Acts 19:40

Mace New Testament

for we run the risk of being answerable for this day's sedition: there being no justifiable occasion for such a commotion."

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Because if we don't, then Rome is going to think we are rioting and we'll be in a real mess then."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering."

Legacy Standard Bible
For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no cause for which we can give as an account for this disorderly gathering."

Bible in Basic English
For, truly, we are in danger of being made responsible for this day's trouble, there being no cause for it: and we are not able to give any reason for this coming together.

Darby Translation
For also we are in danger to be put in accusation for sedition for this [affair] of to-day, no cause existing in reference to which we shall be able to give a reason for this concourse.

New King James Version
For we are in danger of being called in question for today's uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering."

Christian Standard Bible®
In fact, we run a risk of being charged with rioting for what happened today, since there is no justification that we can give as a reason for this disorderly gathering."

World English Bible
For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn't be able to give an account of this commotion."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And indeed we are in danger to be questioned for sedition, concerning this day; there being no cause, whereby we can account for this concourse.

Weymouth's New Testament
For in connexion with to-day's proceedings there is danger of our being charged with attempted insurrection, there having been no real reason for this riot; nor shall we be able to justify the behaviour of this disorderly mob."

King James Version (1611)
For we are in danger to be called in question for this dayes vprore, there being no cause whereby we may giue an accompt of this concourse.

Literal Translation
For we are in danger to be accused of insurrection concerning today, there being no cause about which we will be able to give account of this crowding together.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For we stonde in ioperdy to be accused of this dayes vproure: and yet is there no man giltye, of whom we mighte geue a rekenynge of this vproure.

Amplified Bible
"For we are running the risk of being accused of rioting in regard to today's events, and since there is no reason for it, we will be unable to give an account and justify this disorderly gathering."

American Standard Version
For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.

Revised Standard Version
For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, there being no cause that we can give to justify this commotion."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For we are in ieoperdy to be accused of this dayes busines: for as moche as ther is no cause wherby we maye geve a rekenynge of this concourse of people.

Update Bible Version
For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause [for it]: and as concerning it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Webster's Bible Translation
For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause by which we may give an account of this concourse.

Young's Literal Translation
for we are also in peril of being accused of insurrection in regard to this day, there being no occasion by which we shall be able to give an account of this concourse;'

New Century Version
I say this because some people might see this trouble today and say that we are rioting. We could not explain this, because there is no real reason for this meeting."

New English Translation
For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause we can give to explain this disorderly gathering."

Berean Standard Bible
For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today's events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion."

Contemporary English Version
We could easily be accused of starting a riot today. There is no excuse for it! We cannot even give a reason for this uproar.

Complete Jewish Bible
For we are in danger of being accused of rioting on account of what has happened today. There is no justification for it; and if we are asked, we will be unable to give any reasonable explanation for this disorderly gathering."

English Standard Version
For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion."

Geneva Bible (1587)
For we are euen in ieopardie to be accused of this dayes sedition, for as much as there is no cause, whereby we may giue a reason of this concourse of people.

George Lamsa Translation
For even now we are in danger of being charged with sedition, for we cannot give an answer concerning this day''s meeting, because we have assembled for no reason, and have been tumultuous without a cause.

Hebrew Names Version
For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn't be able to give an account of this commotion."

International Standard Version
For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, and there is no good reason we can give to justify this commotion."

Etheridge Translation
For now also are we standing in peril of being accused as disturbers, because we cannot make excuse for the concourse of this day, inasmuch as we have met uselessly, and have made a tumult without cause.

Murdock Translation
Because too we are now in danger of being accused as seditious, since we cannot give a reason for the meeting of this day, because we have assembled needlessly, and been tumultuous without a cause.

New Living Translation
I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won't know what to say."

New Life Bible
We are in danger of being asked about this trouble today. There is no good reason we can give for this meeting."

English Revised Version
For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day's riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.

New Revised Standard
For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For we are, even in danger of being accused of riot, concerning this day, no cause at all, existing, by reference to which we shall be able to give a reason for this concourse.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For we are even in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no man guilty (of whom we may give account) of this concourse.

King James Version
For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

Lexham English Bible
For indeed we are in danger of being accused of rioting concerning today, since there is no cause in relation to which we will be able to give an account concerning this disorderly gathering!" And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For we are in ieopardie to be accused of this dayes vprore, forasmuch as there is no cause, wherby we may geue a reckenyng of this concourse of people.

Easy-to-Read Version
I say this because someone might see this trouble today and say we are rioting. We could not explain all this trouble, because there is no real reason for this meeting."

New American Standard Bible
"For indeed, we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real reason for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering."

Good News Translation
For after what has happened today, there is the danger that we will be accused of a riot. There is no excuse for all this uproar, and we would not be able to give a good reason for it."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For whi we ben in perel to be repreuyd of this daies dissencioun, sithen no man is gilti, of whom we moun yelde resoun of this rennyng togidre.

Contextual Overview

²¹ after this, Paul had a design to pass thro' Macedonia and Achaia in his way to Jerusalem: purposing when he had been there to make a visit to Rome. ²² he sent therefore Timothy and Erastus, two of his assistants in the ministry, before to Macedonia; but stay'd himself in Asia for some time. ²³ It was then a tumult happen'd at Ephesus upon account of the christian sect. ²⁴ for one Demetrius, a silver-smith, who made little models of Diana's temple, and so furnish'd a deal of employment to the workmen in that trade, ²⁵ summon'd the company, and thus address'd them, "tho' you know, sirs, it is by this craft that we are in such plight, ²⁶ yet your own eyes and ears have inform'd you, that not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul by his persuasions has turn'd the heads of a world of people, asserting, that these are Gods of our own making, and not really such. ²⁷ so that not only our profession runs the risk of being vilified; but the temple of the great goddess Diana will be depreciated, and her majesty, so rever'd thro' all Asia, and the whole world, will be discarded." ²⁸ at these words, they were fir'd with indignation, and cry'd out, "great is Diana of the Ephesians." ²⁹ and the whole city was fill'd with confusion: all crouded in a body to the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, both of Macedonia, who had travell'd with Paul. ³⁰ upon this Paul was bent upon going. to the populace,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we are: Acts 17:5-8

uproar: Acts 20:1, Acts 21:31, Acts 21:38, 1 Kings 1:41, Matthew 26:5

Reciprocal: Acts 19:32 - and the

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For we are in danger of being called in question,.... Or are liable to be called to an account, reproved, and punished by the Roman proconsul, appointed over this city, or by the Roman emperor, or the Roman senate: for this day's uproar; it being capable of being interpreted as a riot, tumult, and sedition:

there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse: or no reason can be assigned, why such a number of people should gather together; none can be given that will justify it, or that can be alleged in favour of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To be called in question - By the government; by the Roman authority. Such a tumult, continued for so long. a time, would be likely to attract the attention of the magistrates, and expose them to their displeasure. Popular commotions were justly dreaded by the Roman government; and such an assembly as this, convened without any good cause, would not escape their notice. There was a Roman law which made it capital for anyone to be engaged in promoting a riot. Sui coetum, et concursum fecerit, capite puniatur: “He who raises a mob, let him be punished with death.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 19:40. For we are in danger, c.] Popular commotions were always dreaded by the Roman government and so they should by all governments; for, when might has nothing to direct its operations but passion, how destructive must these operations be! One of the Roman laws made all such commotions of the people capital offenses against those who raised them. Qui caetum et concursus fecerit, capite puniatur: "He who raises a mob shall forfeit his life." If such a law existed at Ephesus-and it probably did, from this reference to it in the words of the town-clerk or recorder-then Demetrius must feel himself in great personal danger; and that his own life lay now at the mercy of those whom he had accused, concerning whom he had raised such an outcry, and against whom nothing disorderly could be proved.