Acts 16:20
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
Acts 16:20 in other translations
| BSB | They brought them to the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil |
|---|---|
| WEB | When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men, being Jews, are agitating our city |
| ASV | and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, |
| YLT | and having brought them to the magistrates, they said, ‘These men do exceedingly trouble our city, being Jews; |
| DARBY | and having brought them up to the praetors, said, These men utterly trouble our city, being Jews, |
| BBE | And when they had taken them before the authorities, they said, These men, who are Jews, are greatly troubling our town; |
| Webster | And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, |
What does Acts 16:20 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
Do exceedingly trouble our city. In what way they did it, they specify in the next verse. The charge which they wished to substantiate was that of being disturbers of the public peace. All at once they became conscientious. They forgot the subject of their gains, and were greatly distressed about the violation of the laws. There is nothing that will make men more hypocritically conscientious, than to denounce, and detect, and destroy their unlawful and dishonest practices. Men who are thus exposed become suddenly filled with reverence for the law, or for religion; and they, who have heretofore cared nothing for either, become greatly alarmed lest the public peace should be disturbed. Men slumber quietly in sin, and pursue their wicked gains; they hate or despise all law and all forms of religion; but the moment their course of life is attacked and exposed, they become full of zeal for laws that they would not themselves hesitate to violate, and for the customs of religion, which in their hearts they thoroughly despise. Worldly-minded men often thus complain that their towns, and cities, and villages, are disturbed by revivals of religion; and the preaching of the truth, and attacking vice, often arouses this hypocritical conscientiousness, and makes them alarmed for the laws, and for religion, and for order, which they at other times are the first to disturb and disregard.
(l) "our city" 1Kgs 18:17, Acts 17:6
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 16:16-24
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…
Acts 16:20 in the original Greek
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Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Acts 16:20
- James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
- Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- Acts 28:22
But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
- John 15:18-20
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
- Acts 17:6-8
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
- Matthew 2:3
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
- 1 Kings 18:17-18
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
- Esther 3:8-9
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.
- Acts 18:2
And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
- Acts 19:34
But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
- Ezra 4:12-15
Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. Now because we have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king; That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Acts 16:19
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,
- Acts 16:20
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
- Acts 16:21
And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Acts 16:20 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y presentándolos á los magistrados, dijeron: Estos hombres, siendo Judíos, alborotan nuestra ciudad, |
|---|---|
| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et les ayant présentés aux préteurs, ils dirent: Ces hommes-ci, qui sont Juifs, mettent tout en trouble dans notre ville |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und sie führten sie zu den Hauptleuten und sprachen: Diese Menschen, welche Juden sind, verwirren ganz und gar unsere Stadt |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | et offerentes eos magistratibus, dixerunt: Hi homines conturbant civitatem nostram, cum sint Judæi: |