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Acts 16

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:

Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.

Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;

And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

And 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,

And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,

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

And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

What does Acts 16:21 mean?

Explanation

The verse Acts 16:21 is part of an account in the Book of Acts where Paul and Silas are accused by a crowd in Philippi.

The quote ["And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans."] is spoken by those who are presenting the charges against the apostles.

The accusers claim that Paul and Silas were advocating practices that conflicted with Roman law and customs.

The deeper meaning here revolves around the tension between the early Christian teachings and the established pagan Roman order.

The "customs" in question likely refer to aspects of the Christian faith that were at odds with Roman religious practices and possibly the imperial cult.

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Historical Context

During the first century A.D., when this event took place, Philippi was a Roman colony with a significant Roman population.

As such, the city valued its Roman customs and laws.

Paul and Silas, by promoting Christianity, would have been seen as subversive to the Roman way of life.

This was a common accusation against Christians, who were often viewed with suspicion for their refusal to participate in the traditional Roman religious practices, including worship of the emperor.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse reveals the early Christian tension with the state, a theme that recurs throughout Christian history.

While Christian theology teaches about respect for governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7), there is also a narrative of civil disobedience when such laws conflict with God's commands (Acts 5:29).

This verse embodies the conflict between obeying God versus obeying human law when they are at odds.

Practical Applications

In a modern context, this verse underscores the challenge of adhering to religious convictions when they conflict with societal norms or laws. Believers might find themselves in a position where they must choose between their faith and compliance with certain legal or cultural expectations.

This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity in one's beliefs, even in the face of opposition or legal consequences.

Cross-References

Acts 5:29: Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Romans 13:1-7: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.

For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Daniel 3:16-18: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego's refusal to worship the golden image.
Revelation 2:10: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Language Study

The key words in this verse are "customs" (Greek: "ethē"), "lawful" (Greek: "exestin"), "receive" (Greek: "dechesthai"), and "observe" (Greek: "poiein").

"Ethē" refers to established practices or traditions, "exestin" translates to what is permitted or lawful, "dechesthai" means to accept or adopt, and "poiein" is to make, do, or observe.

Understanding these Greek terms clarifies that the issue at hand was the acceptability and the practicability of following Christian traditions within a Roman legal framework.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this to other ancient myths and religions, one might note how the Roman Empire often tolerated a variety of religions as long as they did not disrupt public order or challenge the state.

The monotheistic and exclusive nature of Christianity was therefore problematic because it could not be easily reconciled with the polytheistic and inclusive Roman religious culture.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, this verse and the situation it describes pertain more to sociology and the study of cultural dynamics than natural science.

Modern sociological studies examine how minority groups manage their identity in a broader cultural context that may be hostile to their beliefs, which speaks to the early Christian experience in the Roman Empire.

Commentaries

Various Biblical scholars and commentators have approached this verse from different angles.

Some focus on the legal aspects of the conflict between Roman law and Christian practice. Others interpret the verse as highlighting the inevitable cultural clash that arises when a new religious movement enters an established social order.

Many also comment on the courage of the apostles, emphasizing their commitment to their mission despite the potential consequences.

Acts 16

Acts 16

What does Acts 16:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 16:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?