Discovery BoxActs 17:5 
Context17:5 But the Jews became jealous, 1 and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, 2 they formed a mob 3 and set the city in an uproar. 4 They attacked Jason’s house, 5 trying to find Paul and Silas 6 to bring them out to the assembly. 7
Acts 19:35
Context19:35 After the city secretary 8 quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person 9 is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper 10 of the temple of the great Artemis 11 and of her image that fell from heaven? 12
Acts 21:26
Context21:26 Then Paul took the men the next day, 13 and after he had purified himself 14 along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice 15 of the completion of the days of purification, 16 when 17 the sacrifice would be offered for each 18 of them.
1 tn Grk “becoming jealous.” The participle ζηλώσαντες (zhlwsante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. So elsewhere in Acts (5:17; 7:9; 13:45).
2 tn Literally ἀγοραῖος (agoraio") refers to the crowd in the marketplace, although BDAG 14-15 s.v. ἀγοραῖος 1 gives the meaning, by extension, as “rabble.” Such a description is certainly appropriate in this context. L&N 15.127 translates the phrase “worthless men from the streets.”
3 tn On this term, which is a NT hapax legomenon, see BDAG 745 s.v. ὀχλοποιέω.
4 tn BDAG 458 s.v. θορυβέω 1 has “set the city in an uproar, start a riot in the city” for the meaning of ἐθορύβουν (eqoruboun) in this verse.
5 sn The attack took place at Jason’s house because this was probably the location of the new house church.
6 tn Grk “them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn BDAG 223 s.v. δῆμος 2 has “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly προάγειν εἰς τὸν δ. Ac 17:5.”
8 tn Or “clerk.” The “scribe” (γραμματεύς, grammateu") was the keeper of the city’s records.
9 tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo").
10 tn See BDAG 670 s.v. νεωκόρος. The city is described as the “warden” or “guardian” of the goddess and her temple.
11 sn Artemis was a Greek goddess worshiped particularly in Asia Minor, whose temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, was located just outside the city of Ephesus.
12 tn Or “from the sky” (the same Greek word means both “heaven” and “sky”).
sn The expression fell from heaven adds a note of apologetic about the heavenly origin of the goddess. The city’s identity and well-being was wrapped up with this connection, in their view. Many interpreters view her image that fell from heaven as a stone meteorite regarded as a sacred object.
13 tn BDAG 422 s.v. ἔχω 11.b.β has “temporal, to be next, immediately following…τῇ ἐχομένῃ…on the next day Lk 13:33…Ac 20:15; w. ἡμέρᾳ added…21:26.”
14 tn That is, after he had undergone ritual cleansing. The aorist passive participle ἁγνισθείς (Jagnisqei") has been taken temporally of antecedent action.
15 tn Grk “entered the temple, giving notice.” The participle διαγγέλλων (diangellwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
16 sn The days of purification refers to the days of ritual cleansing.
17 tn Grk “until” (BDAG 423 s.v. ἕως 1.b.β.א), but since in English it is somewhat awkward to say “the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice would be offered,” the temporal clause was translated “when the sacrifice would be offered.” The point is that the sacrifice would be offered when the days were completed. Paul honored the request of the Jewish Christian leadership completely. As the following verse makes clear, the vow was made for seven days.
18 tn Grk “for each one.”
