Acts 19:37

37 adduxistis enim homines istos neque sacrilegos neque blasphemantes deam vestram

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 et cum sedasset scriba turbas dixit viri ephesii quis enim est hominum qui nesciat Ephesiorum civitatem cultricem esse magnae Dianae Iovisque prolis

36 cum ergo his contradici non possit oportet vos sedatos esse et nihil temere agere

37 adduxistis enim homines istos neque sacrilegos neque blasphemantes deam vestram

38 quod si Demetrius et qui cum eo sunt artifices habent adversus aliquem causam conventus forenses aguntur et pro consulibus sunt accusent invicem

39 si quid autem alterius rei quaeritis in legitima ecclesia poterit absolvi