Acts 19:37

37 For you have brought these men here who have neither robbed the temple nor insulted your goddess.

Acts 19:37 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 19:37

For ye have brought hither these men
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.

Acts 19:37 In-Context

35 At last, the city clerk was able to quiet the crowd. "Men of Ephesus!" he said, "Is there anyone who doesn't know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone which fell from the sky?

36 Since this is beyond dispute, you had better calm down and not do anything rash.

37 For you have brought these men here who have neither robbed the temple nor insulted your goddess.

38 So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and the judges are there - let them bring charges and counter-charges.

39 But if there is something more you want, it will have to be settled in a lawful assembly.