{Certain also of the chief officers of Asia} (	ines de kai
t(936e) Asiarch(936e)). These "Asiarchs" were ten officers elected by
cities in the province who celebrated at their own cost public
games and festivals (Page). Each province had such a group of men
chosen, as we now know from inscriptions, to supervise the funds
connected with the worship of the emperor, to preside at games
and festivals even when the temple services were to gods like
Artemis. Only rich men could act, but the position was eagerly
sought. {Being his friends} (ontes aut(9369) philoi). Evidently the
Asiarchs had a high opinion of Paul and were unwilling for him to
expose his life to a wild mob during the festival of Artemis.
They were at least tolerant toward Paul and his preaching. "It
was an Asiarch who at Smyrna resisted the cry of the populace to
throw Polycarp to the lions" (Furneaux). {Besought him}
(parekaloun auton). Imperfect active, showing that the
messengers sent had to insist over Paul's protest. "{Not to
adventure himself}" (m(8820)dounai heauton). It was a hazard, a
rash adventure "to give himself" (second aorist active infinitive
of did(936d)i). Just this sense of "adventure" with the idiom
occurs only here in the N.T., though in Polybius V., 14, 9. But
the phrase itself Paul uses of Jesus who gave himself for our
sins ( Ga 1:4  1Ti 2:6  Tit 2:14 ). It is not the first time that
friends had rescued Paul from peril ( Ac 9:25,30  17:10,14 ). The
theatre was no place for Paul. It meant certain death.