Acts 16:21 BSB — MannaFest

Acts 16:21

by promoting customs that are unlawful for us Romans to adopt or practice.”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

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.

⋯

Commentary

2 voices

Bede

Commentary on Acts (735)

And 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 …

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

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.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

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.

Voices on this verse

loading…

Original language & word study

12 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
καταγγέλλουσιν	katangellousin	preach	G2605 →
ἔθη	ethē	customs	G1485 →
ἃ	ha	that	G3739 →
οὐκ	ouk	not	G3756 →
ἔξεστιν	exestin	it is lawful	G1832 →
ἡμῖν	hēmin	for us	G3165 →
παραδέχεσθαι	paradechesthai	to accept	G3858 →
οὐδὲ	oude	nor	G3761 →
ποιεῖν	poiein	to practice	G4160 →
Ῥωμαίοις	Rhōmaiois	Romans	G4514 →
οὖσιν.	ousin	being.	G1510 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Jeremiah 10:3
For 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.
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!
Through
Acts 16:12
From there we went to the Roman colony of Philippi, the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
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…
Through
Esther 3:8
Then 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…
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

Featured studies on this passage

The Temptation in the Wilderness — Briton Rivière

Walks through Acts 16

Led by the Spirit

Open the study →

Walks through Acts 16

Lydia: Acts 16:11–15, 40 · MannaFest

Open the study →

Walks through Acts 16

Paul and Silas at Midnight — Acts 16

Open the study →

Walks through Acts 16

The Seven Churches of Revelation

Asia Minor, late 1st century. Seven cities along a clockwise postal route — Ephesus to Laodicea — each receiving a letter from the risen Christ. Praises, rebukes, promises. A Matt-13 parallel reading discoverable for those who want it.

Open the study →

Walks through Acts 16

The Tree

Open the study →

About Acts

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Acts: the study guide →Read chapter 16 →The featured study →

Continue: Acts 16 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Acts

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Acts