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An Exegetical Analysis of Acts 19:34
This exegetical study of An Exegetical Analysis of Acts 19:34 is based on a b-greek discussion from Tue Apr 6 20:27:34 EDT 2004. The initial query focused on the interpretation of Acts 19:34, comparing the translations offered by the NET Bible and Culy/Parsons. The discussion highlighted a significant grammatical point regarding the genitive participle κραζόντων (“shouting”) and its relationship to the phrase μία ἐκ πάντων (“one from all”), leading to questions about the precise meaning of the “one voice” amidst the general shouting of the crowd.
The main exegetical issue at stake in Acts 19:34 concerns the precise grammatical construction and semantic relationship within the phrase φωνὴ ἐγένετο μία ἐκ πάντων ὡς ἐπὶ ὥρας δύο κραζόντων. Specifically, how does μία (“one”) modify φωνή (“voice/cry”), and how do ἐκ πάντων (“from all”) and the genitive participle κραζόντων (“of those shouting”) relate to each other and to the main verb ἐγένετο (“arose/came”)? The interpretation of these syntactic relationships significantly impacts whether the crowd’s action is understood as a singular, unified utterance, a singular utterance distinct from general shouting, or an idiomatic expression for unanimous outcry, thereby shaping the narrative portrayal of the Ephesian riot.
ἐπιγνόντες δὲ ὅτι Ἰουδαῖός ἐστιν, φωνὴ ἐγένετο μία ἐκ πάντων ὡς ἐπὶ ὥρας δύο κραζόντων, μεγάλη ἡ Ἄρτεμις Ἐφεσίων.
Greek text (Nestle 1904)
Key differences with SBLGNT (2010):
- The Nestle 1904 text (as commonly represented in modern critical editions) and the SBLGNT 2010 text are largely identical in terms of word choice and morphology for this verse.
- A minor stylistic difference observed is the capitalization of the direct quote: SBLGNT 2010 capitalizes Μεγάλη at the beginning of the quoted phrase, whereas Nestle 1904 (in some printings, but typically rendered with capitalization in modern critical editions that reflect the Nestle tradition) does not always display this initial capitalization in older editions. Modern critical editions, including those aligned with the Nestle tradition, usually follow capitalization conventions for direct speech similar to SBLGNT.
Textual Criticism (NA28), lexical notes (KITTEL, BDAG):
From a textual critical perspective, Acts 19:34 presents no significant textual variants in critical editions such as NA28 that would alter the fundamental meaning or structure of the verse. The interpretive challenges stem from grammatical parsing rather than manuscript divergence.
- ἐπιγινώσκω (participle: ἐπιγνόντες): According to BDAG, this verb means “to come to know, recognize, realize.” It often implies a fuller or more accurate knowledge than simple cognition. Here, it signifies the crowd’s clear identification of the individual (likely Alexander, as per some interpretations of the preceding verses) as Jewish, which would undermine any attempt to address the crowd on Paul’s behalf.
- φωνή: BDAG defines φωνή as “sound, noise, voice.” In this context, it refers to an audible utterance or cry. The qualification μία (“one, single”) is crucial for interpretation.
- μία: BDAG for εἷς (“one”) clarifies its use as an adjective denoting singularity. Its application to φωνή emphasizes a singular or unified sound, which is central to the exegetical debate.
- κραζόντων (participle: genitive plural of κράζω): BDAG translates κράζω as “to cry out, scream, shout.” The genitive plural form here functions either as a genitive absolute, indicating a circumstance concurrent with the main action, or as a genitive of attendant circumstances, further describing the collective action of those present.
Translation Variants
The diverse interpretations of Acts 19:34 highlight the grammatical complexities inherent in the Greek text. Two prominent English translations illustrate the core exegetical challenge:
NET Bible Translation: “But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, ‘Great is Artemis’ of the Ephesians!’ for about two hours.”
- Grammatical Analysis: This translation interprets φωνὴ ἐγένετο μία ἐκ πάντων as an idiomatic expression denoting a collective, unified outburst, effectively meaning “they all shouted in unison.” It consolidates the “one voice” into the general act of shouting by the crowd, treating πάντων as the implicit subject of this unified shouting. The genitive participle κραζόντων is then understood as descriptive of the continuous nature of this unified shouting.
- Rhetorical Analysis: This rendering prioritizes narrative clarity and readability, presenting a cohesive image of the crowd acting as a single, determined entity, chanting a specific slogan in protest. It minimizes any potential ambiguity about what the “one voice” uttered, integrating it seamlessly into the prolonged, unified protest.
Culy/Parsons Translation: “But when they recognized that he was a Jew, one cry arose from all those who were shouting, for about two hours: ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'”
- Grammatical Analysis: This translation maintains a stricter literal distinction between μία φωνὴ (“one cry”) and the broader group of “those who were shouting” (κραζόντων). It suggests that a specific, single cry emerged from (ἐκ) the larger context of a shouting multitude. The genitive πάντων is interpreted as directly modifying κραζόντων (“all of those shouting”), thereby rendering the phrase ὡς ἐπὶ ὥρας δύο κραζόντων as a genitive of attendant circumstances describing the duration and nature of the collective’s activity from which the “one cry” originated. The ambiguity noted in the original discussion arose from what this “one cry” specifically entailed if it was distinct from the continuous shouting.
- Rhetorical Analysis: This translation presents a more nuanced, though potentially less immediately clear, image. It could imply that a specific, unified declaration crystallized out of the general uproar, or that the continuous shouting had a consistent, singular message. The literal parsing can create a sense of the “one voice” being distinct yet emanating from the crowd, posing a question about its precise content.
A separate point raised concerned the participle ἐπιγνόντες (“recognizing”), questioned as a “dangling participle.” In Greek syntax, participles often refer to an implied subject that is clearly identifiable from the context, even if it is not the explicit subject of the main verb in the clause. In Acts 19:34, ἐπιγνόντες, a nominative plural participle, clearly refers to the individuals within the crowd, whose recognition of the Jewish identity directly precedes and precipitates the collective outcry. This construction is grammatically sound and not a “dangling participle” in Greek usage.
Conclusions and Translation Suggestions
The “mess” noted in the original discussion can be resolved by appreciating the concise nature of Greek expression. While grammatically distinct, φωνὴ μία and κραζόντων are semantically intertwined. The “one voice” or “unified cry” is not necessarily a separate event from the “shouting” but rather describes the *nature* or *content* of that prolonged shouting. The phrase ἐκ πάντων clarifies that this unified sound originated from the entire collective. Therefore, the crowd’s continuous shouting for two hours effectively constituted a single, unified declaration. The NET Bible’s approach of interpreting this as “shouting in unison” captures this collective unity effectively, while Culy/Parsons prioritizes a more literal syntactic reflection, which, if not carefully contextualized, might imply a distinct “one cry” separate from the general shouting. The most probable interpretation suggests that the specific content of their unified shouting *was* the declaration, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Based on this analysis, the following translation suggestions are offered:
- “But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a unified cry arose from all of them, and for about two hours they continued shouting, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'”
This translation attempts to maintain the grammatical distinctness of the “one cry” while clarifying that it describes the content and nature of the crowd’s ongoing, unified shouting. - “But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all began to shout with one voice, for about two hours, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'”
This rendering interprets “one voice from all” as an idiomatic expression for collective, unanimous shouting, similar to the NET Bible, prioritizing clear and natural English flow over a strict, potentially ambiguous, literal mirroring of the Greek syntax. - “But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single cry rose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, ‘Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!'”
This option emphasizes the emergence of the “single cry” but immediately contextualizes it as the continuous action of the crowd, aiming for a balance between literal representation and narrative coherence.