Lexical Summary katastelló: To calm, to quiet, to restrain, to settle Original Word: καταστέλλω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance appease, quiet. From kata and stello; to put down, i.e. Quell -- appease, quiet. see GREEK kata see GREEK stello NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and stelló Definition to keep down NASB Translation keep calm (1), quieting (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2687: καταστέλλωκαταστέλλω: 1 aorist participle καταστείλας; perfect passive participle κατεσταλμενος; a. properly, to send or put down, to lower. b. to put or keep down one who is roused or incensed, to repress, restrain, appease, quiet: τινα, Acts 19:35; 3Macc. 6:1; Josephus, Antiquities 20, 8, 7; b. j. 4, 4, 4; Plutarch, mor., p. 207 e. The verb behind Strong’s Greek number 2687 describes the act of bringing a turbulent situation, emotion, or crowd under control. It conveys a decisive calming or restraining influence, not mere suggestion. In secular Greek the term could refer to furling a sail, lowering an object, or subduing an uprising. When transferred to the moral or spiritual realm, it emphasizes firm but measured action that restores order. Occurrences in the New Testament The Holy Spirit chose this verb only twice, both in the narrative of the riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:35-36). The rarity of the term heightens its significance. Luke, a careful historian, selects it to spotlight the sudden shift from chaos to composure: • Acts 19:35 – “After the city clerk had quieted the crowd…” In verse 35 the aorist participle portrays the clerk’s immediate, effective action; in verse 36 the perfect participle presents a settled, ongoing state the crowd should maintain. Historical Setting: The Riot in Ephesus Ephesus was the proud custodian of the great temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Paul’s preaching had so threatened the local idol-making industry that a guild of silversmiths incited a mob (Acts 19:23-34). The tumult endangered both life and civic reputation; Roman authorities dealt harshly with public disorder. Into this volatile scene the town clerk stepped, and by God’s providence his words “quieted the crowd.” The term underscores his role as a God-ordained civil servant (compare Romans 13:1-4) who, knowingly or not, preserved the missionaries and the fledgling church. Behind the official’s diplomacy stands the sovereign Lord who restrains evil and protects gospel advance. Theological Reflection: God’s Restraining Grace Scripture consistently reveals the Lord’s capacity to subdue turmoil: • Psalm 65:7 – He “stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.” Strong’s 2687 in Acts 19 shows that this divine pattern continues under the New Covenant. While human agents speak, God grants the effectiveness. Thus the episode models common grace restraint that makes ongoing evangelism possible (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Practical Ministry Lessons 1. Responsible Citizenship: Believers may serve within civic structures to preserve peace (Jeremiah 29:7). The town clerk, though likely an unbeliever, illustrates how lawful authority can be used to restrain violence and protect Christian witness. 2. Peacemaking: Church leaders are called to calm inflamed situations with measured words (James 3:18). The same Spirit who empowered the clerk’s pacifying speech equips pastors, elders, and every disciple to defuse conflict. 3. Spiritual Self-Control: The perfect participle in Acts 19:36 reminds disciples that calmness is to become a settled habit, not a fleeting emotion (Galatians 5:23). 4. Proclamation and Protection: The gospel often provokes opposition, yet God can quiet hostility long enough for truth to be heard (1 Corinthians 16:8-9). Mission strategy should anticipate both turbulence and God-given windows of peace. Connections to Old Testament Imagery The Septuagint uses related terms for furling sails or soothing fears, painting vivid pictures of rest after storm. When Luke employs the verb in Acts, he taps into that heritage: just as the Lord hushed the waves for Jonah and the disciples (Jonah 1:15; Mark 4:39), He now hushes a pagan crowd. Christological Insight Jesus Christ embodies divine restraint. On the cross He declined to summon legions of angels (Matthew 26:53) and “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth…when He suffered, He made no threats” (1 Peter 2:22-23). The same Savior who literally silenced the Sea of Galilee also empowers His people to silence unrest within and around them. Eschatological Perspective Current divine restraint foreshadows the ultimate pacification of creation when “nation will no longer lift up sword against nation” (Isaiah 2:4). Until then, every instance of God’s calming intervention, such as in Acts 19, previews the peace of Christ’s kingdom. Summary Strong’s Greek 2687 pictures God’s decisive action—often through human instruments—to quell disorder and establish tranquility. Its twin appearances in Acts 19 reveal the Lord preserving His messengers, protecting His church, and demonstrating that His gospel advances not only through miraculous signs but also through providential restraint. In every age the people of God are called to cooperate with that restraining grace, embodying calm confidence amid a restless world. Englishman's Concordance Acts 19:35 V-APA-NMSGRK: καταστείλας δὲ τὸν NAS: After quieting the crowd, KJV: when the townclerk had appeased the people, INT: having calmed moreover the Acts 19:36 V-RPM/P-AMP Strong's Greek 2687 |
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