Acts 19:37

37 for ye have brought these men, neither sacrilegers, neither blaspheming 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 And when the scribe, that is, a town clerk, had ceased the people, he said, Men of Ephesus, what man is he, that knoweth not, that the city of Ephesians is the worshipper of the great Diana, and of the child of Jupiter?

36 Therefore when it may not be gainsaid to these things, it behooveth you to be ceased [Therefore when it may not be against-said to these things, it behooveth you to be ceased, or assuaged], and to do nothing follily;

37 for ye have brought these men, neither sacrilegers, neither blaspheming your goddess.

38 That if Demetrius, and the workmen that be with him, have cause against any man, there be courts, and dooms, and judges; accuse they each other. [That if Demetrius, and the workmen that be with him, have cause against any man, coming together of dooms be done, and proconsuls, or justices, be; accuse they them together.]

39 If ye seek aught of any other thing, it may be absolved in the lawful church. [If ye seek aught of any other thing, it may be assoiled in the lawful church.]