Acts 16:21
in Acts 16by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.
KJV
And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
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This verse in Acts 16
Commentary
10 notes on this verseAnd they proclaim a custom which it is not lawful for us to receive or to observe, since we are Romans. They speak of the faith of Jesus Christ, in whose name the spirit of Python had departed. For the Romans had already decreed that …
This site's exposition
hope of their gains was gone
on Acts 16:19-21
When her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, the deliverance that freed the girl costing her owners money and turning them into accusers, the same pattern of gospel opposition rooted in threatened profit that recurs at Ephesus in chapter nineteen. The charge brought is carefully framed, these men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, being Romans, an appeal to civic and ethnic prejudice in a colony proud of its Roman status rather than any true legal complaint. Luke lets the reader see that the real grievance, lost income, is dressed in the language of public order the magistrates will actually act on.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
What sayest thou? Dost thou believe the demon? Why not here also? He saith, They are "servants of the most high God;" thou sayest, "They exceedingly trouble our city:" he saith, "They show us the way of salvation;" thou sayest, "They teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive." Observe, how they do not attend even to the demon, but look only to one thing, their covetousness.
"And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans." They made a charge of treason of it. Why did they not say, Because they cast out the demon, they were guilty of impiety against God? For this was a defeat to them: but instead of that, they have recourse to a charge of treason: like the Jews when they said, "We have no king but Caesar: whoso maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar."
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Right or wrong, they would adhere to that, how vain soever, which they had received by tradition from their fathers. No foreign nor upstart deity must be allowed, without the approbation of the senate; the gods of their country must be their gods, true or false. This was one of the laws of the twelve tables.
And teach customs which it is not lawful for us to receive - The world has received all the rules and doctrines of all the philosophers that ever were. But this is a property of Gospel truth: it has something in it peculiarly intolerable to the world.
And teach customs,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And teach customs - The word “customs” here ἔθη ethē refers to “religious rites or forms of worship.” See the notes on Act 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.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
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.
And teach customs - Εθη, 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 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.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| καταγγέλλουσιν | katangellousin | preach | G2605 → | 17 times |
| ἔθη | ethe | customs | G1485 → | 12 times |
| ἃ | ha | that | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἔξεστιν | exestin | it is lawful | G1832 → | 31 times |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | for us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| παραδέχεσθαι | paradechesthai | to accept | G3858 → | 6 times |
| οὐδὲ | oude | nor | G3761 → | 141 times |
| ποιεῖν | poiein | to practice | G4160 → | 569 times |
| Ῥωμαίοις | rhomaiois | Romans | G4514 → | 12 times |
| οὖσιν. | ousin | being. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
καταγγέλλουσινpreach
katangellousinG2605 →17 times
ἔθηcustoms
etheG1485 →12 times
ἃthat
haG3739 →1405 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἔξεστινit is lawful
exestinG1832 →31 times
ἡμῖνfor us
heminG3165 →1936 times
παραδέχεσθαιto accept
paradechesthaiG3858 →6 times
οὐδὲnor
oudeG3761 →141 times
ποιεῖνto practice
poieinG4160 →569 times
ῬωμαίοιςRomans
rhomaioisG4514 →12 times
οὖσιν.being.
ousinG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 10:3For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut down a tree from the forest; it is shaped with a chisel by the hands of a craftsman.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:18
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Isaiah 44:9–20
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.
- Leviticus 18:30
You must keep My charge not to practice any of the abominable customs that were practiced before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am the LORD your God.”
- Romans 1:21
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
- Jeremiah 10:8
But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!
- 1 Peter 1:18
Through
Acts 16:12From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2
As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of…
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2
Through
Esther 3:8Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey…
it leads to
- Ezra 4:12–15
Let it be known to the king that the Jews who came from you to us have returned to Jerusalem. And they are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city, restoring its walls, and repairing…
- Acts 16:20–21
They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil
- Ezra 4:12–15
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 35; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.