Acts 19:28-29

Acts 19:28-29

[28] And  when they heard  these sayings, they were  full  of wrath,  and  cried out,  saying,  Great  is Diana  of the Ephesians.  [29] And  city  was filled  with confusion:  and  having caught  Gaius  and  Aristarchus,  men of Macedonia,  Paul's  companions in travel,  they rushed  with one accord  into  the theatre. 

What does Acts 19:28-29 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The temple of Artemis was a source of civic pride to the Ephesians. In view of Ephesus" commercial decline, it is easy to see how the silversmiths" protest could have so quickly aroused popular opposition to the Christian missionaries. This was a case of mob violence; many of the protesters did not understand what the issue was. A major boulevard, the Arcadian Way, ran from the harbor to the theater, and it was probably this artery that the ringleaders used to collect citizens on their march to the theater.
Archaeologists have restored part of the Arcadian Way and the theater at Ephesus. This theater lay on the side of Mt. Pion in the town and seated25 ,000 people in66 rows. Its semi-circular design was typical of Roman outdoor theaters.
Gaius was a common Greek name. This Gaius seems to have been different from the men with the same name mentioned in Acts 20:4, Romans 16:23, and 1 Corinthians 1:14, since this one was a Macedonian. Some Greek manuscripts, however, indicate that it was only Aristarchus who was a Macedonian, in which case this Gaius may have been the resident of Derbe mentioned in Acts 20:4. Aristarchus does appear later in Acts (cf. Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2). He came from Thessalonica.