Acts 19:38
What does Acts 19:38 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 19:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 19:38 means
He continues: if Demetrius and the craftsmen have a complaint, the courts are open and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges. This affirms the rule of law over mob justice. The townclerk provides a lawful outlet for grievances, exposing the riot as unnecessary and dangerous. His counsel protects Christians by channeling hostility into due process, where unfounded charges can be dismissed. It also hints that the opposition’s case is weak; otherwise they would have used these avenues already. Civic order, though not grounded in the gospel, becomes God’s instrument to restrain chaos and safeguard the mission.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If, then, Demetrius and the workmen who are with him have a protest to make against any man, the law is open to them, and there are judges; let them put up a cause at law against one another.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862if indeed, therefore, Demetrius and the artificers with him with any one have a matter, court <FI>days<Fi> are held, and there are proconsuls; let them accuse one another.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But if Demetrius and the craftsmen that are with him have a matter against any man, the courts of justice are open: and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890If therefore Demetrius and the artisans who [are] with him have a matter against any one, the courts are being held, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.
Context
This legal directive follows the declaration of the accused men’s innocence of sacrilege. The next verse extends the principle: other matters should be settled in the regular assembly, shifting the gathering from unlawful to lawful contexts. The speech will then warn of Roman repercussions for rioting, compelling the crowd to recognize their exposure and prompting dismissal.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 13:7
who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
- Deuteronomy 17:8
If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose;
- Acts 18:14
But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
- 1 Corinthians 6:1
Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?
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