Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Acts 19:35

"And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?" — Acts 19:35 (ASV)

The “city clerk” of Ephesus was the chief executive officer of the assembly. He came to his position from within the assembly and was not appointed by Rome. As the most important native official of the city, he was responsible for disturbances within it. He argued with the crowd that a riot would hardly enhance the prestige of the city in the eyes of Rome, and therefore any complaint raised by Demetrius and his guild of silversmiths should be brought before the legally constituted authorities. Gaius and Aristarchus, standing before them, were neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of other gods (common accusations in antiquity made against Jews generally, including Jewish Christians). Anything further that could not be brought before the courts and the proconsuls could be presented “in a legal assembly.” Otherwise, he concluded, the city would risk losing its favorable status because of a riot for which there was no reason.