Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 19]
19:29 {With the confusion} (\t•s sugchuse•s\). Genitive case
after \epl•sth•\. An old word, but in the N.T. only here, from
verb \sugche•\, to pour together like a flood (only in Acts in
the N.T.). Vivid description of the inevitable riot that followed
"the appearance of such a body in the crowded agora of an
excitable city" (Rackham) "vociferating the city's watch-word."
{They rushed} (\h•rm•san\). Ingressive aorist active indicative
of \horma•\, old verb for impetuous dashing, a case of mob
psychology (mob mind), with one accord (\homothumadon\ as in Ac
1:14, etc.). {Into the theatre} (\eis to theatron\). A place for
seeing (\theaomai\) spectacles, originally for dramatic
representation (Thucydides, Herodotus), then for the spectators,
then for the spectacle or show (1Co 4:9). The theatre
(amphitheatre) at Ephesus can still be traced in the ruins (Wood,
_Ephesus_) and shows that it was of enormous size capable of
seating fifty-six thousand persons (some estimate it only
24,500). It was the place for large public gatherings of any sort
out of doors like our football and baseball parks. In particular,
gladiatorial shows were held in these theatres. {Having seized
Gaius and Aristarchus men of Macedonia} (\sunarpasantes Gaion kai
Aristarchon Makedonas\). See 6:12 for this same verb. They
wanted some victims for this "gladiatorial" show. These two men
were "Paul's companions in travel" (\sunekd•mous Paulou\),
together (\sun\) with Paul in being abroad, away from home or
people (\ek-d•mous\, late word, in the N.T. only here and 2Co
8:19). How the mob got hold of Gaius (Ac 20:4) and Aristarchus
(20:4; 27:2; Col 4:10; Phm 1:24) we do not know whether by
accidental recognition or by search after failure to get Paul. In
Ro 16:4 Paul speaks of Priscilla and Aquila as those "who for
my life laid down their own necks." Paul lived with them in
Ephesus as in Corinth. It is possible that Demetrius led the mob
to their house and that they refused to allow Paul to go or to be
seized at the risk of their own lives. Paul himself may have been
desperately ill at this time as we know was the case once during
his stay in Ephesus when he felt the answer of death in himself
(2Co 1:9) and when God rescued him. That may mean that, ill as
he was, Paul wanted to go and face the mob in the theatre,
knowing that it meant certain death.
19:30 {And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people}
(\Paulou de boulomenou eiselthein eis ton d•mon\). Genitive
absolute. Plainly Paul wanted to face the howling mob, whether it
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