Bible Strands
Acts 19:29
Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the immediate reaction to the silversmiths' riot, as the Ephesian crowd converges on the theater to seize Paul’s Macedonian companions, Gaius and Aristarchus.
The words — ὥρμησεν (hōrmēsen) means they rushed or made a sudden charge, while συγχύσεως (sugchuseōs) denotes the state of confusion or disarray gripping the city.
The thread — Gaius and Aristarchus reappear as Paul’s associates in Acts 20:4 and Acts 27:2, while Colossians 4:10 identifies Aristarchus as a fellow prisoner.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that gospel proclamation triggers tangible social disruption, requiring readers to account for the concrete costs of aligning with Paul’s mission.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
Cross-references
- Acts 20:4 Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
- Acts 27:2 We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
- Colossians 4:10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas. You have already received instructions about him: If he comes to you, welcome him.
- Philemon 1:24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
- Acts 19:22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia.
- Acts 21:30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
- Romans 16:23 Gaius, who has hosted me and all the church, sends you greetings. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you greetings, as does our brother Quartus.
- 1 Corinthians 1:14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
- 1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
- Acts 16:9 During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”