Acts 19:31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And certain of the chief of Asia,— It has been conjectured by many from this and the following passage, that the people at Ephesus were then celebrating the public games in honour of Diana: and as it is not likely that in such a tumultuous hour several of the chief of Asia, as they are here termed, should have sent to him at once with such a message, unless they had been in the theatre together, this opinion seems exceedingly probable; though it is certain that the theatres were places in which the Greeks often met for the dispatch of public business, when there were no shows exhibited. Some would render the original word used here, 'Ασιαρχοι, Asiarchs, or primates of Asia, which appears to be a very just translation: and as they were persons of great dignity, and some of them priests too, this civil message from them was at once a proof of their candour, and of the moderation wherewith St. Paul had behaved, which made them thus kindly solicitous for his safety. Dr. Benson thinks they recollected the danger to which St. Paul had been exposed in a combat with wild beasts in this very theatre; to which some have supposed that the apostle refers, 1 Corinthians 15:32.