Acts 16:21

21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”

Acts 16:21 in Other Translations

21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.

21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."

21 “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”

21 subverting our Roman law and order."

21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.

21 and they're advocating customs that we can't accept or practice as Roman citizens."

21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice."

21 They are suggesting practices that are against Roman law. These are practices we can't accept or take part in."

Acts 16:21 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 16:21

And teach customs
The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read in the singular number, "custom or law"; referring to the doctrine of salvation by Christ, in whose name the spirit of divination was cast out of the maid, and whom they took for a new deity; and so concluded that the apostle and his company were introducing a new religious law or custom, the worship of another God: which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being
Romans;
for the city of Philippi was a Roman colony, and so the inhabitants of it called themselves Romans; or these men might be strictly such, who were transplanted hither; and with the Romans, it was not lawful to receive, observe, and worship, a new or strange deity, without the decree of the senate ^F12.

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Tertull. Apolog. c. 5. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c. 2.

Acts 16:21 In-Context

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.

20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar

21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”

22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.

23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.

Cross References

• 1. ver 12
• 2. Esther 3:8