Acts 16:21

Acts 16:21

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:

Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)

<< Acts 16:20

Acts 16:22 >>

Customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans (eqh a ouk estin hmin paradexesqai oude poiein Rwmaioiv ousin). Note the sharp contrast between "being Jews" in verse Acts 16:20 and "being Romans" here. This pose of patriotism is all sound and fury. It is love of money that moves these "masters" far more than zeal for Rome. As Roman citizens in a colony they make full use of all their rights of protest. Judaism was a religio licita in the Roman empire, only they were not allowed to make proselytes of the Romans themselves. No Roman magistrate would pass on abstract theological questions (Acts 18:15), but only if a breach of the peace was made (ektarassousin hmwn thn polin) or the formation of secret sects and organizations. Evidently both of these last points are involved by the charges of "unlawful customs" by the masters who are silent about their real ground of grievance against Paul and Silas. Eqov (kin to hqov, I Corinthians 15:33) is from eqw, to be accustomed or used to a thing. The Romans granted toleration to conquered nations to follow their religious customs provided they did not try to win the Romans. But the Jews had made great headway to favour (the God-fearers) with increasing hatred also. Emperor worship had in store grave peril for both Jews and Christians. The Romans will care more for this than for the old gods and goddesses. It will combine patriotism and piety.

**Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 16:21:**

Acts 17:13
Acts 18:13

<< Acts 16:20

Acts 16:22 >>

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