Acts 19 · Verse 9

Acts 19:9

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Acts 19:9, King James Version

Acts 19:9 in other translations

BSBBut when some of them stubbornly refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way, Paul took his disciples and left the synagogue to conduct daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
WEBBut when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
ASVBut when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
YLTand when certain were hardened and were disbelieving, speaking evil of the way before the multitude, having departed from them, he did separate the disciples, every day reasoning in the school of a certain Tyrannus.
DARBYBut when some were hardened and disbelieved, speaking evil of the way before the multitude, he left them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
BBEBut because some of the people were hard-hearted and would not give hearing, saying evil words about the Way before the people, he went away from them, and kept the disciples separate, reasoning every day in the school of Tyrannus.
WebsterBut when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

What does Acts 19:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 19:8-10

8-10. he went into the synagogue and spake boldly for ... three months, &c.--See on Ac 17:2, 3.

Read the full comment on Acts 19:8-10 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. But when divers. When some were hardened.

Were hardened. When their hearts were hardened, and they became violently opposed to the gospel. When the truth made no impression on them. The word harden, as applied to the heart, is often used to denote insensibility and opposition to the gospel.

But spake evil of that way. Of the gospel--the way, path, or manner in which God saves men. See Acts 16:17, 18:26, Mt 7:13,14.

Separated the disciples. Removed them from the influence and society of those who were seeking to draw them away from the faith. This is often the best way to prevent the evil influence of others. Christians, if they wish to preserve their minds calm and peaceful; if they wish to avoid the agitations of conflict, and the temptations of those who would lead them astray, may often find it necessary to withdraw from their society, and should seek the fellowship of their Christian brethren.

Disputing daily. This is not a happy translation. The word used here--διαλεγομενος-- does not of necessity denote disputation or contention, but is often used in a good sense of reasoning, Acts 17:2; 18:4,19; 24:25; or of public preaching, Acts 20:7,9. It is used in this sense here, and denotes that Paul taught publicly, or reasoned on the subject of religion in this place.

In the school of one Tyrannus. Who this Tyrannus was, is not known. It is probable that he was a Jew, who was engaged in this employment, and who might not be unfavourable to Christians. In his school, or in the room which he occupied for teaching, Paul instructed the people when he was driven from the synagogue. Christians at that time had no churches, and they were obliged to assemble in any place where it might be convenient to conduct public worship.

(*) "divers" "Some" (a) "hardened" Rom 11:7, Heb 3:13 (b) "evil" 2Ti 1:15 (c) "that way" Acts 19:25 (d) "departed from" 1Timm 6:5 (+) "disputing daily" "discoursing"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 When divers were hardened - Τινες, When some of them were hardened; several no doubt felt the power of Divine truth, and yielded consent. Our term divers, one of the most bald in our language, has too general a meaning for this place. Behold the effect of the word of God! It is a savour of life unto life, or death unto death, according as it is received or rejected. The twelve men mentioned above received it affectionately, and they were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; the others were hardened, for they refused to believe; and they calumniated the doctrine, and became Satan's preachers among the multitude, to prejudice them against Christ and his religion. Separated the disciples - Paul, and those converted under his ministry, had doubtless been in the habit of attending public worship in the synagogue: but, on the persecuting conduct of these Jews; he and his converts wholly withdrew from the synagogue, and took a place for themselves; and constantly afterwards held their own meetings at a school room, which they hired no doubt for the purpose. The school of one Tyrannus - For σχολῃ, the school, one MS. has συναγωγῃ, the synagogue; and, for Tyrannus, some have Tyrannios. Some have considered the original word as being an epithet, rather than the name of a person; and think that a prince or nobleman is intended, because τυραννος, tyrant, is taken in this sense: but this is a most unlikely conjecture. It appears that the person in question was a schoolmaster, and that he lent or hired his room to the apostles; and that they preached daily in it to as many, both Jews and Gentiles, as chose to attend. It is very likely that Tyrannus was a Jew, and was at least well affected to the Christian cause; for we have many proofs that individuals among them kept schools for the instruction of their youth; besides the schools or academies kept by the more celebrated rabbins. See Schoettgen and Vitringa. The school of Tyrannus might have been such a place as Exeter Hall, and such like places for public and especially for extraordinary religious meetings in London.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 19:8-12

When arguments and persuasions only harden men in unbelief and blasphemy, we must separate ourselves and others from such unholy company. God was pleased to confirm the teaching of these holy men of old, that if their hearers believed them not, they might believe the works.

Read the full comment on Acts 19:8-12 →

Acts 19:9 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.

ὡςhōsWhenG5613
δέdehoweverG1161
τινεςtinessomeG5100
ἐσκληρύνοντοesklērunontowere hardenedG4645
καὶkaiandG2532
ἠπείθουνēpeithounthey were disbelievingG544
κακολογοῦντεςkakologountesspeaking evil ofG2551
τὴνtēntheG3588
ὁδὸνhodonWayG3598
ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799
τοῦtoutheG3588
πλήθους,plēthousmultitude,G4128
ἀποστὰςapostashaving departedG868
ἀπ᾽ap᾽fromG575
αὐτῶνautōnthemG846
ἀφώρισενaphōrisenhe took separatelyG873
τοὺςtoustheG3588
μαθητὰςmathētasdisciplesG3101
καθ᾽kath᾽everyG2596
ἡμέρανhēmerandayG2250
διαλεγόμενοςdialegomenosreasoningG1256
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēatheG3588
σχολῇscholēalecture hallG4981
ΤυράννουTurannouof TyrannusG5181

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

Cross references for Acts 19:9

  • Acts 19:23

    And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

  • Acts 9:2

    And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

  • Acts 18:6-8

    And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

  • Acts 14:4

    But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

  • 2 Peter 2:12

    But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

  • Jude 1:10

    But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

  • Acts 7:51

    Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

  • 1 Timothy 6:5

    Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

  • Acts 13:45-46

    But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

  • Romans 9:18

    Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

  • Hebrews 3:13

    But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

  • Acts 22:4

    And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Cir. A.M. 4061. A.D. 57. divers.
7:51; 13:45,46; 18:6; 2Ki 17:14; 2Ch 30:8; 36:16; Ne 9:16,17,29
Ps 95:8; Isa 8:14; Jer 7:26; 19:15; Joh 12:40; Ro 9:18; 11:7; *marg:
Heb 3:13
but spake.
23; 9:2; 22:4; 24:21; 28:22; 2Ti 1:15; 2Pe 2:2,12; Jude 1:10
he departed.
14:4; 17:4; 18:7,8; Mt 15:14; 16:4; Lu 12:51-53; 1Ti 6:5; 2Ti 3:5
daily.
20:31; Pr 8:34; Mt 26:55; 2Ti 4:2

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

Context

  • Acts 19:8

    And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

  • Acts 19:9

    But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

  • Acts 19:10

    And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Read all of Acts 19

Acts 19:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas endureciéndose algunos y no creyendo, maldiciendo el Camino delante de la multitud, apartándose Pablo de ellos separó á los discípulos, disputando cada día en la escuela de un cierto Tyranno.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais comme quelques-uns s’endurcissaient et étaient rebelles, disant du mal de la voie devant la multitude, lui, s’étant retiré d’avec eux, sépara les disciples, discourant tous les jours dans l’école de Tyrannus.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber etliche sich verhärteten und nicht glaubten und vor der Menge übel redeten von dem Wege, trennte er sich von ihnen und sonderte die Jünger ab, indem er sich täglich in der Schule des Tyrannus unterredete.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum autem quidam indurarentur, et non crederent, maledicentes viam Domini coram multitudine, discedens ab eis, segregavit discipulos, quotidie disputans in schola tyranni cujusdam.