Acts 19:37-41 Meaning: Neither Robbers nor Blasphemers
37For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.
38If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them press charges against one another.
39But if you seek anything about other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.
40For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn’t be able to give an account of this commotion.”
41When he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
37For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
38If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.
39But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.
40For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day’s riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.
41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
37`For ye brought these men, who are neither temple-robbers nor speaking evil of your goddess;
38if indeed, therefore, Demetrius and the artificers with him with any one have a matter, court days are held, and there are proconsuls; let them accuse one another.
39`And if ye seek after anything concerning other matters, in the legal assembly it shall be determined;
40for we are also in peril of being accused of insurrection in regard to this day, there being no occasion by which we shall be able to give an account of this concourse;'
41and these things having said, he dismissed the assembly.
37For ye have brought these men, [who are] neither temple-plunderers, nor speak injuriously of yourgoddess.
38If therefore Demetrius and the artisans who [are] with him have a matter against any one, the courts are being held, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.
39But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly.
40For also we are in danger to be put in accusation for sedition for this [affair] of to-day, no cause existing in reference to which we shall be able to give a reason for this concourse.
41And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
Meaning in one sentence
The town clerk declared Paul's companions neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of Artemis.
Context
Ephesus was in chaos. Demetrius the silversmith, whose income from making silver shrines of Artemis had dropped, stirred up the whole city against Paul. A mob dragged two of Paul's companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, into the theater, shouting “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” for two hours. Into that uproar stepped the town clerk, the city's chief administrator. He quieted the crowd and spoke with calm authority. First he reminded them that everyone knew Ephesus was the temple keeper of Artemis, that much was not in dispute. Then he said something that would have surprised the rioters: the men they had seized had done nothing wrong.
Key Words
Two Greek words stand at the heart of the town clerk's defense. The first is hierosulous (temple robbers), those who plunder sacred places. Paul's companions were not guilty of plundering the great temple of Artemis, which held treasures and offerings. The town clerk could honestly say they had taken nothing that belonged to the goddess.
The second word is blasphēmountas (blasphemers). In Greek, this means speaking evil or slanderously against someone. The crowd had assumed Paul insulted Artemis, but the town clerk corrected them: these men had not spoken evil of your goddess. Paul had preached that handmade gods are not gods at all, yet he had done so without resorting to mockery or slander. That matters for how we speak about what others hold sacred, we can tell the truth about the living God without tearing people down.
How Christians Read This Verse
John Calvin, in his commentary, observed that the town clerk's wisdom was “carnal, and not his godliness.” He was not commending Paul's preaching; he simply wanted to end a riot. For Calvin, the clerk's testimony was politically convenient but theologically empty.
Other commentators, like Wesley and the writers of the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, see the town clerk's words as a testimony to Paul's care. Paul had “studiously avoided insulting the gods of the people,” even while he called them from idols to the living God. Both perspectives find room in this passage: the clerk's motive may have been merely political, but the facts he stated were true, and they reflect Paul's wise and respectful way of confronting error.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think the town clerk's defense means Paul approved of the worship of Artemis or that Christians should stay silent when others hold false beliefs. In fact, the clerk simply stated the facts: Paul's men had not stolen from the temple or slandered the goddess. Paul still declared plainly that gods made with hands are not gods (Acts 19:26). The lesson is not to avoid truth but to speak it without needless insult.
Living This Out
The town clerk's words invite you to look at how you speak about what you believe. You may find yourself in conversations where someone else's faith or worldview is very different from yours. This week, when you talk about Jesus with a friend or family member who does not share your faith, notice your words. Are you telling the truth clearly? And are you doing it without mocking or dismissing the things they hold dear? You do not have to pretend false beliefs are true. But you can speak the truth in a way that leaves room for the other person to listen.
Main takeaway: Paul confronted paganism not by insulting people's gods but by proclaiming the living God with truth and patience.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The town clerk told the crowd that Paul's friends had not taken anything from the temple of Artemis and had not said bad things about her. They just told people about the real God in a kind way.
For ages 9, 12
The town clerk stopped a huge riot by saying the truth: Paul's friends had not stolen from the temple and had not insulted the goddess Artemis. Paul had taught that those statues were not real gods, but he didn't need to be rude about it. When you tell others about Jesus, you can speak clearly and still be kind. You don't have to put people down to lift Jesus up.
Questions People Ask
Why did the town clerk say Paul's companions were not 'temple robbers'?
The town clerk was trying to calm the riot by stating facts. Paul's companions had not stolen anything from the great temple of Artemis, which was the pride of Ephesus. By clearing them of that charge, the clerk removed the main reason for the mob's anger.
What does 'blasphemers of your goddess' mean in this passage?
It means they had not spoken evil or slander about Artemis. The mob assumed Paul and his friends had insulted their goddess, but the town clerk corrected that assumption. Paul preached against idols, but he did so without mocking or cursing the goddess the Ephesians worshipped.
Did Paul approve of the worship of Artemis?
No, Paul did not approve of it. In Acts 19:26 he taught that gods made with hands are not real gods. But he spoke the truth without resorting to insults or sacrilege. The town clerk's testimony shows that Paul's approach was bold yet respectful.
What was the 'lawful assembly' the town clerk referred to?
The town clerk used the Greek word 'ekklesia,' which means an assembly. He distinguished between the riotous mob (an illegal gathering) and a lawful assembly (one officially called to handle civic matters). This same word is used in the New Testament for the church, but here it simply means a regular public meeting.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study