Although “confusion” (Moffatt, Revised Standard Version, New English Bible) correctly represents the original meaning of the word used by Luke, the present context seems to demand something stronger, and so the Good News Translation and others have translated it uproar (Phillips, Jerusalem Bible). In many languages, however, one cannot speak of “an uproar spreading.” Rather, one must say “more and more people throughout the whole city began to shout.”

In Greek the subject of grabbed is left undefined, and most translators have simply stated “they grabbed.” It is clear from the context that the people of the city are referred to (see An American Translation* “the people”), though in the present setting they are acting as a mob (so also Jerusalem Bible).

Gaius and Aristarchus are here defined as two Macedonians, while in 20.4 Aristarchus is said to have come from Thessalonica and Gaius from Derbe. But Gaius was a quite common name (see Romans 16.23; 1 Corinthians 1.14; 3 John 1), and it is very possible that two different persons are referred to in this chapter and in the following.

With them translates the same adverbial expression as was rendered gathered in 1.14 (see the discussion there).

In translating the expression rushed with them, it is important to avoid the impression that Gaius and Aristarchus rushed along with them. Rather, “they were caused to rush to the theater” or “they dragged them quickly to the theater.”

The theater in Ephesus was quite large; its seating capacity has been estimated at almost 26,000. In translating theater it is important to avoid any term which would suggest simply a cinema. Although in ancient times theaters were constructed primarily for the presentation of public events, including drama, they were also used for town meetings. Unless one is prepared to have an adequate marginal note to explain the significance of a theater, it may useful in this passage to use a descriptive equivalent of theater by translating “to the place where the people in the city gathered.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .