Acts 19 · Verse 33

Acts 19:33

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

Acts 19:33, King James Version

Acts 19:33 in other translations

BSB	The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.
WEB	They brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. Alexander beckoned with his hand, and would have made a defense to the people.
ASV	And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people.
YLT	and out of the multitude they put forward Alexander--the Jews thrusting him forward--and Alexander having beckoned with the hand, wished to make defence to the populace,
DARBY	But from among the crowd they put forward Alexander, the Jews pushing him forward. And Alexander, beckoning with his hand, would have made a defence to the people.
BBE	Then they took Alexander out from among the people, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander, making a sign with his hand, was about to make a statement to the people in answer:
Webster	And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense to the people.

What does Acts 19:33 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 19:30-34

30-34. when Paul would have entered in--with noble forgetfulness of self. unto the people--the demos, that is, the people met in public assembly. the disciples suffered him not--The tense used implies only that they were using their efforts to restrain him; which might have been unavailing but for what follows.

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Barnes' Notes

Verse 33. And they drew Alexander. Who this Alexander was, is not known. Grotius supposes that it was "Alexander the coppersmith," who had in some way done Paul much harm, 2Ti 4:14; and whom, with Philetas, Paul had excommunicated. He supposes that it was a device of the Jews to put forward one who had been of the Christian party, in order to accuse Paul, and to attempt to cast the odium of the tumult on him. But it is not clear that the Alexander whom Paul had excommunicated was the person concerned in this transaction. All that appears in this narrative is, that Alexander was one who was known to be a Jew; and who wished to defend the Jews from being regarded as the authors of this tumult. It would be supposed by the heathen that the Christians were only a sect of the Jews; and the Jews wished doubtless to show that they had not been concerned in giving occasion to this tumult, but that it was to be traced wholly to Paul and his friends.

The Jews putting him forward. That he might have a convenient opportunity to speak to the people.

Would have made his defence. Our translation, by the phrase "his defence," would seem to imply that he was personally accused. But it was not so. The Greek is simply, "was about to apologize to the people" that is, to make a defence, not of himself particularly, but of the Jews in general. The translation should have been "a defence."

(g) "Alexander" 1Timm 1:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 33 They drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward - From this and the following verses it is pretty evident that this Alexander was brought forward on this occasion by the Jews, that he might make an oration to the multitude, in order to exculpate the Jews, who were often by the heathens confounded with the Christians; and cast the whole blame of the uproar upon Paul and his party. And he was probably chosen because he was an able speaker; and when he beckoned with his hand; to gain an audience, the Greeks, knowing that he was a Jew, and consequently as much opposed to the worship of Diana as Paul was, would not hear him; and therefore, to drown his apology, τῳ δημω, for the people, viz. the Jews, they vociferated for the space of two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians! There does not seem any just ground from the text to suppose that this Alexander was a Christian; or that he was about to make an apology for the Christians: it is generally believed that he is the same with Alexander the coppersmith, of whom St. Paul speaks, 2Tim 4:14, and whom, with Philetus, he was obliged to excommunicate, 1Tim 1:20. By the Jews putting him forward, we are to understand their earnestness to get him to undertake their defense, and criminate, as much as possible, St. Paul and his companions, and the Christian cause in general; which he would no doubt have done, without vindicating the worship of Diana, which, as a Jew, he would not dare to attempt.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 19:32-41

The Jews came forward in this tumult. Those who are thus careful to distinguish themselves from the servants of Christ now, and are afraid of being taken for them, shall have their doom accordingly in the great day. One, having authority, at length stilled the noise. It is a very good rule at all times, both in private and public affairs, not to be hasty and rash in our motions, but to take time to consider; and…

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Acts 19:33 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.

ἐκekOut ofG1537

δὲdenowG1161

τοῦtoutheG3588

ὄχλουochloucrowdG3793

συνεβίβασανsunebibasanbrought forwardG4822

ἈλέξανδρονAlexandronAlexanderG223

προβαλόντωνprobalontōnwhen were thrusting forwardG4261

αὐτὸνautonhimG846

τῶνtōntheG3588

Ἰουδαίων·IoudaiōnJews;G2453

ὁho<the>G3588

δὲdeAndG1161

ἈλέξανδροςAlexandrosAlexanderG223

κατασείσαςkataseisashaving motioned withG2678

τὴνtēntheG3588

χεῖραcheirahandG5495

ἤθελενēthelenwas wantingG2309

ἀπολογεῖσθαιapologeisthaito present a defenseG626

τῷtōto theG3588

δήμῳ.dēmōpeople.G1218

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

Cross references for Acts 19:33

Acts 12:17
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
1 Timothy 1:20
Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
2 Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
Acts 26:1-2
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:
Acts 21:40-22:1
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.
Acts 13:16
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
Philippians 1:7
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Acts 24:10
Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:
Luke 1:22
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Alexander.
1Ti 1:20; 2Ti 4:14
beckoned.
12:17; 13:16; 21:40; 24:10; Lu 1:22
his.
22:1; 26:1,2; Php 1:7

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

Context

Acts 19:32
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
Acts 19:33
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
Acts 19:34
But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Read all of Acts 19

Acts 19:33 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y sacaron de entre la multitud á Alejandro, empujándole los Judíos. Entonces Alejandro, pedido silencio con la mano, quería dar razón al pueblo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et ils tirèrent Alexandre hors de la foule, les Juifs le poussant en avant; et Alexandre, faisant signe de la main, voulait présenter une apologie au peuple.
German Elberfelder 1871	Sie zogen aber Alexander aus der Volksmenge hervor, indem die Juden ihn hervorstießen. Alexander aber winkte mit der Hand und wollte sich vor dem Volke verantworten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	De turba autem detraxerunt Alexandrum, propellentibus eum Judæis. Alexander autem manu silentio postulato, volebat reddere rationem populo.