief, that we may be able to bear them. Nothing so helps love and communion as affliction."

Here also this manifestation of love for Paul took place, shown by his disciples and even by outsiders, especially by officials who knew the crowd and its unrestrained ways well.

As for the refusal to let the Jew Alexander speak, it is explained as follows. It is known that even much later Christians were identified with Jews. Very possibly, many participants in the riot did not know well against whom it was directed.

They heard only the constant cries, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" These showed that the riot had a religious basis, and they began to threaten the Jews.

The latter wished, on the one hand, to protect themselves from danger. They wanted to show that they had no solidarity with the new sect or with this Paul, whom they had persecuted so unsuccessfully yet bitterly throughout his stay in Ephesus.

On the other hand, they wanted to inflame the rioters' hatred against the Christians still more. Therefore they turned to Alexander, who was known among them, so that he might appear before the crowd and become their defender.

This Alexander is probably identical with the Alexander mentioned by the Apostle in the Second Epistle to Timothy (see 2 Tim 4:14). The Apostle says that he did him much harm. Evidently he was the fiercest defender of the Jews and opponent of Christians, especially of Paul.

Alexander appeared. But when the enraged crowd recognized in him the familiar and hated face of a Jew, the speaker's raised hand had to fall. The vast theater was again filled with the thousand-voiced cry, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

Clearly, with this violent and motley crowd, Demetrius could not attain any definite goal.