Discovery BoxActs 19:33 
Context19:33 Some of the crowd concluded 1 it was about 2 Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. 3 Alexander, gesturing 4 with his hand, was wanting to make a defense 5 before the public assembly. 6
Acts 17:5
Context17:5 But the Jews became jealous, 7 and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, 8 they formed a mob 9 and set the city in an uproar. 10 They attacked Jason’s house, 11 trying to find Paul and Silas 12 to bring them out to the assembly. 13
1 tn Or “Some of the crowd gave instructions to.”
2 tn The words “it was about” are not in the Greek text but are implied; ᾿Αλέξανδρον (Alexandron) is taken to be an accusative of general reference.
3 tn BDAG 865 s.v. προβάλλω 1 has “to cause to come forward, put forward…τινά someone…push someone forward to speak in the theater…Ac 19:33.”
4 tn Or “motioning.”
5 sn The nature of Alexander’s defense is not clear. It appears he was going to explain, as a Jew, that the problem was not caused by Jews, but by those of “the Way.” However, he never got a chance to speak.
6 tn Or “before the crowd.” According to BDAG 223 s.v. δῆμος 2, “in a Hellenistic city, a convocation of citizens called together for the purpose of transacting official business, popular assembly…ἀπολογεῖσθαι τῷ δ. make a defense before the assembly vs. 33.”
7 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).
8 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.”
9 tn On this term, which is a NT hapax legomenon, see BDAG 745 s.v. ὀχλοποιέω.
10 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.
11 sn The attack took place at Jason’s house because this was probably the location of the new house church.
12 tn Grk “them”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
13 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.”
