Acts 16:21

Acts 16:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
• New International Version (NIV)by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice."
• New King James Version (NKJV)and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”

Context of Acts 16:21

19But when her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the market place [where trials were held], 20and when they had brought them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men, who are Jews, are throwing our city into confusion and causing trouble. They are publicly teaching customs which are unlawful for us, as Romans, to accept or observe.” 22The crowd also joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and ordered that Paul and Silas be beaten with rods. 23After striking them many times [with the rods], they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely.

Acts 16:21 word by word

καὶ καταγγέλλουσιν ἔθη ἃ οὐκ ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν παραδέχεσθαι οὐδὲ ποιεῖν Ῥωμαίοις οὖσιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• teachκαταγγέλλωkataggellō · to proclaimG2605
• customsἔθοςethos · customG1485
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• areἔξεστι, ἐξόνexesti · be permittedG1832
• notοὐou · noG3756
• for usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• to receiveπαραδέχομαιparadechomai · to welcomeG3858
• neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
• to observeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• RomansῬωμαῖοςRhōmaios · RomanG4514

Cross-references for Acts 16:21

• Acts 26:3especially because you are an expert [fully knowledgeable, experienced and unusually conversant] in all the Jewish customs and controversial issues; therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
• Jeremiah 10:3For the customs and decrees of the peoples are [mere] delusion [exercises in futility]; It is only wood which one cuts from the forest [to make a god], The work of the hands of the craftsman with the axe or cutting tool.

Commentaries on Acts 16:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21And 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. King Evander said: - It is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And teach customs - The word “customs” here ̓́ ethērefers to “religious rites or forms of worship.” See the notes on Acts 6:14. They meant to charge the apostles with introducing a new religion which was unauthorized by the Roman laws. This was a cunning and artful accusation. It is perfectly evident that they cared nothing either for the religion of the Romans or of the Jews. Nor were they really concerned about any change of religion. Paul had…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-24Verses 16-24 Satan, though the father of lies, will declare the most important truths, when he can thereby serve his purposes. But much mischief is done to the real servants of Christ, by unholy and false preachers of the gospel, who are confounded with them by careless observers. Those who do good by drawing men from sin, may expect to be reviled as troublers of the city. While they teach men to fear God, to believe in Christ, to forsake sin, and to live…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21As in the ministry of Jesus, the gospel sometimes threatened existing business interests (see also 19:25–27; Mark 5:1–20). Those who were exploiting the slave girl attacked the Christian missionaries and dragged them to the authorities as criminals. They blamed them for causing trouble, used racial bias ("These men are Jews"), and appealed to the Philippians’ pride ("us Romans"). The Philippians were proud Roman citizens of a Roman colony. customs that…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans--Here also there was a measure of truth; as the introduction of new gods was forbidden by the laws, and this might be thought to apply to any change of religion. But the whole charge was pure hypocrisy; for as these men would have let the missionaries preach what religion they pleased if they had not dried up the source of their gains, so they conceal the real…Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 16:21

• Accusation, False
• Criminals
• False Teachers
• Falsehood
• Heresy
• Indictments
• Malice
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Philippi
• Prisoners
• Readings, Select
• Silas

In the dictionaries

• Antioch
• Establish
• Gather
• Gone
• Harm
• James
• Judge
• Light
• Macedonia
• Note

Commentaries on Acts 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings