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.
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.”
- BSB For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.”
- 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 20:1And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
- Acts 21:38Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
- Acts 21:31And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
- 1 Kgs 1:41And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
- Acts 17:5–8But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
- Matt 26:5But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
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.
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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.