Acts 19:19
Viewing the King James Version. Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of Acts 19:19.
Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- King James Bible "Authorized Version", Cambridge Edition
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Other Translations of Acts 19:19
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and {began} burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- American Standard Version (1901)
And a great number of those who were experts in strange arts took their books and put them on the fire in front of everyone: and when the books were valued they came to fifty thousand bits of silver.
- Basic English Bible
And many of those that practised curious arts brought their books [of charms] and burnt them before all. And they reckoned up the prices of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- Darby Bible
And many of them who had followed curious arts, brought together their books, and burnt them before all; and counting the price of them, they found the money to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- Douay Rheims Bible
Many also of them who used curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- Webster's Bible
and not a few of those who had practised magical arts brought their books together and burnt them in the presence of all. The total value was reckoned and found to be 50,000 silver coins.
- Weymouth Bible
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
- World English Bible
And manye of them that sueden curiouse thingis, brouyten togidere bookis, and brenneden hem bifor alle men; and whanne the prices of tho weren acountid, thei founden monei of fifti thousynd pens;
- Wycliffe Bible
and many of those who had practised the curious arts, having brought the books together, were burning [them] before all; and they reckoned together the prices of them, and found [it] five myriads of silverlings;
- Youngs Literal Bible
View Wesley's Notes for Acts 19:19
19:19 Curious arts - Magical arts, to which that soft appellation was given by those who practised them. Ephesus was peculiarly famous for these. And as these practices were of so much reputation there, it is no wonder the books which taught them should bear a great price. Bringing their books together - As it were by common consent, burnt them - Which was far better than selling them, even though the money had been given to the poor. Fifty thousand pieces of silver - If these pieces of silver be taken for Jewish shekels, the sum will amount to six thousand two hundred and fifty pounds.
View People's Bible Notes for Acts 19:19
Ac 19:19 Brought their books together, and burned them. There was real repentance, and they brought forth its fruits. These "books", alluded to by ancient writers, were manuscript volumes of charms, incantations, recipes for love philters, and other things of similar character. They counted the price of them. If the "piece of silver" is the Attic drachma or Roman denarius, as is probable (about sixteen cents), the whole value would be about $8,000. These "books" had considerable money value on account of their rarity.
Alexander Christian's comment on 2011-08-31 18:21:15:
Reckoning the price of these books is a nonsense, it reveals sanctimonious attitude of ACTors. Imagine king Saul, after the task of destroying Amalek, reckoning prices of calves and other cursed goods. What would Samuel say to Saul in that case?
A. Stone's comment on 2010-09-11 15:43:23:
This verse tells me everything I need to know about the Bible, and the word of God.
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