Acts 19:38 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If Demetrius and his craftsmen have a real complaint, the courts are open and there are proconsuls; let the parties bring lawful charges.
What Does Acts 19:38 Mean?
The clerk points the aggrieved to due process. Court days are held, and Rome's proconsuls sit to hear cases; a grievance about trade belongs before judges, not before a shrieking theatre. If Demetrius has a matter against any man, the law is open.
Civil order is a real gift, and the people of God may gratefully stand on it; Paul will appeal to lawful process again and again (Acts 22:25; 25:10-11). Justice by rule rather than by roar reflects, however dimly, a deeper order: the Judge of all the earth shall do right (Gen 18:25).
Acts 19:38 in the Original Language
anthypatos (ἀνθύπατος), 'deputies' -- a Roman proconsul, the governor who heard cases in a province.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 19:38
What does Acts 19:38 mean?
If Demetrius and his craftsmen have a real complaint, the courts are open and there are proconsuls; let the parties bring lawful charges.