Acts 16 · Verse 19

Acts 16:19

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

Acts 16:19, King James Version

Acts 16:19 in other translations

BSB	When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
WEB	But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
ASV	But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,
YLT	And her masters having seen that the hope of their employment was gone, having caught Paul and Silas, drew them to the market-place, unto the rulers,
DARBY	And her masters, seeing that the hope of their gains was gone, having seized Paul and Silas, dragged them into the market before the magistrates;
BBE	But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they took Paul and Silas, pulling them into the market-place before the rulers;
Webster	And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market-place to the rulers,

What does Acts 16:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

19. when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas--as the leading persons. and drew them into the market-place--or Forum, where the courts were. to the magistrates, saying, &c.--We have here a full and independent confirmation of the reality of this supernatural cure, since on any other supposition such conduct would be senseless.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 19. The hope of their gains was gone. It was this that troubled and enraged them. And this is as likely to enrage men as anything. Instead of regarding the act as proof of Divine power, they were intent only on their profits. And their indignation furnishes a remarkable illustration of the fixedness with which men will regard wealth; of the fact that the love of it will blind them to all the truths of religion, and all the proofs of the power and presence of God; and of the fact that any interposition of Divine power that destroys their hopes of gain, fills them with wrath and hatred and murmuring. Many a man has been opposed to God and his gospel, because, if religion should be extensively prevalent, the hopes of gain would be gone. Many a slave-dealer, and many a trafficker in ardent spirits, and many a man engaged in other unlawful modes of gain, have been unwilling to abandon their employments, simply because the hopes of their gain would be destroyed. No small part of the opposition to the gospel arises from the fact, that, if embraced, it would strike at so much of the dishonourable employments of men, and make them honest and conscientious.

The marketplace. The court, or forum. The market-place was a place of concourse; and the courts were often held in or near those places.

The rulers. The term used here refers commonly to civil magistrates.

(i) "gains was gone" Acts 19:24,27 (2) "market-place" "court" (k) "rulers" Mt 10:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 19 When her masters saw - It appears she was maintained by some men, who received a certain pay from every person whose fortune she told, or to whom she made any discovery of stolen goods, etc., etc. The hope of their gains was gone - Ἡ ελπις, This hope; viz. the spirit. So completely was this spirit cast out that the girl could divine no more; and yet she continued a heathen still, for we do not hear a word of her conversion. Had she been converted, got baptized, and been associated with the apostles, the family of Lydia, etc., there would have been some show of reason to believe that there had been no possession in the case, and that the spirit of divination coming out of her meant no more than that, through scruple of conscience, she had left off her imposing arts, and would no longer continue to pretend to do what she knew she could not perform. But she still continued with her masters, though now utterly unable to disclose any thing relative to futurity! Drew them into the market-place - This was the place of public resort, and, by bringing them here, they might hope to excite a general clamor against them; and probably those who are here called τους αρχοντας, the rulers, were civil magistrates, who kept offices in such public places, for the preservation of the peace of the city. But these words, the rulers, are suspected to be an interpolation by some critics: I think on no good ground.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 16:16-24

Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false preachers of the gospel, who are confounded with them by careless observers. Those who do good by drawing men from sin, may expect to be reviled as troublers of the city. While they teach men to fear God, to believe in Christ…

Read the full comment on Acts 16:16-24 →

Acts 16:19 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἰδόντεςidontesHaving seenG1492

δὲdenowG1161

οἱhoitheG3588

κύριοιkurioimastersG2962

αὐτῆςautēsof herG846

ὅτιhotithatG3754

ἐξῆλθενexēlthenwas goneG1831

ἡhētheG3588

ἐλπὶςelpishopeG1680

τῆςtēsof theG3588

ἐργασίαςergasiasprofitG2039

αὐτῶν,autōnof them,G846

ἐπιλαβόμενοιepilabomenoihaving taken hold ofG1949

τὸνton<the>G3588

ΠαῦλονPaulonPaulG3972

καὶkaiandG2532

τὸνton<the>G3588

ΣιλᾶνSilanSilasG4609

εἵλκυσανeilkusanthey dragged [them]G1670

εἰςeisintoG1519

τὴνtēntheG3588

ἀγορὰνagoranmarketplaceG58

ἐπὶepibeforeG1909

τοὺςtoustheG3588

ἄρχοντας,archontasrulers,G758

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 16:19

Acts 17:6
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
Acts 21:30
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
2 Corinthians 6:5
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
Acts 16:16
And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
Acts 8:3
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Acts 18:12-13
And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
Acts 15:26
Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 9:16
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
Matthew 24:9
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
Acts 19:24-27
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
Acts 14:5
And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
Mark 13:9
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the hope.
19:24-27; 1Ti 6:10
they.
9:16; 14:5,19; 15:26; 18:12,13; 21:30; Mt 10:16-18; 24:9; Mr 13:9
2Co 6:5
market-place. or, court.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Acts 16:18
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
Acts 16:19
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
Acts 16:20
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

Read all of Acts 16

Acts 16:19 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y viendo sus amos que había salido la esperanza de su ganancia, prendieron á Pablo y á Silas, y los trajeron al foro, al magistrado;
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais ses maîtres, voyant que l’espérance de leur gain s’en était allée, ayant saisi Paul et Silas les traînèrent dans la place publique devant les magistrats.
German Elberfelder 1871	Als aber ihre Herren sahen, daß die Hoffnung ihres Gewinnes dahin war, griffen sie Paulus und Silas und schleppten sie auf den Markt zu den Vorstehern.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Videntes autem domini ejus quia exivit spes quæstus eorum, apprehendentes Paulum et Silam, perduxerunt in forum ad principes: