The Meaning of Acts 19:29 Explained

Acts 19:29

KJV: And the whole 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.

YLT: and the whole city was filled with confusion, they rushed also with one accord into the theatre, having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul's fellow-travellers.

Darby: And the whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord to the theatre, having seized and carried off with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow-travellers of Paul.

ASV: And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the whole  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 19:29 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 19:13-29 - The Power Of Jesus' Name
Where God's spirit is mightily at work, Satan is not far away. Here the enemy's emissaries were mean enough to use the name of Jesus to get themselves a few more shekels. But the name is useless apart from the living power of the Spirit. It is terrible when the very demons flout those who profess religion. Who are ye? meant, "You do not count." The demons knew Christ as the Holy One of God and Paul as His representative, but these exorcist Jews were hollow as sounding brass. Cast into the balances, they were altogether lighter than vanity, Psalms 62:9.
The outcome of all this was a mighty revival. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified, and a searching work of grace led to the confession of sin and the cleansing of heart and life in many who had followed vain superstitions.
So deep was the work of God in that great city of Ephesus that the trade in charms and amulets, sold in the neighborhood of the temple, began to fall off. The crowd of worshippers in Diana's temple was also perceptibly less. People who came in from the seaboard would find their way to the Apostle, who preached the gospel with a power that could not be withstood. Regenerated souls therefore, in turn, carried the gospel throughout the whole region. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 19

1  The Holy Spirit is given by Paul's hands
8  The Jews blaspheme his doctrine, which is confirmed by miracles
13  The Jewish exorcists,
16  are beaten by a man who had an evil spirit
19  Conjuring books are burnt
21  Demetrius, for love of gain, raises an uproar against Paul;
35  which is appeased by the town clerk

Greek Commentary for Acts 19:29

With the confusion [της συγχυσεως]
Genitive case after επληστη — eplāsthā An old word, but in the N.T. only here, from verb συγχεω — sugcheō to pour together like a flood (only in Acts in the N.T.). Vivid description of the inevitable riot that followed “the appearance of such a body in the crowded agora of an excitable city” (Rackham) “vociferating the city‘s watch-word.” [source]
They rushed [ωρμησαν]
Ingressive aorist active indicative of ορμαω — hormaō old verb for impetuous dashing, a case of mob psychology (mob mind), with one accord Into the theatre (εις το τεατρον — eis to theatron). A place for seeing (τεαομαι — theaomai) spectacles, originally for dramatic representation (Thucydides, Herodotus), then for the spectators, then for the spectacle or show (1 Corinthians 4:9). The theatre (amphitheatre) at Ephesus can still be traced in the ruins (Wood, Ephesus) and shows that it was of enormous size capable of seating fifty-six thousand persons (some estimate it only 24, 500). It was the place for large public gatherings of any sort out of doors like our football and baseball parks. In particular, gladiatorial shows were held in these theatres. Having seized Gaius and Aristarchus men of Macedonia See note on Acts 6:12 for this same verb. They wanted some victims for this “gladiatorial” show. These two men were “Paul‘s companions in travel” How the mob got hold of Gaius (Acts 20:4) and Aristarchus (Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24) we do not know whether by accidental recognition or by search after failure to get Paul. In Romans 16:4 Paul speaks of Priscilla and Aquila as those “who for my life laid down their own necks.” Paul lived with them in Ephesus as in Corinth. It is possible that Demetrius led the mob to their house and that they refused to allow Paul to go or to be seized at the risk of their own lives. Paul himself may have been desperately ill at this time as we know was the case once during his stay in Ephesus when he felt the answer of death in himself (2 Corinthians 1:9) and when God rescued him. That may mean that, ill as he was, Paul wanted to go and face the mob in the theatre, knowing that it meant certain death. [source]
Into the theatre [εις το τεατρον]
A place for seeing The theatre (amphitheatre) at Ephesus can still be traced in the ruins (Wood, Ephesus) and shows that it was of enormous size capable of seating fifty-six thousand persons (some estimate it only 24, 500). It was the place for large public gatherings of any sort out of doors like our football and baseball parks. In particular, gladiatorial shows were held in these theatres. [source]
Having seized Gaius and Aristarchus men of Macedonia [συναρπασαντες Γαιον και Αρισταρχον Μακεδονας]
See note on Acts 6:12 for this same verb. They wanted some victims for this “gladiatorial” show. These two men were “Paul‘s companions in travel” How the mob got hold of Gaius (Acts 20:4) and Aristarchus (Acts 20:4; Acts 27:2; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24) we do not know whether by accidental recognition or by search after failure to get Paul. In Romans 16:4 Paul speaks of Priscilla and Aquila as those “who for my life laid down their own necks.” Paul lived with them in Ephesus as in Corinth. It is possible that Demetrius led the mob to their house and that they refused to allow Paul to go or to be seized at the risk of their own lives. Paul himself may have been desperately ill at this time as we know was the case once during his stay in Ephesus when he felt the answer of death in himself (2 Corinthians 1:9) and when God rescued him. That may mean that, ill as he was, Paul wanted to go and face the mob in the theatre, knowing that it meant certain death. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 19:29

Luke 8:29 It had seized [συνηρπακει]
Past perfect active of συναρπαζω — sunarpazō to lay hold by force. An old verb, but only in Luke in the N.T. (Luke 8:29; Acts 6:12; Acts 19:29; Acts 27:15). [source]
Luke 8:29 Often times [πολλοις χρονοις]
Or “for a long time” like χρονωι πολλωι — chronōi pollōi of Luke 8:27 (see Robertson, Grammar, p. 537, for the plural here).It had seized (συνηρπακει — sunērpakei). Past perfect active of συναρπαζω — sunarpazō to lay hold by force. An old verb, but only in Luke in the N.T. (Luke 8:29; Acts 6:12; Acts 19:29; Acts 27:15).Was kept under guard Imperfect passive of δεσμευω — desmeuō to put in chains, from δεσμος — desmos bond, and that from δεω — deō to bind. Old, but rather rare verb. Only here and Acts 22:4 in this sense. In Matthew 23:4 it means to bind together. Some MSS. read δεσμεω — desmeō in Luke 8:29.Breaking the bands asunder (διαρησσων τα δεσμα — diarēssōn ta desma). Old verb, the preposition δια — dia (in two) intensifying the meaning of the simple verb ρησσω — rēssō or ρηγνυμι — rēgnumi to rend.Was driven Imperfect passive of ελαυνω — elaunō to drive, to row, to march (Xenophon). Only five times in the N.T. Here alone in Luke and peculiar to Luke in this incident. [source]
Acts 20:4 Aristarchus []
Compare Acts 19:29. [source]
Acts 20:4 Gaius []
Not the one mentioned in Acts 19:29, who was a Macedonian. [source]
Acts 19:10 So that all they which dwelt in Asia heard [ωστε παντας τους κατοικουντας την Ασιαν ακουσαι]
Actual result with ωστε — hōste and the infinitive with accusative of general reference as is common (also Acts 19:11) in the Koiné{[28928]}š (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 999f.). Paul apparently remained in Ephesus, but the gospel spread all over the province even to the Lycus Valley including the rest of the seven churches of Revelation 1:11; 2; 3. Demetrius in Acts 19:26 will confirm the tremendous influence of Paul‘s ministry in Ephesus on Asia. Forty years after this Pliny in his famous letter to Trajan from Bithynia will say of Christianity: “For the contagion of this superstition has not only spread through cities, but also through villages and country places.” It was during these years in Ephesus that Paul was greatly disturbed over the troubles in the Corinthian Church. He apparently wrote a letter to them now lost to us (1 Corinthians 5:9), received messages from the household of Chloe, a letter from the church, special messengers, sent Timothy, then Titus, may have made a hurried trip himself, wrote our First Corinthians, was planning to go after the return of Titus to Troas where he was to meet him after Pentecost, when all of a sudden the uproar raised by Demetrius hurried Paul away sooner than he had planned. Meanwhile Apollos had returned from Corinth to Ephesus and refused to go back (1 Corinthians 16:12). Paul doubtless had helpers like Epaphras and Philemon who carried the message over the province of Asia, Tychicus, and Trophimus of Asia who were with him on the last visit to Jerusalem (Acts 19:22, Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4). Paul‘s message reached Greeks, not merely Hellenists and God-fearers, but some of the Greeks in the upper circles of life in Ephesus. [source]
Acts 19:32 For the assembly was in confusion [ην γαρ η εκκλησια συνκεχυμενη]
The reason for the previous statement. Periphrastic past perfect passive of συγχεω συγχυνω ̔υννὠ — sugcheōσυγχυσεως — sugchunō unnō to pour together, to commingle as in Acts 19:29 It was not an “assembly” Had come together (sunelālutheisan). Past perfect active of sunerchomai It was an assembly only in one sense. For some reason Demetrius who was responsible for the mob preferred now to keep in the background, though he was known to be the ring-leader of the gathering (Acts 19:38). It was just a mob that shouted because others did. [source]
Acts 27:15 When the ship was caught [συναρπαστεντος του πλοιου]
Genitive absolute again with first aorist passive of συναρπαζω — sunarpazō old word, in N.T. only Luke 8:29; Acts 6:12; Acts 19:29, and here. Graphic picture as if the ship was seized by a great monster. [source]
Acts 5:12 With one accord [ομοτυμαδον]
As already in Acts 1:14; Acts 2:46; Acts 4:24 and later Acts 7:57; Acts 8:6; Acts 12:20; Acts 15:25; Acts 18:21; Acts 19:29, old adverb and only in Acts in the N.T. Here “all” is added. In Solomon‘s Porch again as in Acts 3:11 which see. [source]
Romans 16:23 Gaius []
See Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; 1 Corinthians 1:14. Possibly the same in all three references. [source]
Romans 16:23 Gaius my host [Γαιος ο χενος μου]
Perhaps the same Gaius of 1 Corinthians 1:14 (Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4), but whether the one of 3 John 1:1 we do not know. Χενος — Xenos was a guest friend, and then either a stranger (Matthew 25:35) or a host of strangers as here. This Gaius was plainly a man of some means as he was the host of all the church. Erastus (2 Timothy 4:20) was “the treasurer of the city” (ο οικονομος της πολεως — ho oikonomos tēs poleōs), one of the outstanding men of Corinth, the “steward” (house-manager) or city manager. See note on Luke 12:42 and note on Luke 16:1. He is probably the administrator of the city‘s property. [source]
1 Corinthians 4:9 As men doomed to die [ως επιτανατιους]
Late word, here alone in N.T. The lxx (Bel and the Dragon 31) has it for those thrown daily to the lions. Dionysius of Halicarnassus (A.R. vii. 35) uses it of those thrown from the Tarpeian Rock. The gladiators would say morituri salutamus. All this in violent contrast to the kingly Messianic pretensions of the Corinthians. A spectacle (τεατρον — theatron). Cf. Hebrews 11:33-40. The word, like our theatre, means the place of the show (Acts 19:29, Acts 19:31). Then, it means the spectacle shown there (τεαμα — theama or τεα — thea), and, as here, the man exhibited as the show like the verb τεατριζομενοι — theatrizomenoi made a spectacle (Hebrews 10:33). Sometimes it refers to the spectators (τεαται — theatai) like our “house” for the audience. Here the spectators include “the world, both to angels and men” (τωι κοσμωι και αγγελοις και αντρωποις — tōi kosmōi kai aggelois kai anthrōpois), dative case of personal interest. [source]
1 Corinthians 4:9 A spectacle [τεατρον]
Cf. Hebrews 11:33-40. The word, like our theatre, means the place of the show (Acts 19:29, Acts 19:31). Then, it means the spectacle shown there Sometimes it refers to the spectators (τεαται — theatai) like our “house” for the audience. Here the spectators include “the world, both to angels and men” (τωι κοσμωι και αγγελοις και αντρωποις — tōi kosmōi kai aggelois kai anthrōpois), dative case of personal interest. [source]
Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus [Αρισταρχος]
He was from Thessalonica and accompanied Paul to Jerusalem with the collection (Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4) and started with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2; Philemon 1:24). Whether he has been with Paul all the time in Rome we do not know, but he is here now. [source]
3 John 1:1 Gaius []
The name occurs several times in the New Testament, as Acts 19:29; Acts 20:4; Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14. The person addressed here cannot be identified. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 19:29 mean?

And was filled the city whole with confusion they rushed and with one accord to the theatre having dragged off Gaius Aristarchus Macedonians fellow travelers of Paul
καὶ ἐπλήσθη πόλις τῆς συγχύσεως ὥρμησάν τε ὁμοθυμαδὸν εἰς τὸ θέατρον συναρπάσαντες Γάϊον Ἀρίσταρχον Μακεδόνας συνεκδήμους Παύλου

ἐπλήσθη  was  filled 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πίμπλημι  
Sense: to fill.
πόλις  city 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: πόλις  
Sense: a city.
τῆς  whole 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
συγχύσεως  with  confusion 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: σύγχυσις  
Sense: confusion, disturbance.
ὥρμησάν  they  rushed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ὁρμάω  
Sense: to set in rapid motion, stir up, incite, urge on.
ὁμοθυμαδὸν  with  one  accord 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὁμοθυμαδόν  
Sense: with one mind, with one accord, with one passion.
θέατρον  theatre 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: θέατρον  
Sense: a theatre, a place in which games and dramatic spectacles are exhibited, and public assemblies held (for the Greeks used the theatre also as a forum).
συναρπάσαντες  having  dragged  off 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: συναρπάζω  
Sense: to seize by force.
Γάϊον  Gaius 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Γάϊος  
Sense: a Macedonian who accompanied Paul in his travels.
Ἀρίσταρχον  Aristarchus 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἀρίσταρχος  
Sense: a certain Christian of Thessalonica, and accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey.
Μακεδόνας  Macedonians 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: Μακεδών  
Sense: a Macedonian.
συνεκδήμους  fellow  travelers 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: συνέκδημος  
Sense: a fellow traveller, companion in travel.
Παύλου  of  Paul 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Παῦλος  
Sense: Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 4 Pauline epistles.