Atos 19
Theophylact of Ohrid
Atos 19:1-4
These, from among "certain disciples," who did not even know that there is a Holy Spirit, differed greatly from the other disciples, because from the words "that they should believe in Him who was coming after him" it is evident that they did not believe in Christ either. He did not say that the baptism of John was nothing, but that it was incomplete. How then, being in Ephesus, did they receive the baptism of John? Perhaps they were traveling to Jerusalem at that time and returned from there without even receiving information about Christ. He does not say to them, "Do you believe in Jesus?" But what does he say? "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Paul knew that they did not have the Holy Spirit, but he had the desire to speak in such a way that, having learned what they were lacking, they themselves would request it. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:6-7
They did not see the Spirit, because He is invisible; but a certain sensible proof of His presence was offered by the gift of tongues: one spoke in Persian, another in Roman, a third in some other language; and by these outward signs it was evident that the Spirit was speaking in each one. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:8
What does "boldly" mean? He exposed himself to dangers or began to speak even more clearly, without obscuring his teaching. Look: everywhere Paul enters the synagogues and always comes out the same way, since everywhere he wished to take advantage of the opportunity. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:9-10
Luke calls Christ "the Way," of Whom it is also said that He is the way (see John 14:6). Or else he calls "the way" the true faith which Paul preached. And by the words "he separated the disciples," the instruction is given that those who believe in the Son of God should withdraw from those who revile Him. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:11-12
Not only at the time when Paul wore "handkerchiefs and aprons" did people touch them, but they also took them away and laid them on the sick. But pay attention to the hardness of heart of the Jews. They were not moved by the fact that the garments of Christ's disciples produced miracles, even though the miracles from the handkerchiefs and aprons and from the shadows of the disciples are greater than those miracles which Christ performed. The handkerchiefs, headbands, and towels were made of linen; the headbands were thrown over the head, while the towels were held in the hands by those who could not wear headbands; the purpose of both was to wipe sweat, saliva, tears, and other things from the face. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:13
They did not wish to believe, yet desired to cast out demons in the name of Jesus, because these words clearly reveal that these exorcists adjured the unclean spirits in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ not as those who believed in Jesus, but as those who were testing Him. And the expression "began to use" shows that, although they did not hope for success, they nevertheless laid on hands in order to achieve the purpose of their test. Therefore, shortly after, they paid the penalty for their recklessness. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:14-16
Although the sons of Sceva did this secretly, their powerlessness is exposed. What is worthy of wonder is the circumstance that the evil spirit did not aid in the deception of these exorcists, but rather exposed and revealed their fraud. It seems to me that he was greatly irritated, just as someone who, being pressed in extreme danger by some wretched and insignificant creature, wants to pour out all his wrath upon that creature. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:18
Every believer ought to confess his sins and, by accusing himself, resolve never to commit the same sins again, so as to receive justification by virtue of what is said in Scripture: "Declare… that you may be justified" (Isa. 43:26). — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:19
Seeing that these books were no longer of any use for anything, those who had practiced sorcery "burned them before all." So devoted were the Ephesians to idols and magic that they valued books of sorcery very highly as containing the very best things in life. Having believed in Christ, they did not sell these books but burned them, first, so that no one would be infected by their soul-destroying plague, and also so as not to acquire anything from their sale. Since money obtained for a dog or income from idolatry was forbidden to be brought to God, they did not consider it a righteous deed to cast at the feet of the apostles silver obtained by such means either. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:22
He sent disciples to Macedonia to announce that he would come, and to instill in the Macedonians a stronger desire to see him. As for the fact that he himself remained for a time in Asia, this was necessary because in Asia there was a tyranny of philosophers. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:23-24
By silver temples are perhaps meant small shrines. Notice: everywhere idol-worship was defended on account of money. And this Demetrius was agitating on account of money. He was agitating not because their impious religion was in danger, but because he was being deprived of the means of gain; because he knew that he was deceiving people by making them silver gods and silver shrines, and he was afraid that his craft might be exposed by the true teaching of Paul; he was also afraid that the temple of Artemis, which was in Ephesus, might disappear altogether, and thus he was predicting the disappearance of the temple, which indeed came to pass. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:25-27
He drew their attention to the danger: we, he says, are in danger of falling into hunger from our trade. However, what he said could have led them to true worship of God. If, as he says, this man (Paul) is so powerful that there is a danger he might convert everyone, and if from him there is a threat to what belongs to the gods, then one should consider what kind of God his is. Everywhere this Demetrius brings his speech back to the trade. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:26
"By his persuasions he has led astray a considerable number of people." Not by violence, but precisely in this way one ought to persuade. It is sufficient that Paul said "they are not gods." If the falsity of this cult is so easily exposed, then it should have been rejected long ago; but if it has power in itself, then it is impossible to uproot it so quickly. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:28-29
They became enraged upon hearing about Artemis and the undermining of their craft, because it is characteristic of the rabble to become agitated and inflamed by any matter, even a trivial one. They had gods in the city; and they assumed a threatening posture, so as to somehow restore respect for the gods by their shouting and to drown out what had happened. They kept shouting without ceasing, as if fearing that the veneration of the gods might be extinguished altogether. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:30
The disciples did not allow Paul to rush into the agitated crowd — so much did all the believers love him. And Paul listens to them, since he was not ambitious. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:32
"Most of those who had gathered did not know why they had gathered." Such is the nature of a crowd: it rushes here or there without reason, like fire thrown into a forest. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:33-34
Why did Alexander want "to speak to the people" in his defense? After all, he was not being accused? In order to seize the moment, give everything a different turn, and calm the anger of the people. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:35-36
The town clerk answers justly and with reproach; he did not say "what person does not know of Artemis?" but rather "who does not know that our city is a servant of the great goddess Artemis?" So why are you making an uproar, as though this were something unknown? The word "servant" means, properly speaking, an attendant who sweeps or cleanses the temple. By "Diopetes" he refers to the domed temple of Zeus, or the image of Athena Pallas called the Palladium, concerning which there existed a myth among the Greeks that it had been cast down by Zeus from heaven and was not made by human hands — this was meant to astonish naive people. — Commentary on Acts
Atos 19:37-40
He gently rebukes them, showing that they acted rashly and that it was not proper to hold a public assembly for private reasons. — Commentary on Acts