For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For indeed we are in danger of being accused concerning today’s riot, there being no cause. Concerning it, we wouldn’t be able to give an account of this commotion.”
- KJV 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.
- NKJV 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.”
- NASB 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.”
- NLT 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.”
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
The clerk warned that the city itself risked being charged by Rome over this baseless riot.
Overview
Fear of Roman discipline for unrest gave the clerk his final argument to disperse the crowd. With no real cause to justify the commotion, the assembly had to break up. God used this concern for civil order to bring the dangerous uproar to a peaceful end, preserving Paul and his mission.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Acts 20:1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples. And after encouraging them, he said goodbye to them and left for Macedonia.
- Acts 21:38“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness?”
- Acts 21:31While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil.
- 1 Kgs 1:41Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.
- Acts 17:5–8The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people.
- Matt 26:5“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
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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 19:40 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.