Acts 16:19 When the girl's owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

◄ Acts 16:19 ►

New International Version
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.

New Living Translation
Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.

English Standard Version
But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

Berean Standard Bible
When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

Berean Literal Bible
Now her masters having seen that their hope of profit was gone, having taken hold of Paul and Silas, dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

King James Bible
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

New King James Version
But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

New American Standard Bible
But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was suddenly gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities,

NASB 1995
But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities,

NASB 1977
But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities,

Legacy Standard Bible
But when her masters saw that their hope of profit had left, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities,

Amplified Bible
But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the market place [where trials were held],

Christian Standard Bible
When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

American Standard Version
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

Contemporary English Version
When the girl's owners realized they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court.

English Revised Version
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the public square.

Good News Translation
When her owners realized that their chance of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the authorities in the public square.

International Standard Version
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities who met together in the public square.

Majority Standard Bible
When the girl?s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.

NET Bible
But when her owners saw their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.

New Heart English Bible
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the market-place to the rulers,

Weymouth New Testament
But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them off to the magistrates in the public square.

World English Bible
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And her masters having seen that the hope of their employment was gone, having caught Paul and Silas, drew [them] into the marketplace, to the rulers,

Berean Literal Bible
Now her masters having seen that their hope of profit was gone, having taken hold of Paul and Silas, dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.

Young's Literal Translation
And her masters having seen that the hope of their employment was gone, having caught Paul and Silas, drew them to the market-place, unto the rulers,

Smith's Literal Translation
And her lords having seen that the hope of their gain went out, taking Paul and Silas, they drew to the assembly to the rulers,

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But her masters, seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, apprehending Paul and Silas, brought them into the marketplace to the rulers.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But her masters, seeing that the hope of their profit went away, apprehended Paul and Silas, and they brought them to the rulers at the courthouse.

New American Bible
When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the public square before the local authorities.

New Revised Standard Version
But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when her masters saw that the hope for their business was lost with her power, they seized Paul and Silas and beat them and brought them to the market place.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
When her masters saw that the hope of their business had departed from her, they seized Paulus and Shila, and they dragged and brought them to the marketplace.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the market to the rulers.

Godbey New Testament
And her masters seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, arresting Paul and Silas, dragged them into the forum to the rulers,

Haweis New Testament
But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the forum before the chief rulers,

Mace New Testament
her masters finding they had lost such a prospect of gain, seized upon Paul and Silas, and hawl'd them to the publick place before the magistrates.

Weymouth New Testament
But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them off to the magistrates in the public square.

Worrell New Testament
But her masters, seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, laying hold on Paul and Silas, dragged them into the market-place before the rulers;

Worsley New Testament
And he came out that instant. And when her masters saw, that the hope of their gain was gone, they seized on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the court to the magistrates.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Paul and Silas Imprisoned
…18She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment. 19When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace. 20They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Acts 19:24-27
It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen. / Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. / And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. ...

Acts 17:5-9
The 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. / But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, / and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!” ...

Acts 6:12-14
So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, / where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. / For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”

Acts 21:30-31
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. / While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil.

Acts 19:23
About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.

Acts 4:1-3
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, / greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. / They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.

Acts 5:17-18
Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They went out / and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

Acts 14:19
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, presuming he was dead.

Acts 13:50
The Jews, however, incited the religious women of prominence and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their district.

Acts 18:12-13
While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews coordinated an attack on Paul and brought him before the judgment seat. / “This man is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law,” they said.

Acts 22:22-23
The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!” / As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,

Acts 23:12-15
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...

Acts 24:5-6
We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, / and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.

Acts 25:7
When Paul arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove.

Acts 26:21
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.

Treasury of Scripture

And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace to the rulers,

the hope.

Acts 19:24-27
For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; …

1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

they.

Acts 9:16
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Acts 14:5,19
And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them, …

Acts 15:26
Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

market-place.

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Authorities Caught Dragged Drew Employment Face Gain Gains Girl Hold Hope Hopes Laid Magistrates Making Market Marketplace Market-Place Masters Money Owners Paul Profit Public Pulling Realized Rulers Seized Silas Slave Square

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Acts 16

1. Paul and Silas are Joined by Timothy,
7. and being called by the Spirit from one country to another,
14. convert Lydia,
16. and cast out a spirit of divination;
19. for which cause they are whipped and imprisoned.
25. The prison doors are opened.
31. The jailor is converted,
35. and they are delivered.

Berean Study Bible

When her owners saw
The phrase "her owners" refers to the men who had legal possession of the slave girl mentioned earlier in Acts 16. In the Greco-Roman world, slavery was a common institution, and individuals could own slaves as property. The Greek word for "owners" here is "κύριοι" (kurioi), which can also mean "lords" or "masters." This highlights the power dynamics at play, where the owners had complete control over the girl’s life and were exploiting her for financial gain. The use of "saw" indicates a moment of realization, where the owners recognized the immediate impact of Paul’s actions on their economic interests.

that their hope of making money was gone
The "hope of making money" refers to the financial gain the owners were receiving from the girl's ability to predict the future through a spirit of divination. The Greek word for "hope" is "ἐλπίς" (elpis), which conveys an expectation or confidence in future profit. The phrase "was gone" signifies a sudden loss, as Paul’s exorcism of the spirit from the girl removed her ability to generate income for her owners. This underscores the conflict between the spiritual liberation brought by the Gospel and the materialistic pursuits of the world.

they seized Paul and Silas
The act of seizing Paul and Silas demonstrates the owners' immediate and forceful reaction to their loss. The Greek word "ἐπιλαμβάνομαι" (epilambanomai) means to take hold of or arrest, indicating a physical and aggressive action. This reflects the hostility faced by early Christians when their message disrupted societal norms and economic structures. Paul and Silas, as representatives of the Christian faith, became targets of this anger and were treated as criminals.

and dragged them into the marketplace
The "marketplace," or "ἀγορά" (agora) in Greek, was the central public space in ancient cities where people gathered for commerce, socializing, and legal matters. By dragging Paul and Silas there, the owners intended to publicly accuse them and incite a communal response. This setting emphasizes the public nature of the conflict and the societal pressure against the spread of Christianity. The marketplace was not just a place of trade but also a venue for public discourse and judgment.

to face the authorities
The "authorities" refers to the local magistrates or rulers who had the power to adjudicate legal matters. The Greek term "ἄρχοντας" (archontas) denotes leaders or officials with governing authority. By bringing Paul and Silas before the authorities, the owners sought legal retribution and possibly punishment for the disruption caused. This highlights the legal challenges faced by the early church and the opposition from established power structures. The confrontation with authorities is a recurring theme in Acts, illustrating the tension between the nascent Christian movement and the existing political order.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) That the hope of their gains was gone.--Better, of their occupation. The word for "gains" is the same as that translated "gain" and "craft" in Acts 19:24-25. There is something like a prophetic significance in the use, at this stage, of the word which was the key to nearly all the persecutions to which the early believers were exposed. Men could tolerate varieties of worship or the speculations of philosophers: they were roused to madness by that which threatened their business. The use in the Greek of the same verb for "was gone," as had been used in the previous verse for "come out," gives an emphasis which the English does not reproduce. Their business and the spirit of divination "passed away" together.

Paul and Silas.--Luke and Timotheus escaped, probably, as less conspicuous.

Drew them into the marketplace.--The marketplace, or Agora, was, in all Greek cities, the centre of social life. In Philippi, as a colonia, reproducing the arrangements of Rome, it would answer to the Forum, where the magistrates habitually sat. What had taken place would naturally cause excitement and attract a crowd.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - But for and, A.V.; gain for gains, A.V. (ἐργασία, as ver. 16); bald hold on for caught, A.V.; dragged for drew, A.V.; before for unto, A.V. The rulers (οἱ ἄρχοντες); the archons. Meyer thinks these were the city judges, or magistrates (who always had their court in the ἀγορά, or forum), by whom Paul and Silas were sent to the praetors (στρατηγοί) for judgment. So in Luke 12:58, the litigants go to the ἀρχών, first, and he sends them on to the κριτής, or judge, who orders them for punishment. This seems a more probable explanation than that commonly adopted (Howson, Alford, Renan, Lewin, etc.), that the ἄρχοντες and the στρατηγοί mean the same officers. No reason can be conceived for Luke's calling them ἄρχοντες if he meant στρατηγοί, or for naming the office's twice over when once was sufficient. Nor is it likely that officers of such high rank as the duumviri, or proctors, as they had come to be called, should be always in the forum, to try every petty case (see articles "Colonia, Duumviri," and "Praetor," in 'Dict. of Greek and Roman Antiquities'). It seems, therefore, that Meyer's explanation is right. At Athens the general term ἄρχοντες was applied to inferior magistrates, as well as to the nine archons ('Dict. of Greek and Roman Antiquities' "Archon"). Ver. 20. - When they had brought for brought, A.V.; unto for to, A.V.; they said for saying, A.V. The magistrates; στρατηγοί, i.e. the praetors. Philippi, being a colony, was governed by Roman magistrates called duumviri, corresponding to the two consuls at Rome. But we learn from Cicero that in his time the duuraviri in the colonies were beginning to be called praetors, a little previously used only at Rome ('De Leg. Agrar.,' 34), and to be preceded by lictors (ῤάβδουχαοι of ver. 35). Two inscriptions have been found in which the duumviri of Philippi are mentioned (Lewin, p. 26).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

[When]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[the girl’s]
αὐτῆς (autēs)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

owners
κύριοι (kyrioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

saw
Ἰδόντες (Idontes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

hope
ἐλπὶς (elpis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1680: Hope, expectation, trust, confidence. From a primary elpo; expectation or confidence.

of
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

making money
ἐργασίας (ergasias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2039: From ergates; occupation; by implication, profit, pains.

was gone,
ἐξῆλθεν (exēlthen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1831: To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.

they seized
ἐπιλαβόμενοι (epilabomenoi)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1949: To lay hold of, take hold of, seize (sometimes with beneficent, sometimes with hostile, intent).

Paul
Παῦλον (Paulon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Silas
Σιλᾶν (Silan)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4609: Silas, a pet-form of the name Silvanus; a Roman citizen and a helper of Paul. Contraction for Silouanos; Silas, a Christian.

[and] dragged [them]
εἵλκυσαν (heilkysan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1670: To drag, draw, pull, persuade, unsheathe. Or helko hel'-ko; probably akin to haireomai; to drag.

before
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

authorities
ἄρχοντας (archontas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 758: Present participle of archo; a first.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

marketplace.
ἀγορὰν (agoran)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 58: From ageiro; properly, the town-square; by implication, a market or thoroughfare.

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NT Apostles: Acts 16:19 But when her masters saw that (Acts of the Apostles Ac)