And certain of the chief of Asia
Or the Asiarchs; these were not princes of Asia, rulers or
governors of provinces, or cities, or civil magistrates; but
priests who presided over the games and diversions at the
theatre, and had the management and command of things there. Such
an one was Philip the Asiarch, the church of Smyrna makes mention
of in their account of the sufferings and martyrdom of Polycarp
F26, whom the people entreated that he
would send out the lion to Polycarp; that is, out of the theatre
which he had the command of; but he replied he could not do it,
because he had finished the theatrical exercises: from whence it
appears that he was the governor of the theatre, and had his
title of Asiarch from thence, as these men had, wherefore this
word should not be rendered, the "princes of Asia", as by the
Vulgate Latin; nor the "chief of Asia", as by the Syriac and
Arabic versions, and by ours, but rather the "Asian priests". The
Ethiopic version not knowing who should be meant by them, only
reads, "and some of Asia".
Which were his friends;
they had a good opinion of the apostle, and a good liking of his
doctrines, and wished well to his person, and were concerned for
his safety; though they might not have been really converted, and
truly disciples, as those in the preceding verse; for otherwise
one would think they would have relinquished their office and
place. These
sent unto him,
messengers or letters,
desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the
theatre;
they observed to him the danger he would expose himself to, and
entreated he would show a greater regard to his life than to risk
it in such a manner, a life might be so useful to many; and
though they were the governors at the theatre, yet such was the
rage and fury of the mob, that it was not in their power to
restrain them from doing mischief, till such time as they were
appeased.