Paragraph 19:35–41

19:35a

Finally: The city clerk went to the speaking place and quieted the crowd after they had shouted for two hours. Indicate that 19:35 began after the two hours. For example:

⌊Two hours later,⌋
-or-

⌊Then⌋

Some languages will not need to add anything here, because the translation already clearly indicates that the city clerk quieted the crowd after the crowd had shouted for two hours.

the city clerk quieted the crowd: The clause does not say how the city clerk quieted the crowd. He probably went to the place where a person spoke to everyone in the amphitheater. He then held out his hands in the usual way to request people to become quiet. The people recognized him and his authority and so became quiet.

The Greek clause just states that the city clerk quieted the crowd. It does not indicate or imply that it took a long time.

Other ways to translate this clause are:

After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said (New American Standard Bible)
-or-

⌊Going before the crowd and⌋ quieting them, the town clerk…
-or-
Then the city clerk made the crowd be quiet. (New Century Version)

the city clerk: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as city clerk refers to a city leader. He kept records of city business and funds. He was an important official of the city and probably had the most authority of the city officials. He was responsible to the Roman authorities. He would be responsible if there was a riot in the city. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the chief city official
-or-
the mayor (New Living Translation (2004))

Men of Ephesus: This phrase in Greek is literally “Men, Ephesians.” The address is a polite way to begin speaking to the people. Also, it is not a part of the rhetorical question. For example:

Fellow Ephesians! (Good News Translation)
-or-
Citizens of Ephesus (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
O, people of Ephesus.

Men: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Men usually refers only to men, but can refer to people in general. There were probably both men and women in the crowd. In some languages a literal translation would wrongly exclude women. If that is true in your language, use a word or phrase that includes women. For example:

Citizens (New Jerusalem Bible)

19:35b–d

doesn’t everyone know that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasized the opinion that everyone in the world knew that the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven. Emphasize this opinion. Some ways are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? (English Standard Version)

• As a statement. For example:

Everyone knows that the city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of the sacred stone that fell down from heaven. (Good News Translation)

19:35b

doesn’t everyone know: This clause in Greek is literally “for who is of people who does not know.” It implies that everyone knows. It exaggerates how many people know. It implies that the people should stop chanting.

19:35c

the city of Ephesus is guardian of the temple: Certain people in Ephesus were responsible to take care of the temple and protect it. The people of the city supported this.

Here some languages must refer to the people of the city rather than the city itself. Other ways to translate this clause are:

the city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple (Good News Translation)
-or-
the city of Ephesus is the caretaker of the temple
-or-
the people of Ephesus took care of the temple

19:35d

and of her image, which fell from heaven: The word of indicates that the people of Ephesus also guarded the image.

her image, which fell from heaven: The Greek words are literally “the (thing), fallen from heaven.” The thing that fell was probably a meteorite. It may have been roughly shaped like a person. When people found it, they probably did not carve it or shape it in any way. The people probably thought it looked like Artemis. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

the sacred stone that fell down from heaven (Good News Translation)
-or-
the rock that is her likeness that fell from heaven

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