Acts 19:31
And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
The verse belongs to the close of more than three years of work centered at Ephesus, from which the gospel had spread throughout Asia among both Jews and Gentiles. At that time Paul had purposed to go through Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem and afterward to Rome, had sent Timothy and Erastus ahead into Macedonia, and had chosen to remain at Ephesus until after Pentecost because the cause there still needed him. It occurs during the once-a-year special ceremonies in honor of Diana, which drew great crowds from all parts of Asia for splendid festivities. It was a trying time for the new believers meeting in the school of Tyrannus, who stood out against the celebration and faced ridicule, reproach, and insult. Paul's labors had dealt heathen worship a telling blow, producing a perceptible decline in attendance at the national festival and in the worshipers' enthusiasm. His influence extended far beyond actual converts, enlightening many who had not openly accepted the new teaching to lose all confidence in their heathen gods.
During the resulting riot over Diana, after the mob seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul was hidden not far away. When he learned of his brethren's peril he wanted to enter the theater at once to address the rioters and defend the truth, forgetful of his own safety. The disciples would not allow him to go, since Gaius and Aristarchus were not the ones the people sought and no serious harm to them was expected. The sight of Paul's pale, care-worn face would arouse the mob's worst passions with no human possibility of saving his life. Angels were guarding him because his time to die a martyr's death had not yet come.
Certain chiefs of Asia who were his friends, influential men and officials, sent him a message from inside the theater asking him not to venture into it. Their warning, following his companions' urging, deterred him and kept him from exposing himself to mortal danger from the enraged mob gathered there. His life was thus preserved amid the uproar. The city recorder's restraint of the crowd helped keep Christianity from being discredited by the disturbance. This protection is credited to God.