Act 19:37, 21:28 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 37. For ye , etc. Demetrius and his friends. The blame was to be traced to them. Which are neither robbers of churches . The word churches we now apply to edifices reared for purposes of Christian worship. As no such churches had then been built, this translation is unhappy, and is not at all demanded by the original. The Greek word--ιεροσυλους--is applied properly to those who commit sacrilege, who plunder temples of their sacred things. The meaning here is, that Paul and his companions had not been guilty of robbing the temple of Diana, or any other temple. The charge of sacrilege could not be brought against them. Though they had preached against idols and idol worship, yet they had offered no violence to the temples of idolaters, nor had they attempted to strip them of the sacred utensils employed in their service. What they had done, they had done peaceably. Nor yet blasphemers of your goddess . They had not used harsh or reproachful language of Diana. This had not been charged on them, nor is there the least evidence that they had done it. They had opposed idolatry; had reasoned against it; and had endeavoured to turn the people from it. But there is not the least evidence that they had ever done it in harsh or reproachful language. And it shows that men should employ reason , and not harsh or reproachful language against any pervading evil; and that the way to remove it is to enlighten the minds of men, and to @convince them of the error of their ways. Men gain nothing by bitter and reviling words; and it is much to obtain the testimony of even the enemies of religion--as Paul did of the chancellor of Ephesus--that no such words had been used in describing their crimes and follies. (c) "neither robbers of churches" (*) "churches" "temples"

Acts 19:37

Verse 37. For ye, etc. Demetrius and his friends. The blame was to be traced to them.

Which are neither robbers of churches. The word churches we now apply to edifices reared for purposes of Christian worship. As no such churches had then been built, this translation is unhappy, and is not at all demanded by the original. The Greek word--ιεροσυλους--is applied properly to those who commit sacrilege, who plunder temples of their sacred things. The meaning here is, that Paul and his companions had not been guilty of robbing the temple of Diana, or any other temple. The charge of sacrilege could not be brought against them. Though they had preached against idols and idol worship, yet they had offered no violence to the temples of idolaters, nor had they attempted to strip them of the sacred utensils employed in their service. What they had done, they had done peaceably.

Nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. They had not used harsh or reproachful language of Diana. This had not been charged on them, nor is there the least evidence that they had done it. They had opposed idolatry; had reasoned against it; and had endeavoured to turn the people from it. But there is not the least evidence that they had ever done it in harsh or reproachful language. And it shows that men should employ reason, and not harsh or reproachful language against any pervading evil; and that the way to remove it is to enlighten the minds of men, and to @convince them of the error of their ways. Men gain nothing by bitter and reviling words; and it is much to obtain the testimony of even the enemies of religion--as Paul did of the chancellor of Ephesus--that no such words had been used in describing their crimes and follies.

Acts 21:28

Verse 28. Men of Israel. Jews. All who are the friends of the law of Moses.

This is the man, etc. This implies that they had before given information to the Jews at Jerusalem that there was such a man; and they now exulted in the fact that they had found him. They, therefore, called on all these to aid in securing and punishing him.

That teacheth, etc. Acts 6:13, Acts 6:14.

Against the people. The people of the Jews. That is, they pretended that he taught that the customs and laws of the Jewish nation were not binding, and endeavoured to prejudice all men against them.

And the law. The law of Moses.

And this place. The temple. Everything against the law would be interpreted also as being against the temple, as most of the commandments of the law were celebrated there. It is possible also that Paul might have declared that the temple was to be destroyed. Comp. Acts 6:13,14.

And further, brought Greeks, etc. The temple was surrounded by various areas called courts. Mt 21:12. The outermost of these courts was called the court of the Gentiles, and into that it was lawful for the Gentiles to enter. But the word "temple" here refers, doubtless, to the parts of the area appropriated especially to the Israelites, and which it was unlawful for a Gentile to enter. See the area marked G G G G in the plan of the temple, Mt 21:12.

And hath polluted, etc. He defiled the temple by thus introducing a Gentile. No greater defilement, in their view, could scarcely be conceived. No more effective appeal could be made to the passions of the people than this.

(e) "teacheth" Acts 6:13,14, 24:5,6