Acts 16:21

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19 But ^awhen her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and ^bdragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, ^aexceedingly trouble our city;

21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes ^aand commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.

24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

The Philippian Jailer Saved

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Acts 16:21

And teach customs - , Religious opinions, and religious rites.

Which are not lawful for us to receive - The Romans were very jealous of their national worship. Servius, on the following lines of Virgil, has given us correct information on this point; and has confirmed what several other writers have advanced: -

Rex Evandrus ait: Non haec solemnia nobis

Vana superstitio, veterumque ignara deorum, Imposuit .

Aen. viii. v. 185, etc.

\ri720 \cf1 King Evander said: - It is not vain superstition, ignorant of the ancient worship of the gods, which has imposed these rites on us.

Duo dicit, says Servius: non ideo Herculem colimus; aut quia omnem religionem veram putamus; aut quia deos ignoramus antiquos. Cautum enim fuerat, et apud Athenienses, et apud Romanos; ne quis Novas introduceret Religiones: unde et Socrates damnatus est: et Chaldaei et Judaei unt urbe depulsi .

"He says two things: we do not worship Hercules because we believe every religion to be true; nor are we ignorant of the ancient gods. Great care was taken, both among the Athenians and Romans, that no one should introduce any new religion. It was on this account that Socrates was condemned, and on this account the Chaldeans and the Jews were banished from Rome."

Cicero, De Legibus, lib. ii. c. 8, says: Separatim nemo habessit deos; neve Novos; sed nec Advenas, nisi publice Adscitos, Privatim colunto . "No person shall have any separate gods, nor new ones; nor shall he privately worship any strange gods, unless they be publicly allowed." The whole chapter is curious. It was on such laws as these that the people of Philippi pleaded against the apostles. These men bring new gods, new worship, new rites; we are Romans, and the laws forbid us to worship any new or strange god, unless publicly allowed.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Acts 16:21:**

Acts 16:12
Acts 17:18
Philippians 1:30

<< Acts 16:20

Acts 16:22 >>

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