Teks -- Acts 19:33 (NET)

19:33 Some of the crowd concluded it was about Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. Alexander, gesturing with his hand, was wanting to make a defense before the public assembly.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Act 19:33 - And they brought Alexander out of the crowd

And they brought Alexander out of the crowd ( ek de tou ochlou sunebibasan Alexandron ).

The correct text (Aleph A B) has this verb sunebibasan (from sunbibazō , to put together) instead of proebibasan (from probibazō , to put forward). It is a graphic word, causal of bainō , to go, and occurs in Act 16:10; Col 2:19; Eph 4:16. Evidently some of the Jews grew afraid that the mob would turn on the Jews as well as on the Christians. Paul was a Jew and so was Aristarchus, one of the prisoners. The Jews were as strongly opposed to idolatry as were the Christians.

Robertson: Act 19:33 - The Jews putting him forward

The Jews putting him forward ( probalontōn auton tōn Ioudaiōn ).

Genitive absolute of the second aorist active participle of proballō , old verb to push forward as leaves in the spring (Luk 21:30). In the N.T. only in these two passages. Alexandria had already disgraceful scenes of Jew-baiting and there was real peril now in Ephesus with this wild mob. So Alexander was pushed forward as the champion to defend the Jews to the excited mob. He may be the same Alexander the coppersmith who did Paul much evil (2Ti 4:14), against whom Paul will warn Timothy then in Ephesus. "The Jews were likely to deal in the copper and silver required for the shrines, so he may have had some trade connexion with the craftsmen which would give him influence"(Furneaux).

Robertson: Act 19:33 - Beckoned with the hand

Beckoned with the hand ( kataseisas tān cheira ).

Old verb kataseiō , to shake down, here the hand, rapidly waving the hand up and down to get a hearing. In the N.T. elsewhere only in Act 12:17; Act 13:16; Act 21:40 where "with the hand"(tāi cheiri , instrumental case) is used instead of tān cheira (the accusative).

Robertson: Act 19:33 - Would have made a defence unto the people

Would have made a defence unto the people ( āthelen apologeisthai tōi dēmōi ).

Imperfect active, wanted to make a defence, tried to, started to, but apparently never got out a word. Apologeisthai (present middle infinitive, direct middle, to defend oneself), regular word for formal apology, but in N.T. only by Luke and Paul (twice in Gospel, six times in Acts, and in Rom 2:15; 2Co 12:19).

Vincent: Act 19:33 - They drew

They drew ( προεβίβασαν )

More correctly, urged forward. See on before instructed, Mat 14:8.

Wesley: Act 19:33 - And they thrust forward

Namely, the artificers and workmen, Alexander - Probably some well - known Christian whom they saw in the crowd: the Jews pushing him on - To expose him to the more danger.

Wesley: Act 19:33 - And Alexander waving with his hand

In token of desiring silence, would have made a defence - For himself and his brethren.

JFB: Act 19:30-34 - when Paul would have entered in

With noble forgetfulness of self.

JFB: Act 19:30-34 - unto the people

The demos, that is, the people met in public assembly.

JFB: Act 19:30-34 - 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.

JFB: Act 19:33 - they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward

Rather, "some of the multitude urged forward Alexander, the Jews thrusting him forward." As the blame of such a tumult would naturally be thrown upon the Jews, who were regarded by the Romans as the authors of all religious disturbances, they seem to have put forward this man to clear them of all responsibility for the riot. (BENGEL'S conjecture, that this was Alexander the coppersmith, 2Ti 4:14, has little to support it).

JFB: Act 19:33 - beckoned with the hand

Compare Act 13:16; Act 21:40.

JFB: Act 19:33 - would have made his defence

"offered to speak in defense."

Clarke: Act 19:33 - They drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward

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, 2Ti 4:14, and whom, with Philetus, he was obliged to excommunicate, 1Ti 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.

Calvin: Act 19:33 - They drew out Alexander

33.They drew out Alexander It is to be thought that the Jews did not send forth this Alexander to plead the common cause of the nation, but that they were desirous to bring him before the people that he might be murdered. Nevertheless, the name Jew made him to be so hated, that they did outrageously refuse whatsoever he was about to speak in the matter and cause; yea, he did hardly escape with his life in such an uproar. Moreover, it is uncertain whether this be that Alexander of whom Paul maketh mention elsewhere, ( Tit 1:20; and 2Ti 4:14) yet the conjecture seemeth to me allowable. But and if we believe that it is he, let us learn by this fearful example to walk circumspectly, lest Satan carry us away into like falling away [defection]. For we see that he who was at the point to suffer martyrdom, became a treacherous and wicked revolt [apostate]. −

TSK: Act 19:33 - Alexander // beckoned // his

Alexander : 1Ti 1:20; 2Ti 4:14

beckoned : Act 12:17, Act 13:16, Act 21:40, Act 24:10; Luk 1:22

his : Act 22:1, Act 26:1, Act 26:2; Phi 1:7

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Act 19:33 - They drew Alexander out of the multitude // Alexander // Beckoned with the hand

They drew Alexander out of the multitude where he could not be seen and heard, unto some more convenient place, from whence he might make a vindication or defence for them; and that most likely in behalf of the Jews, who were equally obnoxious to the rage of the people for being against their idolatry, as the Christians were. This

Alexander is thought to have been that Alexander of whom we read, 1Ti 1:20 2Ti 4:14 : though some think that this was another of that name.

Beckoned with the hand to procure silence; as Act 12:17 .

Gill: Act 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

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude,.... Or "some of the multitude brought forth Alexander"; into the theatre, in order to kill him, by casting him to the wild beasts. Some think this is the same with Alexander the coppersmith, who apostatized upon this danger he was exposed to, and became a blasphemer, and a great enemy of the apostle, and did him much evil, 1Ti 1:20. This man, though his name was a Greek name, yet was a Jew, as is expressed in Act 19:34 and from the times of Alexander the great, who was at Jerusalem, this name became common among the Jews; See Gill on Act 4:6.

The Jews putting him forward; being equally enemies to him, as being under a profession of Christianity, as the Heathens were; or as the Syriac version reads, "the people of the Jews", that were there, out of themselves, pitched upon him as a proper person to still the uproar; and they brought him out of the multitude, to a convenient place, where he might be heard; and they the rather were forward to this, that he might lay all the blame of this confusion and uproar upon Paul and his companions, whom the Jews had an aversion to, as well as the Gentiles:

and Alexander beckoned with the hand; for silence, that he might be heard:

and would have made his defence unto the people; which looks as if he was a Christian, or at least was charged with being one, and was in danger of his life on that account; and therefore was desirous of being heard, that he might make an apology for the Christians, or remove such an imputation from himself, if he was not.