Even some of Paul’s friends who were officials of the province of Asia sent word to him, begging him not to venture into the theatre.
Parallel translations
- WEB Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.
- KJV And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
- NKJV Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.
- NASB Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent word to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater.
- NLT Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even some Asiarchs, friendly officials, urged Paul not to risk entering the theater.
Overview
The Asiarchs were prominent civic leaders, and their friendship shows Paul had earned respect even among the elite. Their warning confirms how real the danger was. The verse also reflects that the gospel was making inroads across society, not only among the poor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Acts 19:10This continued for two years, so that everyone who lived in the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord.
- Acts 16:6After the Holy Spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia.
- Prov 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
- Acts 21:12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 19:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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