Acts 19:34
What does Acts 19:34 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 19:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 19:34 means
When the crowd perceives Alexander is a Jew, they shout in unison for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” Anti-Jewish sentiment and religious zeal fuse to drown out any speech. To the mob, Jew equals idol-critic, regardless of distinctions. The prolonged chant displays the emptiness of the defense: no evidence, only volume and duration. It starkly contrasts with the word of the Lord that previously grew and prevailed. Here human devotion to a false god exhausts itself in repetition, while true authority will soon come from a calm legal voice that reasserts order without embracing the gospel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But when they saw that he was a Jew, all of them with one voice went on crying out for about two hours, Great is Diana of Ephesus.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and having known that he is a Jew, one voice came out of all, for about two hours, crying, `Great <FI>is<Fi> the Artemis of the Ephesians!'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But as soon as they perceived him to be a Jew, all with one voice, for the space of about two, hours, cried out: Great is Diana of the Ephesians!
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But, recognising that he was a Jew, there was one cry from all, shouting for about two hours, Great [is] Artemis of the Ephesians.
Context
This follows Alexander’s failed attempt to address the assembly and intensifies the sense of uncontrollable fervor. The next verse introduces the townclerk, a key civic official, who finally quiets the crowd and speaks to their identity as temple-keepers, urging restraint. His intervention will shift the scene from chaos to legality, protecting Paul’s companions and diffusing the riot.
v.33And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people.
v.34This passage
v.35And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 16:20
and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
- Revelation 13:4
and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? and who is able to war with him?
- Acts 19:26
And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:
- Acts 19:28
And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
- Romans 2:22
thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?
- 1 Kings 18:26
And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped about the altar which was made.
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