sustrophe denotes a public disturbance or a concerted plot against someone in the two Acts contexts.

The attested uses describe both a public disturbance requiring an account and a concerted plot sealed by an oath against Paul.

1. Public disturbance under scrutiny · dominant

   In Acts 19:40, the genitive singular form occurs in a warning that there is danger of accusation over the day's events and no reason to give an account. The APB renders the clause with “this commotion,” presenting the event as a public disturbance.

   Acts 19:40
2. Concerted plot bound by oath · occasional

   In Acts 23:12, the accusative singular form occurs where Jews bind themselves by an oath not to eat or drink until Paul is killed. The APB renders the action as forming “a plot,” locating the term in a coordinated hostile plan.

   Acts 23:12

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the two contexts with “commotion” in Acts 19:40 and “a plot” in Acts 23:12. These renderings indicate the clauses' overall presentation rather than a precise one-for-one translation.