Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 19:31

"And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre." — Acts 19:31 (ASV)

The riot faced Paul with an extremely serious situation. He wanted to appear before the assembly, doubtless believing that because of his Roman citizenship and his earlier successful appearances before government officials, he could quiet the mob, free his companions, and turn the whole affair to the advantage of the Gospel. But his Ephesian converts would not let him enter the theater, and even some of “the officials of the province” (lit., “Asiarchs”; GK 825) who were his friends sent an urgent message for him not to go there. The Asiarchs were members of the noblest and wealthiest families of the province of Asia and were bound together in a league for promoting the cult of the emperor. While they did not have political authority, they served Rome’s interests by securing loyalty to Roman rule. That some of these men were friendly to Paul and gave him advice in such an explosive situation suggests that imperial policy at this time was not hostile to Christianity. This fits in with Luke’s apologetic purpose.